Madam Charlie

by Sahara Kelly

  Now, it seemed, something had awoken them. Something or someone…

  She felt Jordan’s presence next to the bed and opened her eyes to see him light a candle.

  “Charlie love,” he said softly.

  “I’m awake, Jordan. What is it?”

  His face was in shadows but his touch gentle as he stroked her tangled hair away from her face.

  “We have a problem, sweetheart. There’s been a fire at the Crescent.”

  Charlie felt her heart stop.

  She shot up in the bed, heedless of her nakedness and grabbed Jordan’s shoulders.

  “How bad? Who was hurt? Is everybody all right? What about Matty? Jordan, can you get me there? I must go…”

  She pushed him aside and flew from the bed, nearly tripping over her own feet.

  “Whoa, Charlie, easy now. Firstly no one has been hurt.”

  She frantically grappled with her robe, but the arms were inside out and she couldn’t quite work them back to the way they were supposed to be.

  Her hands shook and her vision blurred. “A fire. Oh God, Jordan, a damned fire…”

  His hands fell solidly on her shoulders.

  “Charlie, listen to me. Listen, dammit…” He turned her forcefully and grabbed her chin, making her look at him. “Everyone is all right. Little damage was done because it was caught before it went very far. Matty is fine, the girls are fine and you are not to worry. Now…” His touch relaxed on her shoulders, and she felt her breath as it returned to her lungs. “Are you listening?”

  She nodded distractedly. “But I should be…”

  Jordan growled. “What you should be is in this robe and downstairs with me in about five minutes. Elizabeth Wentworth brought the news over along with a message from Matty. She’ll want to deliver it to you. Can you do that, Charlie? Put this robe on, and then come down to the breakfast parlor? I have to grab some clothes and I’ll meet you there. All right?”

  He gave her a little shake then pressed a hard kiss on her trembling lips. “Don’t worry, love. It’ll be all right.”

  As Charlie made her way downstairs she wondered a little hysterically if anything would ever be all right again. She’d grabbed her own robe, fastening it tightly to her neck, and had dragged a brush through her tangled hair, blushing as she remembered how it got that way.

  Her thighs were still sticky from Jordan’s passion, and her body pulsed with fulfilled pleasure. But her heart was aching for another reason—the belief that she was responsible for what had happened to the Crescent.

  True to his word, Jordan was waiting for her. But he was waiting next to Lady Elizabeth Wentworth who looked as beautiful in the daylight as she had the first time Charlie had seen her at the Crescent. Looking at the picture the couple made together, Charlie’s heart sank. At that moment, she faced the reality of her situation, the reality of Jordan’s situation, and the inevitable end of their affair.

  There could be no future for a Madam from a brothel and an Earl.

  Squaring her shoulders, she entered quietly.

  “Lady Elizabeth?”

  “Oh, you are here. I didn’t believe it at first, but your friend, Mistress Matty, was so insistent. How can you be here and no one know?”

  Elizabeth’s bright blue eyes danced curiously from Jordan to Charlie, neither of whom betrayed by a flicker that they had been roused from a tumble of sex-soaked bedding. “I apologize, Madam Charlie, I should have introduced myself, but I guessed you’d probably want to read this first.”

  She held out a parchment to Charlie, who calmly took it and retired to the side of the room to read it.

  “Elizabeth, stop staring, sit down and tell me exactly what happened. And please remember,” Jordan’s voice was stern and uncompromising, “that you are not entertaining a gaggle of young women at Almacks. Dramatics and embellishments will not be appreciated. The simple, unvarnished facts, if you please.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Jordan, you are a sweetie, but you do remind me of my father sometimes. Thank God I have no interest in you as a suitor. I think I’d probably shoot you long before we ever tied the knot.”

  Charlie was immersed in her note, and refused to allow Elizabeth’s words to disturb her outward calm. Inwardly, of course, she was heaving an enormous sigh of relief at the thought that at least she hadn’t slept with a man who had committed himself to marriage. She refolded her note and moved back to the couple by the fire.

