Harris was pleased with himself until he?—
“Wait!” He caught her about the waist just as she was about to exit. “You’ll not endanger yerself by now visitin’ some other gamin’ den.”
“Unhand me.” Her eyes skewered him. “I may do as I wish.”
She struggled in his grip but was unable to dislodge him. Harris had half a mind to throw her over his shoulder and deliver her to Jasper direct,pain-in-the-arse miss.
And then it hit him.
“O’ course I can’t keep you.” He released her waist and took her hand, pretending again to ‘gentleman.’ “But I can, perhaps, offer a solution to your lack of funds.”
“Oh?” Tiny freckles dotted the bridge of her nose. How’d he missed those?
He shook off her spell. “I am in need of a bookkeeper, it seems, and as you’re in need of cash, why don’t we discuss employment instead, over a glass of port perhaps?” He prayed she would accept; Jasp would flay him alive if she came to harm visiting some other den.
“Very well,” she answered. “But no port, Mr. Harris. I’ve had enough to drink today.”
With relief, Harris watched the lady sit back down. He allowed his eyes to devour her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Shewhat?” Milton could not believe his ears. “Annabelle Winthrop, pretty little milksop, proposed sharing her earnings with you, provided you let her game your patrons atvingt-et-un?” He remained incredulous. “Please tell me she’s not?—”
“Yer equal?” Arty appeared to be enjoying this. “Sure is, Jasp. In fact, I replaced me bookkeeper with ’er.”
“Youwhat?” Milton’s incredulity doubled.
“I said, I hired Miss Winthrop as bookkeeper, t’ keep ’er from runnin’ to an even worse gamin’ hell, which is what th’ minx threatened t’ do.”
“Good God.” Milton shook his head. “Lizzie’s goddamn little sister…”
“Yes, yer wife’s bloody sister, whoyousaid needed protectin’.”
“Well it is apparent I underestimated her.”Like I underestimated my wife. “I’m sorry I got you into this, Arty, but it is clear we have a situation that needs immediate solving.”
“Nope.” Arty shook his head. “Already solved, Jasp. Did y’ not hear me? I hired the chit. Fine bookkeeper too.”
“Arty, that does not solve whoever this revolting suitor of hers is, nor how quickly her monster of a father will sell her off.”
The two stared in silence at one another in Milton’s smoking room.
“You should tell yer wife,” Arty stated.
“Absolutely not.”
“Are things not well in th’ land o’ matrimony, Jasp?”
“Arty, I do not wish to discuss my marriage. What I wish to discuss is how to keep Annabelle Winthrop from?—”
“And just why’re you so concerned with this miss?”
“Because she’s my sister-in-law!” Milton erupted. “She is family now, and it is my duty to ensure she does not fall into?—”
“Well you’ve a strange way o’ showin’ duty, Jasp, considerin’ y’ neatly swindled Lord Winthrop fer his eldest with nary a qualm fer that.”
“Are you deliberately trying to vex me?” Milton rose to his feet. “Because if you are, I’ve a mind to wipe that bloody smirk from your face with my fist.” He could, and would.
“Jasp, I ain’t tryin’ t’ goad, guv, I’m simply pointin’ out th’ obvious. Y’ pressured Winthrop, an’ now another’s doin’ the same, like you expected might happen once word o’ yer marriage got out. I don’t want Miss Winthrop sold off neither, not when the girl’s closin’ me books at half price. But the fact o’ the matter is?—”
