The woman raised an eyebrow at the jarring question. “I am. Who’s asking?”
“Terribly sorry. But my associate doesn’t want to waste your time,” Will explained.
“Or ours,” Phoebe muttered.
Will gave her a sharp glance, then addressed Maude. “I am Mr. Crispin and this is Mr. Agincourt,” he said quickly, while ignoring Phoebe’s befuddled look. Perhaps they should have bothered to discuss their aliases but he was in the middle of reading a biography of Henry V and those were the first names that came to him.
Luckily, Maude didn’t appear to notice anything strange. “A pleasure.”
“Is there somewhere we could talk more privately? I promise it will be worth your while,” he added.
She gave them a hard look for a moment, then brightened. “Good. Because my time is quite valuable. Follow me.”
As she led them to a back room, Will noticed that the large man was following them. Definitely her guard then. And even larger up close. Will exchanged a look with Phoebe. They would need to be quick about this. He resisted the sudden urge to give her a comforting pat.
The space was much nicer than Will expected. A green velvet sofa took up one wall, while a pair of matching armchairs sat opposite, creating a little sitting area. A large desk was tucked into a corner and a small fire crackled in the hearth.
“The owner of this establishment is a dear friend,” Maude explained unprompted as she gave the coals a stir. “He lets me come and go as I please.”
“And what do you use this room for?”
But Maude only gave Phoebe a smile as she sat down on the sofa. “Business, of course.” She patted the place beside her invitingly and Will sat down.
Though she had made a good show of softening her vowels and refining her movements, it was this easy manner of hers, even more attractive than her physical beauty, that betrayed her lowly roots. For any trace of such vulgar behavior would have been snuffed out of a better born girl.
But not Phoebe, the very unhelpful voice in his head pointed out.
And she was shut out of the most exclusive circles of society for those transgressions. Not that she seemed to care, or was evenawarefor that matter. Will glanced at her. She sat down in one of the armchairs and began to tuck her legs underneath before quickly correcting herself. She spread her legs, placed her forearms on her thighs and then leaned forward, trying to assume a more relaxed posture and utterly failing.
Maude was, quite rightly, staring at her in rapt interest, as one might stare at a dog trying to ride a bicycle. Will clenched his jaw. It would be a miracle if they pulled this off, and if anyone identified Phoebe she would be utterly and completely ruined.
“That is what brings us here. Your business.” He emphasized the last word suggestively and she smirked.
“Naturally. So, then,” she began matter-of-factly, “how did you hear about the club?”
Club?
Will held her gaze as his mind scrambled for an answer. Thank God he’d mastered the art of bluffing while at Oxford, where he belonged to an underground poker ring. “I was told to be discreet.”
Maude seemed amused by this. “I don’t normally issue invitations to people I haven’t been properly introduced to,” she said as once again her gaze roamed down his front. “But I can make an exception for you.”
Will hid his surprise behind a smile and played along. “I would be most grateful.”
“We’d need two,” Phoebe cut in, ignoring Will’s glare.
“If that is necessary to guarantee Mr. Crispin’s attendance,” Maude replied without looking away from him. “However, there is the matter of the fee…”
“That won’t be a problem,” Will assured.
Her eyes lit up. “Wonderful.” She then reached across him for a silver card case on the end table, letting her arm brush languidlyagainst his chest. “Come any time after eight on the second Thursday of the month.”
“That’s next week,” Phoebe said.
Maude reluctantly addressed her. “Look at that. The boy can follow a calendar.” Then she turned back to Will, missing Phoebe’s murderous glare.
“Please excuse my younger cousin. He’s from the country,” Will said, as if that explained away Phoebe’s behavior. Her glare turned outright hostile, but Will flashed her a look of caution. Better this woman think she was a bumpkin than the truth.
“Ah,” Maude said with understanding. “How good of you to take him under your wing. I’m quite fond of a family-minded fellow,” she added with a sly smile as she held out her card.
