“Well, he will listen to me!” Lily declared, turning abruptly toward the door. “I will make him listen.”
Not liking her implication, Heath stepped into her path, blocking her exit. “Just what do you intend, Lily?”
“To go down to that brute’s gaming club this instant and confront him-give him a piece of my mind at the very least.”
“You will do no such thing.”
“What the devil do you mean?” she demanded, her fists clenching.
Lily was practically breathing fire, she was so angry, but she obviously was not thinking clearly. “I mean that you will allow me to handle O’Rourke. He will take me far more seriously.”
She looked as if she would dispute him, but then she hesitated, as if knowing he was right.
Taking advantage of her fuming silence, Heath pressed harder. “You can sheathe your sword for now, angel. I promise to deal with him.”
Lily gazed up at him warily, clearly reluctant to accept his help. “This really is not your concern, you know.”
“I am making it my concern.” Heath’s gaze intensified. “You don’t want to fight me on this, Lily. You won’t win.”
“You promise to stop O’Rourke from hurting Fanny again?”
“You have my solemn word.”
He waited as Lily debated with herself, feeling an overwhelming need to wrap her in his arms and protect her from herself. She was magnificent in her fury, and he admired her loyalty to her friends, but he wanted to know that she was safe. Accosting O’Rourke in his lair was only asking for trouble, if not actual danger, and he was not about to let her attempt it.
When Lily nodded once, brusquely, Heath tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear and hid a smile of relief and satisfaction.
He had wanted the chance to slay dragons for Lily. It was merely that the opportunity had arrived much sooner than he’d planned.
O’Rourke’s gaming club was situated just off Bond Street, not far from the boardinghouse, so Heath’s carriage reached it shortly. The decor was expensive with pretensions to gentility, he saw when he was admitted by a well-muscled bruiser. He found O’Rourke in his office at the rear of the gaming rooms, sitting behind his desk.
Sporting ebony hair and a burly build, O’Rourke somewhat resembled the ruffians Lily had confronted in the alley last week. His facial features were square and rugged, with a nose that had been broken at least once.
When Heath was shown in, the gamester’s expression registered surprise and wariness, but he rose politely.
“Lord Claybourne…to what do I owe this honor?” he asked, taking obvious care with his diction.
“I gather you know who I am,” Heath replied.
“Naturally. I make it my business to know all the nabobs in London.” O’Rourke hesitated. “And I saw you at the jades’ house last week.”
Heath raised an eyebrow. “Jades?”
“Fleur and Chantel. You were on the stairs as I was leaving.”
“When you were unceremoniously evicted, you mean.”
A muscle flexed O’Rourke’s jaw, but he held on to his temper as he gestured at a wooden chair set in front of his desk. “Would you care to be seated, milord?”
“Thank you, no. My business won’t take long.”
Heath had kept his hat and walking stick upon being admitted, and O’Rourke surveyed the stick measuringly before locking gazes again with his guest. “I’ll wager I know the purpose of your visit, milord.”
“Do you?”
“You’ve come on behalf of those bawds.”
“In part. I am more concerned about your mistreatment of Miss Irwin.”
The heavy black brows snapped together. “What do you mean, mistreatment? I never laid a hand on Fanny.”
“Indeed? You split her lip and left bruises on her jaw from your grip.”
His expression turned bewildered. “I never meant to. I would never hurt Fanny. I love her.”
“You have a curious way of showing love.”
“Is that so?” O’Rourke’s tone held a hint of belligerence. “What is it to you, your lordship? Fanny hasn’t taken up with you, has she?”
“If you mean, am I enjoying her services, then no. But she is under my protection all the same. Miss Irwin is a friend of a friend.”
Nodding as if in understanding, O’Rourke sank back into his chair. “So that’s the way of it? You’re hot for that little firebrand who attacked me.”
Heath felt his mouth twitch at the suitability of the term for Lily. “You might put it that way. I hope to make that little firebrand my wife someday, and the well-being of her friends is of grave importance to her, and therefore to me.”
“Did she send you here?”
“I volunteered.” Heath smiled rather coldly. “You should consider yourself fortunate that I stopped her from coming here herself. She was quite eager to have your blood.”
“And you are not?”
“Let us say I am willing to settle for a warning. If you hurt Miss Irwin again-if you so much as damage a hair on her head-you will answer to me.”
The gamester stared back. “What will you do, your lordship, call me out? That would hardly be fair, considering that you’re one of the premiere swordsmen in London.”
“I daresay in England,” Heath returned mildly. “And I am accounted a fair shot as well.” In truth he was a deadly shot, as he suspected O’Rourke would know.
The man glanced down to where Heath had rested his hands on the gold knob of his walking stick. “That is a swordstick, or I miss my guess.”
“I make it a policy never to confront an opponent unarmed.”
“I am not your enemy, milord.”
“You will be if you persist in ill-using Miss Irwin.”
O’Rourke visibly clenched his teeth. “So you will meet me at dawn some morning?”
“That is one possibility,” Heath replied. “Or I could pursue an alternate course. It might pain you more to be forced to close the doors to your club.”
