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Authors: Kimberly Logan

Tags: #Historical Romance, #England, #Regency Romance, #Love Story, #Romance, #London

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BOOK: A Kiss In The Dark
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“Deirdre, luv! What are you doing ’ere so early?”

Lilah’s exclamation brought her out of her ruminations, and she gave her friend a warm smile, aware all the while of Tristan’s penetrating gaze. “Hello, Lilah. I hope you don’t mind me showing up so unexpectedly, but—”

“Don’t be daft! You know I’m always glad to see you.”

The dark-haired woman ushered them into the room, chattering away, as usual, and completely unconcerned with her state of dishabille. Deirdre had to stifle a laugh as she noticed Tristan’s bemused countenance. She’d known Lilah for as long as she could remember. Aside from Harry, the prostitute had been one of the few people who’d been there for her in the days after her father’s abandonment, and she was quite fond of her. However, she knew the woman’s exuberant manner could be a trifle disconcerting.

“I’ve been wanting to thank you for those dresses you brought me the last time you came to visit,” Lilah was saying as she closed the door behind them. “They’re right fine. Too fine for the likes of me.”

“Nonsense. Nothing is too fine for the likes of you.”

The prostitute beamed, then turned to Tristan, her eyes lighting with curiosity and definite feminine interest as they roamed over his muscular form. “Who ’ave we ’ere?”

The scowl that marred Tristan’s face told Deirdre he didn’t much care for being sized up like a prime stallion on the block at Tattersall’s, so she swiftly intervened. “This is Tristan.” She was surprised at how easily his name fell from her lips. In fact, the familiarity with which she spoke it made her feel a bit unsettled. “I’ve hired him to accompany me on my … errands here in the Fields.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m not glad to ’ear it. I’ve been telling you for months you needed more protection when you come down ’ere. Someone besides Cullen—” Lilah came to an abrupt halt, looking quite suddenly aggrieved. “You ’aven’t replaced Cullen, ’ave you?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. He’s outside with the carriage.”

The prostitute rushed to the window and flung open the casement. Waving wildly, she leaned far out over the sill, her ample charms in the low-cut dressing gown well displayed to anyone who might be below on the street. “Oh, Cullen! Cullen! Yoo ’oo! Up ’ere!”

Deirdre, who had followed Lilah across the room, peered over her shoulder just in time to see the coachman duck his head, his square-jawed face reddening.

At his less than enthusiastic reaction, Lilah sighed and straightened away from the window ledge. “I’ve done everything but stand on me ’ead in front of that man,” she grumbled, tugging at the belt on her wrapper. “For all the good it does me.”

One corner of Deirdre’s mouth tilted upward in amusement. She’d known of her friend’s interest in Cullen for some time. Secretly, she was certain he returned those feelings but was just too shy to respond to the woman’s overtures. “You might be surprised.”

The prostitute sniffed, then eyed Deirdre askance. “You know, luv, you never did say why you’re ’ere.”

“Actually, we …
I
am looking for someone.”

Deirdre turned to Tristan, who had been quiet all this time, observing their conversation with an unreadable expression. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking as she held out her hand to him. “Tristan. The miniature, if you please?”

He reached into his pocket and withdrew the small, oval-framed portrait of his sister, a brief spark of pain flashing in the depths of his eyes as he glanced down at it before handing it over.

Deirdre, herself, felt the same sharp pang she’d felt earlier, when Tristan had first showed it to her. Lady Emily was, indeed, a younger version of her mother, beautiful and angelic, with long, golden curls and eyes the same shade of violet as Tristan’s.

She was unable to keep the hope from rising within her as she showed the portrait to Lilah, but those hopes were immediately dashed when the woman shook her head. “I can’t say I’ve seen ’er.”

“And you haven’t heard anything? Maybe someone bragging about locating a new girl for their stables?”

Deirdre knew Tristan had caught on to what she was asking, for she felt him stiffen behind her, his tension almost palpable. She couldn’t blame him. The thought of the innocent Lady Emily being forced into prostitution was horrible to contemplate, but it was an avenue that had to be explored. Things like that happened far too often to young girls in the rookery.

But once again, Lilah shook her head. “No. I ’aven’t ’eard a thing. But I’ll keep me ear to the ground and let you know if I do.”

Deirdre sighed and handed the miniature back to Tristan. “Thank you.”

Lilah tilted her head, studying Deirdre curiously. “She’s a pretty little thing. Who is she?”

“Oh, just … a friend of a friend.”

“Run away, ’as she? And ’ighborn to boot, from the looks of ’er. Well, she’s not the first one of those to think life is easier on the streets, and she won’t be the last. But I’d say she’s in for a ’arsh lesson.”

Deirdre nodded, very much afraid Lilah was right.

The prostitute’s next words, however, momentarily distracted her from her worry over Tristan’s sister. “And ’ere I thought you’d come because you’d ’eard about Mr. Baldwin.”

“Baldwin? The pawnbroker?”

“That’s the one. It’s all over the Fields that they found ’is body in an alleyway this morning. ’E’d been stabbed.”

“How awful.”

Lilah shrugged. “It’s ’is own fault for doing business wiv the likes of Barnaby Flynt.”

Deirdre froze, her heart skipping a beat. “Barnaby Flynt?”

“Mmmm.” Though even Lilah didn’t know everything that had occurred, most especially the incident with Tristan’s mother, she’d been around when Deirdre had been part of Barnaby’s gang and was well aware of her aversion to the man. It was an aversion the prostitute shared, as Flynt had once tried to force her into his own private stable of doxies, an attempt she had fought tooth and nail. “I suppose you know ’e’s back.”

Deirdre slid a sidelong glance at Tristan, whose eyebrows had lowered in a frown, before taking a step closer to her friend. “What does he have to do with this?”

