Keeping Faith (Fair Cyprians of London 3)

He settled himself beside her, his thigh pressing against hers on the love seat as he called to a waiter to bring them both brandy.

She took the cut-glass tumbler she was offered without a word, but was forced to answer when he remarked, “It’s been some time since we last met. Since you reneged on the agreement we had, in fact. I wondered where you’d gone. Yes, I’ve often wondered that.” He looked at her enquiringly, a note of menace in his tone.

“I found a friend who was good to me. Very good to me.” She took a sip of her brandy and allowed a note of sorrow to creep into her voice while her eyes rose heavenward. “Sadly, all good things come to an end.”

“So, you were quick to find a replacement for young Westaway. And me. Glad to know you weren’t brokenhearted all this time. But you’re at a loose end tonight, I can see.” He stood and put his hand on her shoulder, his fingers playing with the light fabric that edged her shoulder strap. Faith shivered, and he ran his hand down her arm and gently gripped her elbow, as if feeling its smoothness, its composition.

“Ah Faith, you and I have some unfinished business, don’t we?” With both hands on her shoulders, he drew her up. The familiar notes of leather and sandalwood filled her senses. She’d been too close to the smell of him before. “Come home with me and I’ll show you I’m not the man you thought you feared.”

Faith stared up at him and shook her head. “I don’t want to go home with you, Lord Harkom,” she murmured. “You can offer me nothing that I want.”

His lordship glanced about the room. “You think there’s someone here who can? Perhaps those two striplings who were courting you earlier?” Drawing her closer, he dipped his head and whispered, “I’m a rich and powerful man, and I think you know that I want you. Let bygones be bygones and I’ll show you how kind and…generous I can be.”

Faith stood her ground. “No, Lord Harkom.” She shook her head. “The first time I met you, you tried to take what I was unwilling to give. You would not take no for an answer.”

“A mere misunderstanding.” He gave a gentle laugh. “Your procuress sanctioned more than a little persuasion to break you in. Encouraged it, in fact, since she said you’d never learn what you had to do otherwise.”

“You were not gentle with me, Lord Harkom.” Faith’s trembling was real. “I have been fortunate to have enjoyed the protection of a man who was nothing but kind.”

“It was not kind to leave you, Faith.” Lord Harkom encompassed their surroundings with a sweep of his arm.

“He died unexpectedly, Lord Harkom. And left me with but a little provision. Not enough to tide me into my old age. I need to shore up my future while I can, while I am young and still”

“Beautiful.” He dipped his head to breathe in the scent of her hair and murmured it again. “So beautiful, Faith, and you have taught me the lesson of valuing that which I want so very much.” Lightly, he placed both hands on her bare shoulders. “See how gentle I can be when it’s worth my while? I want

you, Faith. Not just for tonight. Come home with me, and I promise that I will treat you like a precious China doll.”

Faith took a faltering step, her reluctance so from the heart, but at the same time furthering her purpose. Before they’d reached the doorway, she stopped. “You must woo me, take it slowly, treat me like a lady, if you are to enjoy me beyond tonight. If you think tonight is for settling old scores or teaching me a lesson, then that will not further your interests, Lord Harkom.”

“My, my, Faith. You’ve learned how to negotiate and dish out threats. How very sweet.” He laughed. “And intriguing.”

“So, you promise you will deal with me kindly? Yes? Then I shall tell Mistress Kate who I am going with tonight. That will be my insurance, Lord Harkom.”

She let him lead her through the throng, to stop to say a word to Mistress Kate, then out of the doors and into the street.

“Mind the step, Faith. I wonder if my offer of brandy was such a good idea. You want all your wits about you if you’re to enjoy what I have in store for you.”

“I hope you’re not accusing me of overindulgence, my lord.” Faith looked up at Lord Harkom, blinking as if to clear her head. “And I’m not sure I want what you have in store for me.”

“Yet you’re coming with me, aren’t you, Faith?” He flagged down a hackney carriage and helped her in. “All the way to my beautiful home where I can make you feel like the princess you are. The princess I could make you. You are intrigued, aren’t you? You want to know what kind of man I really am?”

Faith settled herself into the dark interior, sighing deeply as she dropped her head onto Lord Harkom’s shoulder. At least feigning sleep for a few minutes would give her time to think and dispense with the need for conversation.

When the hackney halted outside his townhouse, she straightened, rubbing her eyes as she stared at him in the light of the gas lamp on the pavement.

He jumped out and opened the door, but she remained on the cushion.

“I’m really not sure this is such a good idea, Lord Harkom.”

“Why, Faith? You considered it an excellent idea not so long ago.”

She looked mutinous. “You helped ruin my reputation. And you and I have never been friends.”

“But there is so much potential for us to be much more than that, eh Faith? Besides, I had nothing to do with the publication of the photograph, I assure you.” He took her hand and helped her out, while she went unresistingly. Like a lamb to the slaughter. Except it wouldn’t be hers. She was determined upon that.

When he put his arm about her shoulders, taking advantage of his close proximity to caress her breast, she slapped his hand away.

He laughed. “Oh yes, there are certain pretences to be kept up. I think that’s part of your charm, Faith. Now, let me help you up the steps. That’s a very tight skirt you’re wearing. Very daring but very delectable. I shall enjoy seeing the mechanics of how you get it to cling so alluringly to that lovely body of yours. Yes, I’m quite the lover, but quite the engineer too. One is never just the one thing, don’t you agree?”