Rogue for Hire

by Sasha Cottman

Patience dropped onto the sofa next to her with a tired sigh. “When did you start getting a taste for brandy?”

  Alice ignored her sister, making a great study of the foul liquid in her glass. The drink Harry had given her at the Temple of Diana should have been enough to inform her that she was not a brandy drinker.

  “Alice?”

  “I think we have said all we need to tonight. You have made your position clear and my opinion doesn’t count,” she replied.

  Patience rose from the sofa and returned momentarily with her own glass. She poured herself a generous serve then resumed her seat. The brandy went to her lips.

  “Oh, that’s awful. How can you drink that stuff?” she exclaimed.

  Alice snorted. “I don’t know, but after this evening’s events, I decided I needed something strong.”

  Patience set her glass on the table, and Alice followed suit. Her sister moved along the sofa and gently took hold of her hand. Alice couldn’t find it in herself to pull away. She was heartsore not just over Cuthbert and Patience, but also Harry.

  He had betrayed her. At the moment she needed him to be strong and stand his ground, he had caved.

  “You love Lord Harry Steele, don’t you?”

  She dropped her head. If only it wasn’t so obvious to the rest of the world that she had fallen for the rogue. “No. He is just as big a blackguard as Cuthbert. I could never love a man such as that. It’s impossible.”

  If only my heart believed that to be true. It would be so much easier.

  “You are not as good a liar as you think, Alice. I knew you were up to something the day I saw you talking to Lord Harry Steele. He is not the sort of man you in particular would give the time of day to unless there was a reason. You might think you were watching me make a fool of myself over Cuthbert, but I have seen the hungry looks you give to Harry. Deny it all you wish; it’s as plain as day that you love him.”

  This wasn’t how it was meant to transpire. Harry was to warn Cuthbert away, rescue Patience from herself, and then be gone from her life.

  But from that first night at Viscount Ashton’s ball, he had slowly worked his way into her heart. Stolen kiss by stolen kiss, he had claimed her. She had given him more than just money, he owned her soul.

  That night at the club had cast aside any lingering doubts she may have had about the two of them. He had told her she was living in a cage, and the moment she came under his hand, Harry had set her free.

  “What are you afraid of?” asked Patience.

  Nothing. Everything. The truth.

  If the Harry that everyone thought they knew was a ruse, and that night he had given her a glimpse of his real world, what else lay beyond? She would give anything to spend the rest of her life exploring it with him.

  She met her sister’s gaze. Cuthbert had confessed all to Patience and their love had survived. Could she do the same with Harry? “I am afraid that if I ask Lord Harry Steele to tell me the truth of who he is and the life he leads, that no matter how shocking it is, I will still be in love with him.”

  An arm came around her shoulder and she lay her head against Patience. The day had been long, and exhaustion threatened to overtake her.

  “I can tell you from my own experience, that your heart decides who you love. Sense and rational thought don’t always come into it. I tried not to fall for Cuthbert; he was too good to be true. But he and I were always meant to be.”

  As Alice’s eyes drifted closed, Harry’s words from that night at the Temple of Diana slipped back into her mind. “Break free of that cage and embrace who you are.”

  She was done with fighting her destiny. Tomorrow, she would confront Harry and demand he release her from all the lies and pain that stood between them.

  Only then could she truly be free of her gilded cage. Only then could there be any possible hope for them.

  CHAPTER 19

  “I AM GOING to hold you to the promise that you and Cuthbert won’t elope while I am gone.”

  Patience rolled her eyes. “We are not going anywhere until after the wedding. And we won’t be getting married before Mama and Papa return home. I was never that keen on eloping anyway.”

  Alice glanced behind her sister’s back, making sure she wasn’t crossing her fingers as she spoke. She was still finding it difficult to accept that Patience and Cuthbert would soon be married; it would take time for her to learn to trust her future brother-in-law.

  The truce between the two North sisters was still holding. Their friendship and sisterly affection might well be bruised but loyalty had finally won out.

  As she and Patience stood in the grand entrance to their family home, Alice pondered whether it was wise for her to go and see Harry. She had said some truly awful things to him at the hotel. Her last words to him having been spoken in anger and pain. If he refused to see her, she could hardly blame him.

  “Will you please get in the carriage and go and do something about Harry Steele?” urged Patience.

  Alice gratefully accepted her sister’s reassuring hug.

  I have to do this, though I fear what sort of welcome I may receive. Take a chance. Apologize. What is the worst that could happen?

  The worst could be that her stubborn nature had already destroyed any chance she might have with the man her heart had decided was her destiny.

  Alice closed the clasp of her cloak and, after accepting another hug from Patience, headed out to the rear mews and the North family carriage.

  She gave the footman a brief “Thank you,” and stepped aboard.

  “Good morning. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to leave.”

  Her mouth opened on a small ‘O’ as she took in the sight of Harry Steele lazing in the far corner. She dropped onto the opposite bench just as the door was closed.

  Harry rapped on the roof and the carriage gave a lurch as the horses pulled up the slack.