“Everyone knows Baldwin was acting as Flynt’s receiver. If the man ’imself didn’t do it, one of ’is boys did, sure enough.”

“What does the law have to say about it?”

“The law?” Lilah snorted. “The law don’t care what goes on in ’ere unless it’s worth their while. You know that. They’ve made sure the body was removed, and that’ll be the end of it as far as they’re concerned. ’E’s just another poor blighter what no one cares about. ’E’d ’ave to be a titled gent before they’d lower themselves to try and catch ’is killer.”

It was true. Deirdre knew better than anyone that Bow Street tended to turn a blind eye to the rookeries unless they were compelled by either money or personal gain to do so.

Barnaby Flynt. Already the man was leaving a trail of mayhem in his wake.

As if reading her mind, Lilah reached out to pat her shoulder sympathetically. “It’s a good thing you went and married that fine gent of yours and you’re not around ’ere so much anymore, luv. It looks like we’re right back where we left off eight years ago.”

“Who’s Barnaby Flynt?”

Tristan’s question was so unexpected that for a moment Deirdre was stunned. Knowing him, she supposed she should have realized that it was too much to hope he would remain silent the entire time. He was far too accustomed to taking the lead. After all, it was his sister who was missing, and he must be champing at the bit to be a more active participant in the search. But the question he’d chosen to ask came far too close to the one subject Deirdre wanted most to avoid.

“Someone we’d do well to stay away from,” she finally answered, then turned back to Lilah, hoping to forestall any further queries. “I suppose we’d best be on our way. But before we go, I couldn’t help noticing your … guest.” She paused, trying to think of a way to phrase her next inquiry delicately. “Are you short on funds, Lilah? Do you need anything?”

The prostitute gave her head a firm, negative shake. “Oh, I couldn’t take anything more from you, luv. You’ve done enough for me already, what wiv giving me them dresses and talking ’arry into letting me ’ave a room ’ere at the tavern. ’E pays me what ’e can for ’elping out downstairs, and the rest …” She reddened. “Well, I make out all right.”

“But you don’t have to—”

“I know I don’t. But it’s me job, Deirdre. It’s all I know ’ow to do and do well. I earn me own way.”

Deirdre sighed and reached out to hug her friend. “You are so stubborn.”

Lilah gave her a gentle squeeze in return. “I’ve just got me pride. Something you should understand.”

“That’s the trouble. I do.” Deirdre took a step back and smiled at the woman. “I don’t suppose you have any suggestions as to where to continue my search?”

“’Ave you tried Mouse yet?”

“Mouse? No. Do you think he might know something?”

“Mouse knows everything. It’s the getting it out of ’im that’s the problem. ’Course, ’e’s fond of you, so you might not ’ave any trouble at all.”

Deirdre nodded. “It might be worth a try.” She leaned forward to give her friend a swift peck on the cheek. “Thank you, Lilah.”

“Ah, go on wiv you.” The prostitute brushed aside the show of affection with a sweep of her hand, but she couldn’t hide her delighted smile. “And be careful. I don’t know what ’appened between you and Barnaby all those years ago, but I do know ’e was wild to find you at the time, and ’e never forgets a slight against ’im.”

With a speculative look, she turned to Tristan, fluttering her eyelashes in a coy manner. “And it was a definite pleasure to meet you, luv.” She held out a hand to him expectantly.

Deirdre stopped dead, certain he was about to snub the prostitute’s friendly gesture. But to her surprise, the frown vanished from his face, to be replaced by a charming smile as he bent over the woman’s work-roughened fingers. “And it was a pleasure to meet you, Mistress Lilah.”

Lilah gave an amused laugh. “Cor! Ain’t you got manners? You feel free to come visit me anytime, luv.”

With one last hug for Deirdre, she showed them out of the room.

After the door closed behind them, Deirdre looked up at Tristan, positive her bemusement showed on her face. “Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?”

“For being kind to her.”

Their eyes locked for a long moment, and Deirdre felt her heart pick up speed and her breath lodge in her throat at the intensity of his gaze. Finally, forcibly tearing herself away, she turned and started toward the stairs without another word.

The two of them returned to the carriage in silence, and it wasn’t until Deirdre had given Cullen directions as to their next destination and they were once more on their way that Tristan spoke again.

But when he opened his mouth, it wasn’t the words she had expected to hear that came out.

“Who is Barnaby Flynt?”

Chapter 8

A
t first, Tristan was certain Deirdre wasn’t going to answer him. Her expression closed up and a wary light entered her eyes. The same light that had sparked to life earlier when Lilah had first brought up Barnaby Flynt.

What was it about this man, that the mere mention of his name could cause such a reaction?

Just when he thought he would have to ask the question again, Deirdre gave a sigh and finally spoke. “Barnaby Flynt is a monster. A cruel, heartless man who likes to believe he rules Tothill Fields and everyone in it.”

“And he’s responsible for the death of this Baldwin fellow?”

“He and his gang are responsible for more than half the criminal activities that take place here. He’s vicious, and he tends to deal harshly with those who make the mistake of crossing him.”

Tristan felt a chill at the thought of his sister at the mercy of such a person. “What about the law?”

“You heard what Lilah said. She’s right. For the most part they don’t concern themselves with what goes on in the rookeries.”

His jaw set. “They bloody well will concern themselves if I find out my sister’s life is at stake because of their negligence.” Memories of the way the Bow Street officers had put him off last evening roused his temper, and his mind drifted back to the conversation between Deirdre and Lilah. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been aware of the dangers Emily faced, but having them discussed in such a candid manner right in front of him had been horrifying, to say the least.

BOOK: A Kiss In The Dark
2.04Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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