Beyond Rubies (Daughters of Sin 4)

“You’ve shown me such wonderful things,” she whispered, raising her eyes to the clouds. “I never imagined having so much fun!”

“And more to be had.” They’d drawn up in front of a smart townhouse, and now he was jumping down before reaching up for her hand.

“But I need to go to Mrs. Mobbs’s. It’s late.” Suddenly, she felt nervous. “Where have you taken me?”

“For a snifter of brandy at my townhouse before I return you to your landlady’s premises. Didn’t I promise you I’d help you practice your lines?”

The prospect seemed enormously compromising. Kitty drew back from the hand he offered her. “Lord Silverton, I don’t want you to think that I...that I would do something unladylike.”

“Well, I certainly shan’t force you into doing anything unladylike. I won’t even make you do something you don’t want to do, but we had agreed that a little practice for your part of Juliet before you have Mr. Lazarus putting you through your paces might be in order.” He cocked his head, regarded her a moment then jumped back up beside her. “You’re right, though. You are an innocent, and I might turn into a rogue. I’ll take you home.”

But as he picked up the ribbons, Kitty saw the value in his argument and put her hand on his. “Stop. I shall come inside and we shall practice, yes indeed, but very quickly because I need a good night’s sleep, and I suppose it’s very wrong to be out and about with a gentleman besides.” She smoothed her skirts as she stood up. “Only certain adventuring women who are branded ladies of the night do such things, and I am by no means one of them. Though I suppose, who is to know what I get up to?”

“Indeed,” he agreed with a quirk of a brow as he helped her down, occasioning a quick clarification from Kitty.

“Not that I intend doing anything I ought not.”

“Of course not, as you have already made clear, Miss La Bijou. Now, isn’t it much warmer inside? Thank you, Garvey,” he added to the butler who was on hand to help divest them of their outerwear. “Two brandies in the drawing room, if you please.”

Kitty had never had more than a sip of medicinal brandy in her life, and after two snifters, she was feeling quite lightheaded and more than ready to step into her assigned role. Lord Silverton, with his handsome face and friendly, easy manner, was a much more welcome proposition than Mr. Lazarus to practice her lines.

“Fair Juliet, the time has come,” he said the moment she’

d put down her glass.

With a nervous smile, Kitty stood up full of expectation in the middle of the elegant Aubusson rug, surrounded by elegant Louis XIV chairs and handsome gold and purple curtains, which reminded her of the home her father and two half-sisters—the ones upon whom fortune smiled—lived. When Lord Silverton looked down at her with a very warm brown-eyed gaze, Kitty felt quite molten inside and had to remind herself that not only was she in love with another man, but that Lord Silverton was, more than likely, a villain. A very charming villain, but surely they were the worst? Besides, he’d just told her he was in love with a young lady who’d rejected him the night before. Knowing such a thing, how could she possibly trust him when he looked at her as if she were the most heavenly creature he’d ever set eyes upon, and when he took her into his arms and brought his mouth gently to hers, tickling her with the softest brush of his lips against hers before deepening the pressure? How could Kitty trust a man who made her legs feel suddenly like jelly, and who filled her head with wicked ideas totally foreign to her, but which she knew could never be indulged by a young lady of even tenuous respectability? This, she had to remind herself, was playacting.

His cheek was warm against hers as he paused, his right hand gently stroking her hair and twisting a tendril of it as they paused in the aftermath, Kitty to gather her wits and he to...think of the young lady who’d spurned him?

It did not matter. She stepped back as he nodded approvingly. “For a young lady in love with another lucky gentleman you’ve proved yourself a convincing actress. Well done, Miss La Bijou; you’d have convinced the most critical audience that you were ready to end your wretched existence if your father discovered what we’d been up to.” He cocked his head. “Hmmm. What would your father have done if he could see you now, Miss La Bijou?”

Kitty considered the question. “He’d be furious. Now, no more questions, please, Lord Silverton. I do not wish to speak of my father or my past. It’s the future that counts.”

“Such wise words for such a babe in the woods.” Lord Silverton took her hand and led her to a chair, but instead of respectfully lowering her into it, he sat down first and drew her onto his lap.

She tensed when he put his arm about her. “I must go home now, my Lord,” she said, turning. “I must get some sleep.”

“Of course you must get some sleep, but why not here?” He tickled her cheek with his fingertips. “Our little kissing session has left me quite ready for more.” His tone was more like a honeyed growl which made Kitty’s nerves skitter. She didn’t like the fact she wavered inside when he said, “I like you, Kitty. And once Mrs. Mobbs has seen you launched in your grand new career, I’m sure you’ll be on the lookout for different lodgings.” He made an expansive sweep of his arm. “I could set you up in quite a charming bower where I could visit you after your performances.”

She frowned. “But ...that would not be respectable.”

“Respectable?” He laughed. “You are worried about that now? Of course it would not be respectable but nor is becoming an actress, nor is spending the day unchaperoned with a gentleman. Or rather, the entire evening, and kissing him in his drawing room.”

While his hands lightly caressed her, trailing up to her throat and sending sensation coursing wildly through her, she worried at his words. “But what if I fall in love?” she asked. “What if you fall in love, Lord Silverton? In fact, we’ve already admitted that we have.”

“We have?” He looked confused. “Of course we shan’t fall in love, but we must like each other very much. Love is not a prerequisite for what I’m proposing.”

“I don’t mean with each other, for you’ve just told me you’re in love with a lady who refused your suit. And I’ve already told you that I think I’m in love with another. In fact, I met him earlier today.”

“Did you indeed?” He quirked a brow. “And who is this lucky gentleman?”

“I don’t know his name, but I knew he was my destiny, for a fortune-teller told me to look out for a gentleman with raven-black locks and a scar across his left cheek.”

“You saw him this afternoon? And have you spoken to him?”

“We exchanged greetings. I think he knew me, too. There was something meaningful in his look. But what about you? I mean, suppose your lady love changes her mind and agrees to marry you after all? I think my presence may complicate matters, don’t you?”

He shook his head, and a slow smile grew as he settled her more comfortably on his lap. “My dear, you really are the innocent. Have you ever done anything like I’m proposing?”