  “Indeed, Lady Elizabeth, please do tell us what happened. Now that I am reassured there is no injury to anyone involved, I can set my mind to restoring the Crescent and finding those responsible.”

  Charlie kept her tone calm and polite, and felt secure that her cloak of imperturbability was once again firmly in place. Then she glanced at Jordan, only to see a burning gaze sweeping her from head to toes.

  In spite of her control, she blushed.

  Elizabeth watched the byplay with interest, but refrained from comment. “Well, there’s not an enormous amount to tell.”

  Charlie seated herself as she watched Elizabeth relate the adventures of the evening. She drew a measure of comfort from the fact that Jordan casually moved to take a position behind her, leaning protectively on the back of her chair.

  “A small group of us had decided to visit the Crescent this evening. Tony, of course, who loves the Billiard Room, and Pomeroy wanted to try your smoked herring, Madam Charlie. It’s really excellent, you know, especially with that delectable sauce…”

  “Elizabeth? You’re rambling…” Jordan’s brows drew together.

  Charlie turned slightly. “Please, Jordan. Let Lady Elizabeth tell the story in her own way. “ She turned back to the woman. “I’m sorry. Thank you for the compliment on the herring, but we are understandably anxious to get to the part about the fire?”

  Elizabeth continued. “Well, it was just gone one o’clock and I was thinking I might have time to drop in at the Devonshire’s rout, when I saw an odd looking man peering in one of the lower windows. One of the back lower windows. You know the ones I mean?”

  Charlie nodded, recalling the windows that looked over the small garden. At night, they were dark, although the drapes were seldom closed. The garden was very private, and inaccessible to guests. She frowned.

  “Well, seeing his face like that really made me jump, as you can imagine. I was about to mention it to someone, when I saw him pull his hand back and throw an object. He threw it right through the window, breaking the glass—shattering it, actually. It landed about five feet from me and promptly exploded.”

  Elizabeth said this so calmly, it took Charlie a moment or two to fully register the meaning of her words. When she did, she all but erupted from her chair and ran to the other woman’s side.

  “My poor girl. Are you all right? Were you injured at all?” She stared worriedly into Elizabeth’s face as she noticed the tumbled hairdo and detected a slight stench of smoke.

  Elizabeth grinned down at her. “There’s no need to act like my duenna, Charlie. I’m fine. Well, I did catch a bit of it, but ever such a nice man stepped on it and put it out.” She held out the hem of her gown where a large chunk of charred and blackened silk bore mute witness to the truth of her casual statement.

  Charlie paled, and Jordan’s mouth thinned.

  “Actually,” continued Elizabeth with a wicked giggle, “the man who was stomping on it ended up tugging on my gown, very hard. He didn’t realize how hard until he looked up and found my breasts staring him in the face.”

  Jordan sighed.

  Charlie’s eyes widened. “Lady Elizabeth. That’s terrible. I’m deeply sorry such a thing had to happen in my house. Did you find out his name? He should be severely chastised.”

  “Whatever for?” Elizabeth’s brows rose as a grin crossed her face. “He was a bit taken aback for a second or two, but then he smiled and…” She leaned towards Charlie, turning her shoulder on Jordan. “Do you know what he did?”

  Mutely, Charlie shook her
head.

  “He dropped a kiss on one of them, and said ‘Ma’am, I think your dress is extinguished, but the fire has spread to my breeches.’ Wasn’t that delightful?” Elizabeth giggled.

  “God, Elizabeth,” exhaled Jordan, running a hand through his hair. “You have no decorum whatsoever, do you?”

  “Well, Jordan, for heaven’s sake don’t be so prissy. There was smoke everywhere, people screaming and running and fussing like the world was ending. And here was one man with the presence of mind to do what was necessary and still have a bit of fun into the bargain.” Her blue eyes lowered to her lap. “I do wish I knew who he was, however. I didn’t get his name.”

  She turned excitedly towards Charlie.

  “Oh Charlie. Perhaps you could find out for me…perhaps he’s a member or something, perhaps you know him…”

  Charlie absently patted Elizabeth’s hand. “I’ll see what I can do, Elizabeth. But we have a slightly bigger problem than the identity of your ill-mannered gentleman.”

