Page 8 of Only Pleasure Will Do

“I thought you might be the man who kidnapped me. I hoped I might be able to escape, but I tried the door immediately and it was locked.”

“Someone apparently followed me or was watching the door. As soon as I came in, they bolted it behind me.” Mouth puckered, the man looked disgusted with himself. “A trap a child could’ve foreseen.”

“You cannot blame yourself, Sir Reginald.”

“I can and do, madam.” Gingerly, he rose from the cot and rolled his shoulders, turning his head slowly from side to side. “Had I taken better precautions, we would be on the road to London by now.”

“So we are from Town?” She’d suspected as much, though the kidnappers might have driven in circles to confuse her, for all she knew.

“A fair distance, yes.”

“How did you come to be here, Sir Reginald?” The fact that he’d decided to attempt to rescue her stunned her, no matter what she’d done for his family. She’d given Jenny that instruction on a whim, hoping, should such dire circumstances occur, Sir Reginald would remember the chance meeting they’d had over a year ago and perhaps decide to make some inquiries about her. Well, he’d certainly done more than that.

“I started by questioning your girls to find out if you had any enemies amongst your house’s patrons.” He glanced down at his dishabille, caught her gaze and shook his head before buttoning up his waistcoat again. “They gave me several names of men you’d had difficulties with over the past few months. Naturally, I made inquiries of them first thing.”

“Who were they, if I may ask? I do pride myself on running a discreet establishment. I fear I will have some apologies to make when I return.” Lord knew what her patrons would say to being rousted up by a Bow Street magistrate and questioned about their connection to her.

“Sir John Abbot had a slight altercation with you a month past, according to Jenny.”

“A slight misunderstanding about payment. When I confronted Sir John about the discrepancy, he was quite lavish in his remuneration.” And had been assured no one else would discover certain proclivities he indulged in at the House of Pleasure.

“One of the ladies mentioned Lord Bentley in connection with an unfortunate occurrence just before you left.” Sir Reginald’s expressive brows slowly rose, as if in inquiry.

“Huh.” Amorina waved Lord Bentley away. “His lordship has certain expectations, shall we say, of the ladies he visits. When informed that his usual girl was not available and no one else could fulfil those expectations, he became somewhat more vocal than usual, intimating that I should fill the breach.” She laughed mirthlessly. Bentley should’ve known better than to suggest such a thing. “I informed him that his patronage would not be welcome at the House of Pleasure until further notice.”

“He mentioned that when I spoke with him, although you may be sure his language was somewhat coarser than that.” Still holding his head, Sir Reginald paced into the other room, gazing about. “The last one was a Mr. George Hanson. I believe Mistress Chloe said he’d threatened you the last time he came to the house.”

“Another storm in a cream bowl.” Amorina followed Sir Reginald, who had even now climbed the staircase to examine the door. “Mr. Hanson had an embarrassing encounter with Chloe, demanded his money back, and said he would go to the authorities if I didn’t hand it over.” Poor Mr. Hanson had had this trouble before. Some men simply could not perform every time they visited, even though her ladies had been instructed in ways to help things along. “Instead, I gave him a voucher allowing him to return after a few days, once his juices had risen again. I left before he returned, but I hope he found satisfaction when he did.”

Raising his head from his inspection of the door’s lock, Sir Reginald stared at her, pursing his lips. “When I spoke with him, he had nothing but warm praises for your kindness, Madam Vestry. When none of the three gentlemen turned out to have a true grudge against you, I began to think of who else might wish to do you harm.” He stalked down the stairs toward her and she shrank from the blaze in his sky-blue eyes. “Of course, the very first person who came to mind was Mr. Thomas Redmond.”

Amorina stumbled backward until her back hit the rough wall. Of all the villains she’d thought of during her week here, the one she’d feared the most was her erstwhile partner. If he truly was the one who held her, then she prayed God would have mercy on her soul.