The Scarlet Bride (16 page)

Laura. He would never again sleep in that ridiculously large bed without thinking of her, sleep disheveled and lovely, with the sheet drawn up modestly over her breasts and a half smile showing beneath a tangle of sable hair.

An hour later, fully bathed, polished, and famished, he wandered into the breakfast room, only to find his sullen sister pushing coddled eggs around on her plate.

“Are Mother and Father still abed?” he asked.

A sour grunt was Brenna’s response. Simon smirked and began to ladle foodstuffs from the buffet onto his plate. He needed something to banish the taste of canned meat from his tongue.

“Having no luck in your hunt for a pirate?” He purposefully took the seat across from her, if only to raise her ire. He began the vigorous task of eating while she glared at him. “You might want to check at the docks. There might be one or two there. Check for a man with a wooden leg and a patch over his eye.”

Brenna was pretty in a pink frock. The color went well with her dark hair. Chester Abbot would be delighted to
have her as his wife. Well, as delighted as that milksop could be.

“I am so happy to know that you find pleasure in my misery, Brother. One day soon, I hope you are just as miserable as I.” She stabbed a piece of ham and tore off a corner with her teeth. “I hope you are forced to marry a woman you despise and spend your life dancing attendance to her whiny demands.”

Brenna
was
in a dark mood this morning.

“Your troubles are your own doing, Brenna.” He leaned forward onto his elbows. “Several men have asked to court you and you find fault with all of them. You are pushing spinsterhood and have yet to find your one great love. How much longer do you have before you are no longer considered marriageable?”

“I am barely into my twenties,” she protested. “Surely I am not in immediate danger of turning into a stooped old hag?”

“That isn’t the point.” He sighed. Why did his sister have to be so contrary? “I want to see you settled and happy. There is no reason you shouldn’t already be a wife and mother. You’ve had chances, many chances. Several of those rejected men were both handsome and wealthy, and yet you refused them.”

She slapped her hands on the table and rattled her plate. Her green eyes flashed. “Who? Who of my suitors do you think was my match? Albert Finley? He was three times my age. Hamish O’Reily wanted to take me to Ireland to raise his seven children. And Phillip Weaton? I saw him holding hands in his darkened theater box with his sixth cousin, William. You think that he is my perfect match? Certainly even you can see that our marriage would never work.”

Phillip Weaton and William Brooks? Simon shook his head to clear that disturbing image. “What about Mister Sylvan? He was an amiable sort and both handsome and wealthy.”

“Mister Sylvan cannot decide if he wants cream in his
tea without first consulting his mother.” Brenna’s voice had gone up a pitch. “I’ll not have a husband so inept he’ll need to invite his mother to sit by our marriage bed and bark out instructions on the proper way to deflower his wife.”

Brenna stood abruptly, nearly upending her chair. “I will find a way to forever remove Chester Abbot as a potential suitor if I have to travel from here to Northumberland to find my highwayman!”

Simon waited until she was well away from the room before succumbing to his mirth. He chuckled and finished his breakfast.

W
ith every knock on the town house door, Laura would startle and her heart stop, certain arrest was imminent. Though in her mind she knew that the chances of the Runners finding her were practically nonexistent, she still couldn’t derive any comfort from the knowledge.

“The Runners are known for their dogged investigations into crimes. The murder of Westwick would be a top priority.” Laura met Sophie’s gaze. “How long will it be until they discover my identity?”

“I will never reveal your secret,” Sophie assured her. “Not even Miss Eva knows you were once called Sabine.”

They were sitting on Laura’s bed speaking in whispered tones. A full day had passed since Laura discovered the news. She’d hoped to keep Sophie from finding out the truth. Sophie couldn’t read. She’d only come to Laura after she heard the courtesans discussing the murder and realized that Laura was the missing courtesan.

“I swear I am innocent,” Laura said softly. “I hated him, but I didn’t kill him.”

Sophie took her hand. “I know you didn’t, though no one would fault you if you did. Even if you had arrived here covered with blood, I would not have called for the Runners. Westwick deserved his fate.”

On this they could agree. “It sounds cold, but I do not grieve his loss. He was a horrible man. And yet, he had
moments of kindness, though they were few. During those times, I almost felt as if he truly cared for me. Then when I’d think he might be convinced to free me, the darkness would come again.”

“There are men like him all over this city,” Sophie said. “I have had the misfortune of encountering one myself. But we are both here and safe.” She stood and squeezed Laura’s hand. “So you must think of him no more.”

After the door closed behind Sophie, Laura tried to take comfort in knowing her friend would keep her confidence.

The earl had kept her real identity secret, not to protect her but because he liked possessing a mysterious lover all his friends coveted. That was why he called her Sabine. Still, she knew that one of his friends, Henry, was well aware of who she was. He’d arranged the false marriage and had spent many evenings staring at her over the table, with an evil smirk on his ugly face.

The only thing saving her from arrest was the fact that he wouldn’t know where to find her.

M
iss Laura is indisposed.” Sophie’s voice carried up the stairs to where Laura stood stock-still on the landing. “She is not taking visitors.”

Laura pressed back against the wall.

“She has been indisposed since Monday,” Simon replied with tightly controlled anger. “If she is so ill, I must insist she see a physician.”

“She has a cold,” Sophie lied again. “I am sure as soon as she is well, she will send around a note. Until then, we expect you to respect this household and find another form of entertainment.”

Simon grumbled something that Laura couldn’t make out and then took his leave. Sophie started to walk past the staircase but paused when she saw Laura hiding there.

“He is determined.” Sophie frowned. “This has become unacceptable, Laura. Either you find a way to be rid of him or I will have to speak to Miss Eva. The courtesans are
only a few days from their matching party. I will not have their day disturbed by Mister Harrington’s continued presence.”