  “We do?”

  “We do indeed.” Jordan was looking at Charlie and for a second she could read his thoughts as if they were her own. In fact they could have been, since they were both very attuned to the potential dangers of this situation.

  “Here’s the thing, Elizabeth,” said Jordan. “We now are in no doubt that someone is after Charlie, and by default, the Crescent.” He raised his hand to forestall Elizabeth’s questions. “Later. You can discuss all that later. But here’s the new wrinkle. You have seen this perpetrator. You got a good look at him, didn’t you?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Nasty looking piece of work. Odd moustache.”

  “You see you are now a witness. And someone who could very easily send that man to the gallows.”

  Elizabeth sagged a little as the import of that statement sank home. “Oh hell. Now he’ll be after me too.”

  Jordan looked at Charlie. “She may be flighty and indecorous, but no one ever accused her of being unintelligent.”

  Charlie frowned at Jordan and returned her attention to Elizabeth. “We must ensure your safety at all costs, Elizabeth.”

  Elizabeth pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and chewed on it absently.

  “I suppose I could retire to the country for a few days, Mama and Papa are still down there…”

  “And the rest of the world would immediately know where you’d gone. Right. Clever. Go exactly where you’d be expected to go.”

  Elizabeth flashed a glance of dislike at Jordan. “Well, Mr. Genius. Do you have a better idea?”

  “Actually,” said Jordan, looking from Elizabeth to Charlie, “I think I do.”

  * * * * *

  Elizabeth settled back in the carriage and looked over at her companion. “Whatever else you can say about him, you have to admit that Jordan is extraordinarily competent when it comes to getting things accomplished. It’s probably the soldier in him.”

  “Indeed.”

  The polite response irked Elizabeth, who was not known for her reticence or her patience. She looked out the window at the early light of day, hardly able to believe that Jordan Lyndhurst had managed to get them both changed, packed, and bundled into his carriage to be sent to Calverton Chase without further delay. He’d even managed to arrange for half a dozen outriders to accompany them.

  Neither girl had slept a wink, yet neither would confess to being tired now. Elizabeth knew she was too tense to even think about closing her eyes, and she could only guess at Charlie’s state of mind.

  For that woman had, unquestionably, the best self-control she’d ever seen.

  Elizabeth allowed herself a small grin at the thought of the special tincture she’d grabbed from her dresser drawer in the fifteen minutes Jordan had allowed her to pack. An admirer had brought it from Paris where it was apparently all the rage, having been part and parcel of Napoleon’s pack trains when they returned from their Egyptian campaign.

  The tea made from this tincture, it was rumored, did delightful things to one’s inhibitions. Elizabeth couldn’t wait to try it out, and thought that Charlie would probably be a perfect trial subject. Along with herself of course.

  It was her curse. She had long ago come to terms with it. The endless quest to feel, to experience, to know. Especially about herself and her body. She was still a virgin, technically, anyway, but she enjoyed climaxing, whether she was alone, or whether she permitted another the privilege of assisting her.

  Actually, other than Jordan, only Ryan Penderly had had that honor, and he wasn’t terribly good at it.

  A slight frown crossed her brow.

  “Problems, Elizabeth?” Charlie had noticed her expression.

  “Always, Charlie. Always.” She smiled back, hoping that a bond of friendship might well develop. Elizabeth was too attractive to have many loyal friends amongst her contemporaries, and although devoted to her own hedonistic investigations, she occasionally missed the companionship that another woman could offer.

  “You are far too young and far, far too lovely to be plagued with problems,” wryly answered Charlie.

  “Hah. That’s ‘Hah’ to both those statements, Charlie. For an intelligent businesswoman, you certainly have some silly notions. Firstly, age hasn’t a damned thing to do with troubles, and I’m sure you know that only too well, running a place like the Crescent. Secondly,” she held up two fingers, “being attractive means that men fuss over me while they’re trying to ascertain if I’m worth anything in the dowry department, and other girls stick to me like glue in the hopes that they’ll get some of my leavings in the way of eligible bachelors. All their mothers either love me or hate me. “

  She sighed loudly. “God, I hate it so much. Such a stupid game.”