  Alice turned and caught a glimpse of Patience standing on the steps of the house, waving them goodbye. A huge, knowing grin sat on her lips.

  “Your sister is far more cunning than I gave her credit for,” he said.

  “I don’t understand,” replied Alice.

  Harry shuffled over and came to sit by her side. Tears pricked in her eyes at the sight of him—at the hopeful smile he wore.

  “Patience sent a note early this morning, said the two of you had reached some sort of détente when it came to hostilities over Cuthbert. That when your parents return to England you will support her and Cuthbert’s decision to marry. She also said you were possibly having second thoughts over never wanting to see me again,” he said.

  Alice slowly shook her head. “I’m still at sixes and sevens over you. I just know that the only way I am going to find any sort of resolution is for us to sit and talk. And when I say talk, I mean an open discussion about everything, including your other life.”

  “Good. Then that is what we shall do,” he replied.

  The carriage travelled on out of Mortimer Street, and it was only when it turned into Oxford Street that she finally thought to ask him where they were going.

  “This isn’t the way to your home,” she said.

  “No. Stephen is hosting one of his own client’s this morning, so I thought it best if we went elsewhere. Neutral ground, for want of a better term,” he replied.

  She scowled at him. He had better not be taking her to the bloody Temple of Diana.

  Then again. Remember what happened last time you went there?

  He raised an eyebrow and she silently cursed him.

  You always know exactly what I am thinking. Such a rogue. And so damn alluring.

  “We are going to the Grand Hotel. After last night, I owe the footman a coin or two. And since Cuthbert has checked out and gone to stay with a friend of mine, we know they have a vacancy.”

  Alice gasped. He patted her on the arm. “Relax, we are not staying in his old room. That would be even too creepy for me.”

  “I don’t recall
agreeing to stay in a hotel room with you. What if we are seen arriving? How am I going to explain that to my parents?” she replied.

  There was a raft of things that the North siblings, including the elusive Finn, were going to have to tell Mister and Mrs. North once they returned home. She could only pray that news of Patience and Cuthbert’s romance silenced much of the other items which were on the list for discussion.

  Their gazes met. The grin had gone from Harry’s face. In its place was a look of heartbreaking sincerity. He leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.

  “We will arrive by the servants’ entrance. I want you to know that if you don’t like what you hear from me, you can leave the hotel with your reputation still intact,” he said.

  “Thank you.”

  If this all ended in tears, her good name might be the only thing which Alice could salvage from today.

  CHAPTER 20

  AT THE HOTEL, Harry took Alice by the hand and led her quickly up a set of stairs at the back. Coming through a doorway on the second floor, they stepped out into a plushy carpeted hallway. Harry unlocked a nearby door and ushered her through it.

  Alice’s gaze swept the room and she turned to him. “Oh, this is rather lovely.”

  The suite Harry had booked for them was the most expensive one the Grand Hotel could offer. The arrival of his smuggler companion, Gus Jones, late the previous night, pockets laden with coins, meant Harry was fortunately flush with funds.

  Their room was sumptuously decorated. Dark blue curtains trimmed with gold tassels were drawn closed over the windows. The coverlet of the enormous bed was similarly decorated in blue and gold stripes. The Prince of Wales could easily stay here and feel right at home.

  “Here. Let me help you with your cloak,” he offered.

  She hesitated for a moment, only seeming to finally relax when he removed his own coat and lay it over a high-backed chair. He returned to her side, letting out a small sigh of relief when Alice set her fingers to the buttons and unclasped the cloak.

  Harry took it and Alice’s reticule, and set them on the table which sat between the two windows.

  “Would you like a glass of champagne?” he said.

  “I would prefer it if we talked first. Clear head and all,” she replied.

  It was understandable, and as much as he could kill a glass of something strong right now, Harry held back.

  “Where would you like to sit?” he asked.

  Alice’s gaze fell on the sensible table and chairs, but her feet moved her in the direction of a sofa, which sat across the end of the bed.

  Thank god. The last thing I want to do is to be trying to talk to her across a table.

  Harry joined Alice on the sofa, sitting at a polite distance. Much as he ached to hold her in his arms and kiss her, this was one conversation which he dared not muddy with physicality.

  She turned to him and nodded. “There are a thousand questions rolling around in my mind. The most important being, do you want a future with me?”

  “Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

  “Alright, then I am ready to hear what you have to say about your life, and what I could be letting myself in for if we did agree to bind our lives together,” she replied.

  Harry raked his fingers through his hair. Last night, he had rehearsed this speech, but now in the cold light of day and in front of Alice, it wasn’t so easy to deliver.

  “Long story short. As you can probably guess, I am not the sort of man designed to take to the career path that most other younger sons do. The military, the priesthood, and going off to a far-flung colony were never on my list. A year ago, my father and I argued over this, and he cut me off without a penny.”

  It wasn’t anything Alice hadn’t heard before, but nerves had Harry wanting to firstly cover familiar ground.

  “Go on.”

  “Some friends of mine have also faced similar life choices and decided that they had skill sets more suited to . . . hmm.” Thinking and practicing the words were not the same as actually saying them.