The threat made O’Rourke scowl harder. “You mean you would drive me out of business.”
“If I must. I have no compunction about crushing a man who abuses women.” Heath paused to let that sink in before saying in a leading tone, “A gaming hell’s reputation is a fragile thing, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. O’Rourke? If word were to get out about certain dishonest dealings…”
“I run an honest establishment!”
“So I understand. But rumors of cheating are difficult to quell.”
His anger was evident, but he merely demanded, “What do you want of me, Lord Claybourne?”
“I told you. I want you to keep your hands off Miss Irwin.”
“Very well, I will!” he snapped.
“And I want you to withdraw your threat of imprisoning her friends.”
“Why the devil should I? That debt was entirely legit.”
“Legal perhaps, but still underhanded. You lured them to your Faro table and staked them well beyond their means to pay. But regardless of how the debt came about, they should have the funds to repay you shortly. If not I will cover the debt in full.”
When O’Rourke continued to glare, Heath smiled amiably. “I could have brought a draft from my bank today, but my ‘firebrand,’ as you call her, is rather proud and independent and wishes to handle the problem on her own, so I won’t interfere unless absolutely necessary. But one way or another, Mr. O’Rourke, you will be repaid.”
O’Rourke shook his head in irritation. “I don’t want your blunt, milord.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Fanny. I want Fanny.”
Heath settled into the proffered chair after all. He had suspected something of the sort. “Would you care to explain?”
O’Rourke’s grimace was part vexed, part rueful. “I’ve been head over ears for Fanny since the first time I saw her. I was her first protector, in fact.”
“But she didn’t return the sentiment.”
The games
ter’s mouth twisted bitterly. “Not back then. Even when I offered to make her respectable and wed her, Fanny turned me down cold. She was sixteen and wanted the grand life I couldn’t give her at the time. I’m rich as Croesus now and could set her up in comfort for life, but she still won’t bite at matrimony. Says she doesn’t want me for a husband, even though she’ll be whistling a fortune away. I fancy it’s because she thinks herself too good for the likes of me. But I know I can make her see reason if I keep after her.”
“So you are using that debt as leverage to persuade Fanny to return to you,” Heath mused.
“Yes. I don’t care about the blunt. And I wouldn’t really send those old bawds to prison. But you see why I don’t want you settling their debt. If you pay, I’ll have no chance to convince Fanny to wed me.”
Heath gave a brief nod. He could at least sympathize with the man’s dilemma, since he’d been trying earnestly to convince Lily to marry him. But sympathizing was not the same as condoning.
When O’Rourke continued, his tone was more congenial. “You seem to be a reasonable gent, milord. Surely we can come to a mutual agreement?”
“I believe so, since my terms are simple.”
“I won’t hurt Fanny again, you have my word.”
“Good. And if you mean to continue trying to win her hand in marriage, you will accomplish it without threatening her friends. This afternoon you will write to Fleur and Chantel and inform them of your willingness to wait for repayment for as long as they require. And you will be gracious about it.”
“Very well, milord,” O’Rourke said reluctantly. “I suppose you leave me no choice.”
Heath smiled. “That was precisely my intention, Mr. O’Rourke. I am gratified that you are such an astute businessman.”
Lily heard from Heath that afternoon, but his brief missive only reported that he had dealt with the problem of O’Rourke. Lily couldn’t feel entirely satisfied by the news. She had wanted the brute severely punished for hurting Fanny but suspected Heath had let him off with merely a stern warning.
An hour later, however, Fleur and Chantel received an effusive apology from O’Rourke, saying that he regretted causing them distress and that he would no longer insist on immediate payment of their debt, so Lily had to be content with that.
And truly, she was grateful to Heath for helping her friends avoid the threat of prison. And for being willing to protect Fanny against O’Rourke. She was even more grateful for what he’d done for Betty and Peg. Seeing his gentleness when he’d consoled the sobbing prostitute had nearly melted Lily’s heart. Heath had promised the girl she would be safe in her new life, and Lily trusted that it would happen.
Yet he apparently didn’t want gratitude for his kindness, since he declined Fleur’s special invitation to dine at the boardinghouse that evening. Lily couldn’t help but believe that she was the cause of his refusal. He was deliberately avoiding her, it seemed.
And while his seductive games had once driven her to distraction, the cessation was now highly unsettling, since she worried about the reason for his retreat-the possibility that he had taken a mistress. The notion was beginning to trouble Lily greatly. She couldn’t help wondering how Heath was occupying his time these days, couldn’t stop picturing him in some perfumed beauty’s arms, satisfying his carnal needs with the same sensual tenderness he had shown her…perhaps at this very moment.
Unable to curb her vivid imaginings, Lily tossed and turned sleeplessly the entire night. By Saturday morning, she decided she needed to talk to someone who could understand her dilemma. Thus, when Tess came to London on business for one of her charities, Lily eagerly invited her to stay for luncheon.
They settled in the small garden at the rear of the house, shielded from the bright summer sunshine by the shade of an elm tree.
Lily began by telling Tess about Lord Claybourne’s recent generosity, but it wasn’t long before she found herself confessing her mixed feelings about the possible end of his courtship.