  “What do you want, Elizabeth?”

  The question made Elizabeth sit back and think. It was a simple question, but the answer was complex, incomplete and a little disturbing. For the truth of the matter was, Elizabeth wasn’t sure she knew.

  “Well, perhaps it’s easier to start by making sure I know what I don’t want…” Her blue eyes gazed out of the carriage window, seeing little of the passing countryside.

  Charlie remained silent, offering patience and room for thought. Elizabeth was grateful.

  “I don’t want to be married off like some clause in a business contract. That I’m certain about.” She nodded her head decisively.

  “Is that likely to happen?”

  “Fortunately, no. My family has enough money and assets to make me a prize on the Marriage Mart, but they have no need of titles, and Mother has been very supportive of my taking my time before deciding to settle down. I have a suspicion she’s not going to allow me to repeat her mistakes…” Elizabeth’s mouth pursed as she thought of her mother’s crusade for the downfallen woman and her father’s attempt to keep her mother busy by making sure there were plenty of them.

  “I also don’t want to be courted for what I have. I want to be loved for who I am. And who I can be with the right man.”

  “That’s an interestingly sophisticated viewpoint.”

  Elizabeth smiled her pleasure. “Thank you. I knew you’d understand. I think there is much that we share, Charlie. A sense of independence, a curiosity, an interest in the world and its ways. Would you agree?”

  “In some respects, perhaps,” answered Charlie cautiously.

  “You see, you are immersed in becoming completely independent. You have your own business, and you use your own sexuality to further your financial goals. Oh don’t mistake me, please…” She held up a hand. “I knew right away that you are simply the owner of the Crescent. No one who looks like you and behaves like you could ever be one of its workers.”

  “You think not?”

  “Absolutely. Why do you imagine so many members of the Ton now come openly to the Crescent? They come because you are there, Charlie. Your personality is as elegant and regal as any at Carlton House, more so, in fact. You welcome your guests as correctly as Sally Jersey, an
d you’re about as approachable as Mrs. Drummond-Burrell.”

  Charlie wrinkled her nose at Elizabeth’s comparison of her to two of the leading Patronesses behind the phenomenon of Almacks.

  “You make people feel that the Crescent is only one step lower in the scheme of things than, let’s say, Cavendish Square, and you make them feel a damn sight more comfortable than Caro Lamb ever did. Let’s face it, Charlie, you’re a lady, through and through. Regardless of where you are or what you do, you’ll always be a lady.”

  Charlie’s expression warmed slightly as she gave Elizabeth a little, but genuine, smile.

  “You’re too kind.”

  “Not at all. I’m just being honest here. Plus, of course, I fully intend to pick your brains about some of the activities at the Crescent. A girl can’t know too much before she finally gives her body to a man. And I want to know all of it. How to please him, how to make sure he pleases me, what kinds of things we can do together. All that wonderful information that girls like me aren’t supposed to know.”

  Charlie laughed, surprising both of them. “And you think I know all that?” Her amusement was evident.

  “Well of course, my dear Charlie. You couldn’t go to bed with Jordan Lyndhurst and not learn something.”

  Charlie’s mouth shut with a snap, but before she could reproach Elizabeth for her comments, the other girl intervened.

  “Don’t even bother, Charlie. You two only have to be in the same room to strike sparks off each other. I swear Jordan would have stripped you and taken you right in front of me the other night if matters hadn’t been so serious. He was in a bad way.”

  She grinned across the carriage.

  “This does, of course, bring up a couple of differences between us. I doubt that you’re a virgin. And you’re in love with Jordan Lyndhurst. So what I want to know is, what’s it really like to make love to a man?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Charlie was spared having to answer Elizabeth’s totally inappropriate question by the sound of hooves pounding alongside the carriage. Within moments the vehicle slowed, and Jordan had entered, tossing his riding gloves next to Elizabeth and seating himself comfortably next to Charlie.