“Close it,” Mars said. They had no choice save do as he ordered.
Deb gave a triumphant crow before letting her brown eyes settle on Mars. Her lip curled in derision. He found that interesting. When they had parted, she’d been all emotion and heaving bosom.I love you. I won’t let you leave...and other drama.
Now she acted as if the sight of him curdled her stomach.
Deb was a tall brunette who was all legs, exactly the sort of woman Mars favored and, in truth, his first qualification for any mistress he kept. Her magnificent figure was dressed for travel. She had dashing tastes and Mars had always enjoyed seeing what she wouldget herself up in. She didn’t disappoint today. She was wearing a plum-colored striped dress with dark blue trim and a very low bodice under a military-styled jacket. Deb had always enjoyed displaying her assets. She even let her bundle slip a notch to give him a look because she knew he was looking. To not look would have disappointed her.
She moved toward him with the swagger of a pirate. “Lawd, Mars, you are barely decent.”
He was not insulted. Women were spiteful creatures. “First, these are my private chambers. Second, you have seen more of me than this.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Don’t be unpleasant, Deb. Say what you’ve come to say. I have an uninteresting day ahead of me.”
The fire went out of her. She pinned him with a sincere-looking gaze. “I loved you so much.”
“No,” he corrected, “you loved my money. You always had trouble telling the difference.” When they’d parted—a year and some months ago—he’d given her a town house, a coach and pair, and two thousand in funds. He was a generous protector.
Her expression changed as if she was seeing him for the first time, and was disappointed. “You were always honest with me, Mars. I will grant you that. What is it you always say? That you are incapable of lying?”
Mars nodded. That was true.
Her chin lifted. “I have a new protector.”
“Good.”
“He finds me enchanting.”
“I’m certain he is right.”
“You don’t rule my life any longer, Mars.”
“I never pretended to, Deb.”
“But you broke my heart.”
There was the manipulation. Women wielded it like a long, thin blade, cutting away at what they didn’t like.
Back when they’d parted, she’d camped on his doorstep, tried to barge into his club, and had tearfully followed him all over the city, flooding his life with love notes and, later, threats. Once, she broke into his London house and he’d found her in his bed. He’d had to physically carry her out of the room with her trying to kiss him and wrap her arms around him. Gibson had not been concerned without reason.
She didn’t appear in danger of throwing a scene today. In fact, her manner was one of superiority, and he could let her have her final say if it meant she’d leave him alone.
“My new gentleman worships me,” she informed him.
He nodded.
“And I am not your concern any longer, Mars.” She began moving toward the bed. He moved away from it. “I can take care of myself. As forthis, it’s yours andyourresponsibility. You will be able to care for it better than I.” She dropped her bundle of blankets into the middle of his bed.
A sound escaped from the bundle. Or was it his imagination?
“What is this?” he asked.
“Something you left with me,” she replied moving to the door. “I’m returning it. After all, a mistress shouldn’t have encumbrances. Her name is Menadora.”
“Her? Menadora?” The bundle began to move.
“Yes, it means ‘gift of the moon.’ Menadora is the name of a saint who was martyred along with her sisters Metrodora and Nymphodora. I adore the lyricism of it.”
