To Seduce a Bride (Courtship Wars)

“Do come in, angel,” Heath urged. “And shut the door, unless you wish to broadcast my presence in your bedchamber.”

That seemed to snap Lily out of her daze, for her beautiful eyes narrowed. “Your presence in my bedchamber is extremely ill-advised, my lord. You should not be here, you know very well.”

“I wanted a place to be private with you.”

“There are two parlors and a drawing room in the house. Any of those would be far more suitable for a gentleman caller.”

“But not suitable for my purpose.”

Her eyes turned wary again. “Just what is your purpose, Lord Claybourne?”

“I cannot tell you as long as you remain loitering out there in the corridor.”

Lily obliged him, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her, but she obviously wasn’t happy about it, for her hands went to her hips. “Now will you pray explain the reason for your delightful visit?”

Heath grinned at her acerbic tone. “Yes, if you will explain what the devil you are doing in a scandalous pleasure house.”

She stiffened. “It is not a pleasure house precisely. The boarders don’t entertain their patrons here.”

Heath arched a skeptical brow. “You are saying they don’t hold assignations with their lovers here?”

“Well…not frequently, at any event. The proprietresses frown upon it.”

“And that should assuage my concerns?”

Her lips pressed together. “Assuaging your concerns is hardly my responsibility, my lord. But if you must know, I am helping Fanny Irwin and her friends repay a rather large gambling debt.”

“So I understand. I’ve learned a great deal about you over the past three days since I discovered your location. You have obviously been hard at work.”

Her eyes widened. “You have been watching me?”

“In part. When I called yesterday, you were occupied in the drawing room, surrounded by a gaggle of beauties practicing the waltz. At least your friend Eddowes was willing to satisfy a measure of my curiosity.”

“Basil told you about our endeavor?” She looked taken aback. “I cannot believe he betrayed my confidence! Or that you managed to persuade him to.”

Heath smiled at her vexation. “You proved so elusive, I was forced to become more resourceful. Eddowes has your best interests at heart, you know.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That I have your best interests at heart also. Actually, I think he was relieved to share his apprehensions with me. He doesn’t quite approve of you being here.” Heath’s gaze narrowed on her. “Marcus would not approve either if he knew, I’ll wager.”

“I do not need Marcus’s consent to be here,” Lily replied stiffly. “He is no longer my guardian.”

“But he is head of your family now. And Arden will soon be joining it as well. You know he and your sister Roslyn are betrothed?”

“I know,” Lily said, her tone gloomy.

“So don’t you think it would be detrimental to your sisters if your presence here became known?”

“I don’t intend for it to become known. And if Basil Eddowes told you about our academy, then you must realize it is for a worthy cause. We are helping some unfortunate young women improve their speech and social graces so they can better their lives. It is immensely satisfying, seeing their progress day by day. And next week we plan to hold a soiree so they may meet a higher class of clientele. Hopefully they will be able to improve the deplorable circumstances under which they must earn their livelihood.”

Her passion for her cause was obvious, Heath reflected, watching Lily’s expressive face. Although it didn’t surprise him, he wondered how many ladies of her class would become involved in helping prostitutes raise their standard of living, much less endure these rather spartan conditions for weeks on end. He glanced around the small chamber, which was bare except for a narrow bed and side table, a washstand and bureau, and a chair. Very unlike her bedchamber at Danvers Hall, he would imagine.

“Your compassion is highly admirable,” Heath said mildly.

She regarded him with suspicion. “Are you roasting me, Lord Claybourne?”

“Not in the least. I am quite sincere in my admiration. And I understand why you began teaching here, but not why you came to be here in the first place.”