Duke of Decadence (Lords of Scandal 9)

The men began to rumble.

Isabella could hear the change in their tenor. They’d been leery before but now their voices grew lighter, easier, and more excited with all the…possibilities.

Her shoulders straightened. Yes, her sisters needed food and clothes, but she’d not sacrifice her future for that. There was no way. She wasn’t as strong as Eliza. Clenching her fists in her lap, she knew this time she had to put an end to Eliza’s dangerous plans.

But as she opened her mouth to speak, another voice cut through the din. “No.” It was Bash’s deep baritone and it silenced the murmurs.

“No?” Menace asked, his chin pulling back. “You won’t even consider it?”

“No.” Bash said, his hand coming down on the table. “Absolutely not.”

She let out a relieved breath. “I agree. It’s a terrible idea.”

Blasphemy tossed up his hands. “Just to be clear, we all bought out this club to make money. The golden goose has landed on our doorstep and we’re going to toss her back on the street?”

“I agree with Blasphemy.” Vanity, nodded his head, his hair not moving a bit. “This is a rare opportunity.”

“To what?” Bash said and his arm came around the back of her chair. “To damage an innocent woman’s reputation?”

Menace snorted. “She’s already impersonated a man and handed us our asses at cards. We’re going to use the word innocent?”

A flush stained Isabella’s cheeks as her chin dropped to her chest. She was an innocent. She was just in a difficult situation. But these men assumed she was a harlot. What man wouldn’t? That was exactly why she couldn’t go through with her sister’s mad plan.

“How dare you make such implications about my sister,” Eliza said, smacking the table. Her palm didn’t make nearly as much noise as when Bash had done it. “You don’t know the first thing about our situation.”

Menace raised one brow. “Enlighten me, sweetheart.”

“I’m not your sweetheart,” Eliza snarled back.

Bash’s thumb stroked the spot between Isabella’s shoulder blades. If the gesture was meant to relax her, it had the opposite of the intended effect. In addition to sending a shower of tingles cascading down her back it also made her flush deeper. Did he think her a harlot too? Was that why he touched her?

“Regardless,” Bash said as his thumb continued to dance slow circles. “We’re not going to partake in such risky behavior.”

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Blasphemy said as he tossed Bash a scowl. “You don’t worry about consequences. You barrel headlong into everything fun and dangerous.”

“For myself,” he fired back. “I barrel headlong into all sorts of things. This is different.”

Isabella shook her head as it began to throb. She rubbed her temples with her fingertips. “We’ve proven to you that we didn’t steal from you. I think it best we leave now.”

“Isabella, we’ve only just—”

“Enough,” she said to her sister. “You may stay. I am going home.” And then she pushed back her chair and rose.

She ignored the way she missed Bash’s touch as she started for the door. She should not want his hands on her.

“I do see the problem you were referring to,” Vanity said as he titled his head to the side. “The pants are delightful. Someone is bound to notice.”

Infamy chuckled. “Someone? Everyone.”

She pulled the knob and started out

the door, not bothering to look back. She didn’t have her hat on, her hair draped down her back, but she wasn’t certain she cared. She just needed to leave this place.

She didn’t like what they thought of her, didn’t like Eliza’s plans. She wanted to be home and safe and…she wanted to see her father.

Anger and fear swelled in her chest making it difficult to draw air. How could he leave them to deal with all of this by themselves? To her horror, a tiny sob collected in her throat that she pushed back down, fisting her hands.

“Isabella?” It was Bash. His deep voice reverberated through her. “You can’t go out there like that. There is a back door.” He slipped his hand about her waist, turning her back the way she’d come. “I’ll have my carriage take you and your sister home.”