Drake ignored her. “Release the young pup and let him roam free where he might have a chance at repairing the life you are trying to destroy for your own amusement. Wasn’t it enough that you separated Fleur from her flesh and blood?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “My, my. Who would have thought the Devil would ever care about anyone’s circumstances other than his own. You are either besotted with the chit, or you are becoming soft. If the former, I shall have to rethink the additional funds I requested for Miss Davies. It appears she might be worth more.” She smiled in a cunning manner, and again, Drake saw a slithering snake coiling to strike. “If the latter, I should warn you that would be quite drastic for your future happiness.”
Drake took an intimidating step forward. “I am well aware of the coin you are trying to lighten from my coffers. We have already had this discussion. Is that why you are keeping Flavian comfortable at your side?”
She lifted a delicate brow but said nothing. It was all the confirmation he needed.
However, something else was niggling at his brain now. “You mentioned that my future happiness might be at stake. Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
Harriette gave an exaggerated sigh. “Don’t be so tiresome, Mr. Porter. I merely wanted to offer a cautionary. I heard about the fire. It would be drastic should it consume you. I do wish for your continued safety.”
He snorted. “I assume your silence comes with an additional sum?”
She smiled broadly. “I have always admired you, Mr. Porter. We can come to an agreement if you would but put your faith in me in return.” She reached out and drew a finger down the center of his chest. “Say the word and I will release Flavian in return for you. I have heard about your prowess in the bedchamber and am eager to see if the rumors are true.”
He reached out and calmly took her hand and removed it from him. “You would do well to remember that I can also be a formidable foe, Miss Wilson. It is not wise to test my patience.”
* * *
Once Drakeand Miss Wilson had left, Fleur waited for her brother to speak, if he was even capable of it. She shook her head. “I can see you are getting on well with Harriette.” She looked at the empty bottle by his feet and the nearly empty tumbler in his grasp. “Or rather, you are continuing to get on well with your brandy. I had hoped things might change, thatyoumight change?—”
As tears started to sting her eyes, Fleur turned to leave. She didn’t know where she would go without Drake, but neither could she stay there and continue to watch her dear brother ruin himself further.
There was a tug on her sleeve. “Fleur, wait!”
She didn’t want to turn around, but the desperate whine in his tone caused her to pause. Reluctantly, she faced him once more. The glazed sheen over his brown eyes cut her to the quick. “I have found a way to set us free.”
“Have you?” she whispered sadly.
He nodded almost emphatically. “There is a card game tomorrow evening?—”
She jerked her arm away. “If you recall, that is what got us in this mess in the first place.”
He frowned, as if confused. “You are the one who insisted we come to London!”
“I did.” She looked down at her hands. “To my everlasting regret. Look what has happened to you. You are in deeper now than you’ve ever been. You’re going to end up indebted to the wrong person, someone that will demand immediate satisfaction.” She lifted her gaze once more. “I won’t be there to help you this time.”
He gave a loud guffaws, causing a few of the passerby to glance in their direction. “I don’t needyouto fight my battles for my any longer, Fleur. I am capable of handling myself.”
All that Fleur heard wasI don’t need you.She swallowed over the bitterness rising in her throat. At least she didn’t want to cry any longer. She wanted to hit him in the chest and demand that he see reason, but it was useless. “I’m relieved to hear that, Flavian. I wish you all the best.”
Again, she turned to go. “Are you happy, Fleur?”
She paused. It was the first time he’d ever asked her that question. Glancing back at him, she said, “As happy as a courtesan can be, I suppose.” She wanted to tell him that she enjoyed being with Drake, but Flavian would only see it as a conquest, that he had done his part by standing aside and allowing the auction to take place. And since there were no promises or confessions of anything other than carnal adoration, she couldn’t very well say that she was wading in blissful contentment.
She saw his throat work as he swallowed. By the way his forehead was starting to bead with perspiration, she knew that he was starting to crave his true mistress yet again. His hands shook slightly as he said, “Is he good to you, at least?”
She couldn’t lie about that. “Yes. He is very kind.”
Flavian inclined his head sharply and returned his attention to the tumbler that was still in his grasp. As he lifted it to his lips, Fleur walked away, determined not to see the rest of her twin’s downfall.
She put a hand to her stomach as she moved to the edge of the main entertainment. She was still well within the public eye, but far enough removed that she could watch everything from a distance.
She made it in enough time to bend over and wretch all over the neatly trimmed lawn. Putting a hand to her mouth, she tried to breathe deeply, to calm herself after the tumultuous reunion with her brother. She had told herself that he was well but perhaps it was an intuition she had as his twin, she knew that things were not as they had seemed when she’d stumbled upon him with Harriette. She was manipulating Flavian’s weaknesses, tearing him down just as she had enjoyed watching her ruination.
It wasn’t much different than what Mr. Porter had done to those poor, lost souls.
No.She couldn’t think like that, or she would not be able to make it through the rest of the night at his side. Perhaps it would have been best should she passed Flavian by. At least that way she could have remained in that solitary bubble of joy and pretend that nothing was amiss. But she had to see the reality for what it was.