  This is the woman I love, and I could be about to lose her.

  Harry swallowed a large lump of fear.

  A warm hand settled on his thigh. Alice nodded, silently encouraging him to continue.

  “We set up an enterprise called the RR Coaching Company. It’s a bit of a spin on an old jest about us being rogues of the road. Officially, it is supposed to be a coaching business out of premises in Gracechurch Street. But in reality, it is a front for the rest of our not-so-scrupulous dealings.”

  “But you met with me at your home,” she replied.

  “I can meet with clients in my private residence because this rogue-for-hire endeavor is legitimate work. The rest of what we get up to has to remain hidden.”

  Beside him, Alice sighed, and Harry’s heart sank. He had come this far. There was no point in keeping the rest of the details of his secret life from her. Alice deserved to know everything.

  “What you are saying then is that you operate in what my father would call grey areas?” she asked.

  If only it were that simple. While it was tempting to say yes and let Alice think that what he and the rest of the members of the RR Coaching Company did was a small step the other side of the law, Harry was determined not to begin or see the end of their relationship on a lie. “There are some things we are involved in which couldn’t remotely be classed as grey. There is nothing legal whatsoever in smuggled and stolen goods. Sir Stephen Moore and I have dabbled in blackmail, threats, and the odd kidnapping.”

  Alice got to her feet. She stood for a time with her back to him, head bowed.

  Harry then continued. “Alice I . . .”

  She held up a hand, and Harry stopped talking. He nodded. She had obviously heard enough.

  Well, at least it is out in the open. She knows the sort of man I am. I am a rogue.

  With uncertain steps, Alice made her way toward the table where Harry had put her cloak and reticule. She was leaving. Of course, she was. If Alice couldn’t find it in her heart to accept Cuthbert Saint and his failings, how had he ever thought she could see her way to loving him?

  “You do realize that you will never be able to tell my parents any of this if we marry. Cuthbert’s secret is bad enough, but this is far worse,” she said.

  You could have knocked Harry over with a feather. Alice was still talking as if they had a future. He shrugged off his shock and got to his feet, racing to her side.

  He held a tentative hand out to her. “No one in any of our families are aware of what we do. The eventual hope is that the RR Coaching Company will become a proper coaching business and we can move away from some of the less salubrious sides of the business. The last thing I want is for any of us to face the law and hang for our crimes.”

  Alice stared at the floor for the longest time—so long that Harry began to worry that he had just shot himself in the foot by mentioning the death sentence. When she met his gaze, tears shone in her eyes.

  He couldn’t hold himself back—he reached for Alice and drew her gently into his arms. A kiss on her forehead was the most he dared risk.

  “Thank you for finally telling me the truth of things. I had hoped that drawing pistols on people might be the extent of it, but even I didn’t believe that to be more than a fanciful wish,” she replied.

  “If it is of any comfort, I can assure you that we are good at what we do and also covering our tracks. George’s father is a judge, and none of us want to ever be brought before him,” he said.

  Alice pulled out of his embrace, sniffing back her tears. “I’ll have that champagne now please, Harry.”

  But champagne is for happiness, for rejoicing.

  He wanted nothing more than to marry this girl. To claim her and be the best husband she could ever wish to have. That would be the greatest cause for celebration.

  Seize the moment and never let go.

  He began to dip down on his knee in readiness to propose to he
r, but Alice shook her head. “Not until after you have heard the terms of my marriage settlement. You may not wish to make me your wife after I tell you what they are.”

  “If you will take me as I am, I don’t care what draconian clauses your father has welded into your dowries. My desire to be with you has never been about money.”

  CHAPTER 21

  HARRY WASN’T the only one in possession of a surprise. Alice had kept the details of her dowry a closely guarded secret.

  While Harry opened the bottle of champagne and poured them both a glass, Alice got the words of the settlement clear in her mind. “Papa has written ironclad marriage contracts for both Patience and me. If we tell him that we don’t want our husbands to receive funds, you get nothing. No money is settled immediately upon marriage.”

  Harry chuckled. “I bet that came as a nasty shock to Cuthbert.”

  “Actually, it was the final thing that convinced me he really does love my sister. He can neither kiss nor kick her dowry out of her. The lifestyle he will be granted in the years to come is very much dependent on her goodwill.” She accepted the glass of champagne he offered her and took a sip.

  “But if that is the case, then why were you so set against the marriage? Cuthbert cannot get his hands on a vast fortune. I don’t understand,” he replied.

  “Because as you yourself said, it was never about the money. I only ever wanted to save Patience from marrying a man who didn’t love her. It’s not as if either of us wander around society informing potential husbands that they are not about to land a large sack of money on their wedding day. Last night, Patience told me that Cuthbert Saint wasn’t aware of the terms of the marriage settlements until yesterday morning.”

  “And yet he still wanted to marry her.”

  “Yes. Love will do that to a man, or so I’ve been told.”

  Harry held his glass up. “A toast to you, Alice North. I have never met anyone like you before. You challenge everything I thought I had clear in my mind. Not that that is always a good thing, but I still love you for it.”