‘Unsure,’ Celina said after a swift glance at the statuesque blonde.
‘How about someone more our young friend’s size?’ Quinn asked.
‘Paulette?’ Katy looked at Miriam, who nodded. ‘She’s ever so sweet and she’s tiny.’ Katy’s hands waved about five foot from the floor.
‘Friend.’
‘He likes the sound of her,’ Quinn said.
‘I’ll just get Mr Makepeace and find a nice room.’ Katy fluttered off, leaving Miriam to press glasses of champagne into their hands and lead them to couches on the far side of the room from the other group.
Wedged between himself and Gregor, Celina was safe from Miriam’s wandering hands that just now had settled one on his thigh, the other on his shoulder as she curled up on the sofa next to him. He was in proper evening clothes after a hectic afternoon at the tailor and shirt maker and the skilful caress was hard to ignore through thin knitted silk.
He could have worn his own eastern clothing here, but the first part of the evening had taken him to the Society of Antiquaries. He had membership, originally because old Simon’s influence had overruled any qualms about his reputation and latterly because of his own fame amongst men who valued travel and scholarship above tales of society scandal.
Now he had a handful of introductions, some renewed acquaintances and two invitations. His own campaign of revenge and reinstatement was running very well alongside Celina’s adventure. But there was no time to think of that now; the man approaching them across the room was more than sufficient distraction from Miriam’s wandering hands.
‘Here is Mr Makepeace,’ she said. Quinn decided that the man’s taste in waistcoats alone was a crime.
Chapter Sixteen
‘Mr Vasiliev, Mr Arbuthnott, er…’ he frowned a little at the crown of Celina’s turban, which was tilted towards him ‘…sir, welcome.’
Quinn could feel Celina pressing closer to his side. Tension was radiating from her and he could see why she disliked this man so much; now he was showing them an unctuous servility, but the crocodile was visible beneath the surface. The urge to put an arm around her was strong and quite impossible. He wondered at how protective he felt.
‘Gentlemen. May I offer you any supper yet, some more wine? Or perhaps you would prefer to retire upstairs immediately? The room is ready. There are menus tucked in that folder should you wish to enjoy any of our other facilities.’ He offered the small leather file he carried and Quinn opened it to see the cost of the room and the girls they had chosen set out. The price was high and the options available had him raising his eyebrows. Something for everyone except those who preferred flagellation or their own sex or, he noticed as he got to the end of page three, young girls.
Even as he thought it Makepeace remarked, ‘If there is anything that you gentlemen desire that is not on the list, do, please enquire. I will do my best to obtain it. I hope, very soon, to expand the range of the delights to be had at The Blue Door.’
Celina was grinding her teeth. Quinn got to his feet. ‘Thank you, but what we have ordered will be sufficient. We may be some time.’
‘But of course! Just ring if you need anything.’
‘A nasty piece of work,’ Quinn observed in Arabic, apparently to the slender young man climbing the stairs at his side.
‘The male staff are armed,’ Gregor answered from behind them.
‘Here we are.’ Katy threw open the door to a room with a vast four-poster bed with a scantily clad young woman lying in wanton invitation in the middle of it. There were mirrors all around, a chaise, and marble sculptures of classical beauty and startling obscenity. Celina, he saw, did not turn a hair. No wonder she was immune to the weirder archaeological remains scattered around at Dreycott Park.
Quinn locked the door behind them and walked to the chaise. ‘Are there any spy holes in this room?’ The girls shook their heads in unison. ‘Then, ladies, may I rely upon you not to shriek?’
‘Only if you want us to,’ Katy said with a wicked twinkle. She perched on his knee and wrapped an arm around his neck, a sweet-scented soft bundle with a wicked tongue, which she proceeded to use on his ear.
‘Katy, Miriam, Paulette—it is me, Lina,’ Celina said, pulling off the turban, and the three girls abandoned any pretext of interest in the men.
‘Oh, my Lord!’ Katy gasped, throwing her arms around her. ‘You’re safe! Where have you been? We haven’t dared ask Madam in case that toad Makepeace is listening. You didn’t take that sapphire, did you?’
‘Not that I’d blame you if you had,’ Miriam chimed in.
‘Ladies, please.’ Quinn held up his hands. ‘Not so loud. Let us sit down and Celina will tell you all about it.’ She shot him a sideways glance, her darkened skin strange in contrast to the tumbling blonde hair. ‘A short version,’ he added.
‘…and Lord Dreycott wants to talk to Aunt Clara,’ Lina finished. It felt so good to be with her friends again. Miriam and Katy sat either side of her with their arms around her waist, Paulette sat on the floor, gazing up at her open-mouthed.
‘Can you prove her innocence, my lord?’ Katy demanded, her eyes fixed on Quinn with fierce loyalty.
‘Yes,’ Quinn said with quiet confidence. Lina wanted to get up and hug him, but she made herself stay still. He was seeing her in what he thought of as her natural surroundings at last;
his opinion of her would be set in stone by now. ‘Can you bring Madam here, or can Celina and I get to her without Makepeace knowing?’