With an inward wrenching of her soul Charles turned away, unable to look at him a moment longer, then lifted her skirts once more, subjecting herself to a lengthy and unnerving exploration of her legs by a man whose every finger stroke made her shudder.
Wells asked Li again. “And you are certain it is she?” He no longer cared that the proprietress ofLeBrecht’ssaw his desperation.
“I am certain.”
“And she’s let no man?—?”
Li sharply met his gaze. “She is remarkably averse to the many propositions she’s received, Wells. I am astounded she’s held out so long.”
“And she looks otherwise well to you? She is not . . . ?” He held back. He knew he was too eager. Much too eager.
“She grows thinner by the day but appears otherwise in good health.”
“Thinner by the day?” He was incensed. “Do you pay her so little, Li, that she does not eat?”
“She earns on commission.” His friend appeared wholly unperturbed. “It is not my fault she will not induce more gentlemen to make more purchases.”
Wells knew Li was a businesswoman first, but this was too much. He reached for his purse. “For God’s sake, woman, if you won’t pay her, at least bloodyfeedher.”
But she refused his money, gently pushing it away. “My lord.” She placed her hand over his. “You must make her suffer some, if you wish to make her yours.”
Had he not known Li better he would have backhanded her.
“I know women like your Charlotte.” She looked almost wistful. “You must break her a little first, make her realize she needs you. Otherwise she will run from you again.”
Wells knew Li spoke from experience. She’d been proud once too—and also nearly broken; he knew what hell she’d suffered. Itwas why he’d risked life and crew to save her, why his men had threatened mutiny. Perhaps . . .
“My lord?” Li prompted.
“I need another two days.” His thoughts raced.
“Very well,” she replied. “But Wells?—”
“Yes?” His mind was a jumble of emotion.
“I cannot keep her forever. She will soon bolt, if she does not first capitulate.”
“Two days, Li, that’s all I need.” He was firm. “And ensure that she damn well eats.”
“As you wish.” She bowed, her skirts sweeping her away.
Charles laid the timepiece by her ear upon the threadbare pillow, listening to its steady beat. It soothed her to fall asleep to the rhythmic ticking and helped drown out the obnoxious noises of the inn. She ought to sell this pocket watch, she knew, for it would buy her time to find a different position, one which did not require her to pawn her body to men. She shivered to recall the tall gentleman’s hands upon her legs, hands which had felt nothing like his lordship’s. There’d been no warmth in ‘Redstocking’s’ icy touch—for that is what she’d dubbed him—no spark of awareness. Instead, she’d felt revulsion.
Yet she could not bear to sell the timepiece either. It was all she had left of Roland Wellesley. Her fingers felt for the indent of the musket ball, there where it had spared his father, the Duke’s, life. Wells should never have given her such a gift, but because he had, she felt responsible for it, wishing to return it to his family someday. Perhaps she’d give it to his son or daughter far in the future when all would be forgiven and forgotten. Whenshe might return to Cumberland and make a life for herself onherterms, no one else’s.
Charles drifted into an uneasy slumber to imagine all she must endure yet here in London before she might escape its awful clutches once again.
CHAPTER FORTY
Eventually the Enrights had, of course, sent an invitation. One did not refuse the Duchess of Allendale and her son. Though Wells suspected they’d delayed their invitation to do some ascertaining of their own, no doubt anxious to determine why, exactly, the Duchess would leave her card.
And it appeared the Countess of Denbigh was still endeavoring to determine this as she sat across from Wells and his mother in the lady’s own front parlor, nervously fidgeting over the tray of tea she’d rung for, as if weighing her words.
“Your Grace, my lord.” She broke with pleasantries, pinching a smile at Wells and the Duchess. “If I may, to what do we owe this unexpected honor?”
The Duchess smiled charmingly. “Why, to enquire after your granddaughter, Lady Enright. Surely you’ve heard my son is in search of a bride.”Maman’ssmile dazzled as Wells, beside her, stiffened.
Lady Enright’s brow furrowed. “We have heard rumors to that effect.” She paused. “Though I admit I am confused by your interest, as my granddaughter, at barely sixteen, is not yet come out. Unless, of course, Your Grace wished to secure his lordship an engagement two years hence?”
