The redhead snorted. “Gentleman?I hope you don’t refer to yourself.”
“And this lady isn’t a whore,” the blonde added. “Anyone can see that, and I’d wager you knew it well enough when you brought her up here.”
“Another wager?” Julian waved a hand around the room. “You’re still in a brothel, madam. Perhaps you should conclude your last wager before you undertake a second one. After all, I may have rope and gags enough for all four of you.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if you did,” snapped the redhead. “We’re not afraid ofyou, and we’ll have an explanation for your infamous behavior at once.”
He shrugged. “Very well. The marchioness and I are…acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances?” The little blonde grasped Charlotte’s shoulders, turned her around, and began to fasten the back of her gown. “Are you in the habit of ripping your acquaintances’ clothing from their backs?”
“Ah. Well. That depends on the acquaintance.”
A corner of the tall blonde’s mouth twitched. “Indeed. What is your name, sir?”
Julian tugged the ends of his cravat into place and began to tie it with smooth, precise movements, but he remained silent. He’d answered enough of her questions, and since he meant to stay far away from Charlotte after tonight, her blonde friend didn’t need to know his name.
“Perhaps it’s just as well,” she murmured, when it became clear he wasn’t going to reply. “All buttoned up again, Charlotte? Ah, very good. Then I see no reason to linger. Let’s be certain we all leave together this time, all right, my dears?”
Julian pulled his coat on. “No. I don’t think so.”
All four ladies turned to him, but it was Charlotte who spoke. “What do you mean, you don’t think so?”
He leaned down and scooped up her black masque from the floor. “You’re coming with me.”
Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest. “Not without rope and a gag, I’m not. I’m leaving with my friends.”
“I don’t think so,” he said again. “For all I know your friends are on their way to another whorehouse. You’ll come with me, as it’s the only way I can be certain you’re delivered safely to your door.”
“How gallant. Rather surprising, given the circumstances. I’ve no need for an escort, however.”
“You mistake the matter indeed if you think my concern is foryou.”
Somehow in the midst of this bizarre evening he’d forgotten why he dragged Charlotte upstairs in the first place. Because bloody Cam had cozened him into it, and because Ellie had made it clear she’d rather her younger sisterdidn’tspend her time in a whorehouse.
“Such admirable family loyalty.” Charlotte gave a short, mocking laugh. “But perhaps I can be persuaded to accept your escort after all, as long as we agree no one else needs to know about this.”
Too late. But then Charlotte obviously hadn’t caught on to that fact, and he wasn’t about to enlighten her. The lie fell smoothly from his lips. “If you come with me now, no one need be the wiser.”
“Good. After all, no harm was done tonight.”
No harm yet. They still had to escape a crowded whorehouse with her reputation intact. A tricky business, that. Cam and Ellie could be the least of Charlotte’s worries. By tomorrow everyone in London might know about her whorehouse escapade.
“I have your word on this?” Charlotte pressed.
“Of course.” The promise was broken before he even made it, but she’d given up any right she had to the truth when she’d strolled into a whorehouse. He’d do whatever it took to get her out the door.
She studied him for a moment, then turned to her friends. “It’s all right. He’ll take me straight back to Grosvenor Square.”
The redhead slid Julian a measuring look, then frowned. “I don’t like it, Charlotte.”
“I don’t, either.” The petite blonde looked as if she were on the verge of tears. “What proof do we have he’ll see you home safely? Why, he could drop you in the middle of Seven Dials and leave you to the mercy of the footpads!”
“I assure you, madam, I have no such intention. Why should I play such a nasty trick on the footpads?”
The tall blonde’s mouth twitched again; then she came forward and kissed Charlotte’s cheek. “Alas, straight back to Grosvenor Square, just as if you were a naughty child. Rather a dull end to an otherwise promising evening. But no matter.” She threw Julian a provoking smile. “There’s always tomorrow night. Now, ladies, are your masques secured? We have to make our way through that pack of shrieking villains again.”
The other two ladies kissed Charlotte, tightened the ribbons on their masques and followed the tall blonde out the door, leaving the room far quieter than it was before they’d entered.