Tess’s first response was surprise. “I thought you would be pleased if he is no longer set on pursuing you. Isn’t that what you wanted all along?”
“I am pleased,” Lily assured her. “I mean…I will be very glad if he is no longer interested in claiming me for his marchioness.”
“So what has made you so melancholic?”
“I don’t know exactly.” Lily shrugged. “I suppose I am just frustrated at being confined here with so little to do. I feel I cannot leave London until our friends’ debt is paid and they are out of danger. And Roslyn’s wedding to Arden will be held at St. George’s on Tuesday, so of course I want to remain here for that and the dinner Marcus is giving in their honor the night before. And there is still the uncertain outcome of my game with Lord Claybourne. The two weeks we agreed to will be over on Monday. He earned another point yesterday for giving one of our boarders a home at his family seat in Kent, so he has nine points thus far, nearly enough to win. But he may have no desire to finish the competition.”
“Is that what concerns you? You have become attached to him, and you don’t want your game to end?”
Lily hesitated. “Perhaps ‘attached’ is too strong a word. But I do admit that I am exceedingly attracted to him.”
When she fell silent, Tess fixed her with a penetrating look. “Is there more you aren’t telling me, Lily? What did he do to make you so attracted to him? Kiss you?”
Lily hesitated; Tess knew her too well. “What we did was far more intimate than kissing.”
“More intimate?”
“Yes. And I discovered that I liked it-very much.”
Tess frowned a little. “You didn’t let him make love to you?”
“No. I am still a virgin. He wouldn’t go further until I agreed to marry him. But the truth is…I wanted to go further, Tess.” Lily’s voice lowered to a bare murmur. “Claybourne says that I don’t want to remain a spinster all my life, and it is partly true. I want to know what it is like to lie with a man, with him. I want to know about passion, about pleasure.”
“So do I,” Tess said with a soft sigh.
Lily gave her a quizzical glance. “You wonder what making love would be like?”
“Yes, I have for quite some time. But my scruples always kept me chaste. Lamentably so,” she added with a wry grimace. “I could have given myself to Richard before he went off to war and was killed, but I saved myself for marriage. I regret that more than you know, Lily. I wish I had enjoyed our time together when I had the chance.”
Reaching across the table, Lily took her friend’s hand. “Oh, Tess, I am cruel, speaking of passion and lovemaking when you lost your betrothed. Please forgive my thoughtlessness.”
Tess summoned a cheerful smile. “There is nothing to forgive, dearest. I am done with mourning. It has been two years now, and I cannot keep wallowing in grief and sadness-nor would Richard want me to. I realize I must live my life, despite my loss.”
“Yes, you must,” Lily agreed warmly. “And I suspect you haven’t given up your desire to marry and have a family.”
“No. I want a husband and children someday, even if I cannot have Richard.” Her gaze grew distant. “I don’t know if I will ever love so deeply again. They say that true love only comes once…” Tess suddenly looked back at Lily. “But enough about me. It is your future that is in question just now. What is it you want, Lily? Do you even know?”
Lily gave a rueful laugh. “Well, if I am truly honest…I would like to have Lord Claybourne for my lover.”
Tess hesitated. “You won’t consider marrying him?”
“No, but I might consider becoming his mistress. Are you shocked, Tess?”
“I cannot say that I am. But there could be serious consequences.”
It was Lily’s turn to sigh. “I know. It isn’t fair that gentlemen are allowed to have as many lovers as they wish, but ladies can be ruined by a mere hint of indiscretion.”
“Indeed,” Tess agreed. “But that is the way of
the world.”
“Still,” Lily mused aloud, “if I thought I could keep an affair secret and avoid scandal, I wouldn’t hesitate. If I never plan to marry, it matters little if I lose my innocence.”
“I suppose not.”
“And an affair with Claybourne wouldn’t last long-I would make certain of it. I won’t risk becoming so enamored of him that I wouldn’t want to end it.”
“Would it be so terrible if you fell in love with him?”
“Yes,” Lily replied emphatically. She never wanted to feel the misery and pain that came with loving someone. Never wanted to be enslaved by her love for a man. For too many years she had witnessed her mother’s anguish. Her mother had loved her father at the beginning of their marriage, and look where that had lead.
Lily shook her head firmly. Her greatest regret was that she couldn’t save her mother from such misery. But she could save herself. All she had to do was to keep her emotional defenses strong.
Admittedly, she had come to respect Heath a good deal in the short time she had known him. And she was supremely grateful to him for aiding her friends even when she’d been so reluctant to accept his help. But she would not let respect and gratitude affect her heart.
Indeed, an affair with Heath needn’t be anything more than the pursuit of physical pleasure. She could satisfy her burning curiosity about passion. Furthermore, making love to Heath would hopefully put an end to the frustrated cravings that had plagued her so relentlessly of late. It might also serve to keep him from seeking comfort in the arms of another woman.
Most importantly, if she offered to become his paramour, he might give up the notion of matrimony for good. At least if she took so drastic a step, Heath would see how adamantly determined she was to refuse his marriage proposal, even if he did win their game and the right to publicly court her.
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