Laura nodded. “I’ll see this matter settled immediately.” She wouldn’t ruin the happiness of the day when the former courtesans were matched with husbands. Worse yet, if she kept seeing Simon, she might let a word slip here or there, talk in her sleep, or say something that would clue him in to her identity and leave her open for arrest.

It was a chance she couldn’t take. Simon cared for her, but could he overlook the murder charges against her?

She went to the library and found a sheet of parchment, an inkwell, and a pen. She took them out to the garden and sat at a table under a tree.

The day was slightly overcast, which fit her mood. She looked at the page, trying to come up with just the right words to tell Simon that their friendship had to end.

The idea of never seeing him again left holes in her heart, further convincing her that what she was doing was right. Not only would her attachment deepen each time they were together, but if she was arrested for murder, their connection might come to light and hurt him and his family. Rejecting him would save them all much grief.

She reached for the pen and began to write.

T
his is absurd.” Simon looked down at the servant, Thomas, who stood stoically on the stoop. “Laura didn’t write this.”

“I assure you, sir, that she handed me the note herself.” With that, the man turned and walked back to the carriage. Simon stood, dumbfounded, as the servant drove away.

He backed up and closed the door. Anger and outrage had replaced the frustration he’d felt all week, while Laura hid away at the courtesan school. He’d tried twice to see her and knew the news of the lingering illness were false. Now she claimed to have fallen in love with a man from Eva’s Husbands Book and was running off to marry him.

The notion was laughable. Laura was too practical to fall in love with a drawing in a book. She’d been hurt badly. She’d want to know the man very well before ever considering marriage.

Still, he had seen hints of a romantic heart in her. Could she have actually fallen in love with a face in a book?

He folded the note and tucked it into his coat. If Laura had truly gone against her character and found herself a husband, the truth shouldn’t be difficult to confirm.

“Dunston!” he bellowed. “Come. I need you!”

L
aura stayed hidden in the town house for three days. She avoided windows and spoke to no one outside the school. Every time she saw a man walk past the town house, or loiter against a fence, or rest out of the sun beneath a tree along the street, she was certain she was being watched.

Only the furor of the party had kept her from hiding under her bed, chewing her nails to the quick. She helped the young ladies prepare for their party and would watch the festivities from a window overlooking the garden.

“You all look lovely,” she said, blinking back tears. She’d become fond of the women in the weeks she’d known them. Her happiness for them was genuine. “I know the men will be eager to win your hearts.”

Jane smiled and smoothed her hand over her pale blue dress. “You should be joining us. There are enough husbands for everyone.”

Miss Eva stepped forward. “Laura is not ready for a husband. I shall offer again, in time for the next party.”

Miss Eva was now aware that Laura and Simon had spent the night together and wasn’t pleased. Sophie had thought it her place to share the news with her employer.

Thankfully, Miss Eva had accepted Laura’s assurance that she’d taken care of the problem of his visits.

Simon had stayed away, further attesting to the persuasion of her note, though neither she nor Miss Eva was certain he’d gone for good. And Miss Noelle was convinced he was waiting for a right time to return, thinking kidnapping wasn’t beyond him to get what he wanted.

Mariette pulled on her gloves. “If you change your mind, Laura, I have a pretty cream frock that would look perfect on you.”

Laura held up her hands, palms open. “I appreciate your concern, everyone, but I think I shall wait a bit longer before considering marriage.”

The party was a gay event, with two matches made before the party’s close and another two women close to choosing their husbands. The last one, Mariette, wanted to consider her options for a few days before choosing between three suitors.

The young women were the pillars of propriety and Miss Eva beamed with pride over their accomplishments.

Later Laura joined Eva in the parlor after the women had retired to their rooms at the end of the exciting day. The town house was oddly quiet for the first time since sunrise.

“I do not know how you do this over and over,” Laura said, flopping down in a chair. She was exhausted, and she had done very little to help. “And end the day still standing.”

Eva smiled and sipped her tea. “I know the desperation that forces women to sell their bodies. I believe they should have another choice. To know that I can help is what drives me onward during those times when I’d rather curl up in bed with a book.”

Laura nodded. “I do admire you, Miss Noelle, and Sophie. I have seen firsthand how happy you make your former courtesans. I do not think a single one stopped smiling for a minute today.”

Eva put the cup down. “I will continue to match them for as long as good health allows.” She rose slowly and smoothed out her gown. It was the first sign of fatigue Laura
had seen. “I believe my carriage has arrived. It is time for me to return home and soak my tired feet.”

Curiosity drove Laura to a window. She knew almost nothing about Miss Eva. She was a mystery to all save Sophie. And Sophie was fiercely protective of the secrets of her employer.

An unadorned coach stood waiting, a tall man in black leaning casually against it. Laura couldn’t see him well in the dim light, but did see a flash of a smile when Eva went down the steps. He took her hand and drew it to his mouth before assisting her into the dark interior and following her inside.

Laura smiled. The spinster rescuer had secrets, too. The man with the coach was clearly fond of her. Perhaps Miss Eva was about to lose her spinster title.

Collecting the teacups, Laura returned them to the kitchen and went upstairs. There was nary a whisper from behind closed doors as she walked to her room. The young women were likely sound asleep, or very close to it. There had been several squelched yawns behind gloved hands as they’d said their goodnights.

She quietly opened the door, only to let out a squeak of alarm at the sight greeting her on her bed. Fearful her cry would alert Sophie and lead to a devastating discovery, she glanced quickly down the hallway, then hurried inside and clicked the door closed behind her.