Page 24 of The Seduction of Viscount Vice

“Here, let me try,” said Helena anxiously.

But even with the younger woman’s help, the gown dropped less than half an inch.

“Oh, Mairi.” Yvette pursed her lips in distaste. “You have gained weight, the cardinal sin for a performer. I warned you about idleness and gluttony, did I not?”

“But that is impossible,” whispered Mairi. “I’ve been doing all sorts of carrying and lifting and running around. And refusing dessert.”

“I thought you actually wanted this chance. But look at your derriere. So large! I am very disappointed.”

Helena bent down, turning the fabric inside out and inspecting the gown. “Could we unpick and let it out a little at the seam? Hmmm. It actually looks like it has been taken in—”

“Are you a seamstress, mademoiselle?” snapped Yvette.

“No…but the stitching is crooked, see? And the thread a different color.”

Mairi froze in sick horror and met Yvette’s cold eyes in the looking glass. “You didn’t do that to my costume…did you?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” said the Frenchwoman, but her gaze shifted sideways. “It’s not my fault if a performer is lazy and ill-disciplined and eats like a piglet. And now I must find a replacement—the last thing I wanted on opening night. After everything I’ve done for you. For shame, Mairi.”

A sob caught in Mairi’s throat as the last part of her world collapsed. “You…you were never going to let me perform, were you?”

Yvette tilted her head and sneered. “A woman as tall as a man? Who likes to wear breeches? You were useful in gaining the information. And the sewing and cleaning. But on my stage? I think not. Go. Go attend to the props and mend costumes. That is the only thing you are fit to do.”

And with that, her employer stormed from the room.

Mairi’s legs buckled, and she sank to the floor, tearing off the gown and hurling it away. “No.”

Helena sniffled loudly as she crouched beside Mairi and wrapped a light robe around her. “Oh, Mairi. I’m so sorry. That evil, evil woman. I would tear every one of those stupid curls from her head and stab her with a hundred needles.”

“I’ll be fine,” Mairi lied hoarsely. “But you should go. Before anyone sees you without your mask on. Before Iain—”

“Please, do continue,” said an ice-cold male voice. “Before Iain what?”

Oh, God.

Mairi didn’t even need to look up to know he was here—and blindingly furious.

All at once, her heart shattered.

…

Vice hadn’t thought his anger could burn any hotter than it had while traveling here with the Prince Regent. The future king was so disconcerted, the man had given him a hasty smile and scooted away as soon as they walked through Worldly’s front door.

He’d been about to enter the large front parlor and take a closer look at the décor—an ode to all things British. But then he’d heard two very, very familiar female voices down the hallway, and his temper had turned volcanic explosion.

Helena, his virginal and decidedly unworldly sister, was here. Surrounded by jaded, bored, and spiteful society men and women at a damned pleasure club. Worse, this wasn’t the infinitely safer, iron-clad contract environment of Fallen with its expertly trained footmen and him, Diaz, and Sin all keeping a stern and ruthless eye on proceedings, but one with totally unknown rules and boundaries.

Was there no end to Mairi’s lies and betrayals?

“Hello, Iain,” said Mairi, her voice so thready he could hardly hear her.

She sounded broken and looked all wrong, too, sitting on the floor with her shoulders hunched and arms curled around her long legs. Fuck. The fact that he even noticed, the fact that it caused him pain, only infuriated him more. “My name,” he replied in a lifeless voice, one he barely recognized as his own, “is Vice. Or my lord. As I told you at Fallen when you first reappeared. I don’t know how you lured my sister here. Actually, I don’t want to know any more of your revolting schemes. But Helena and I are leaving. Immediately. If I have to drag her away.”

Helena gasped. “You’ll do no—”

He didn’t say a word, but his gaze must have said plenty, for abruptly his sister went silent and bowed her head.

“Don’t make a scene,” said Mairi quietly. “For her sake. Nobody knows who she is. She wore a mask coming in, and there hasn’t been a hint of trouble. But if you do that, they’ll guess.”