He didn’t move from his spot, didn’t try to stop her, but continued to watch her as she made her quick escape.
She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
8
Randolph Newton slammed his empty whiskey glass on the table, barely avoiding the edge of the table, and swore. “Bloody hell, where did the bitch disappear to?”
His drinking partner, well into his cups himself, shrugged. “Her disappearance is not my problem. ‘Tis yours, my friend. You owe me.”
Newton glowered at him. “I thought you were so anxious to get between her thighs, Lyons.”
He nodded. “I am. But it is your responsibility to deliver her to me. I will give you three days. Then I will demand payment in coin.”
“I don’t have the blunt. You know that. And you agreed to take Amelia in payment.”
Lyons stretched his arms out, almost toppling from his chair. “Do I see her here, Newton? Is she sitting on my lap, Newton? Has she warmed my bed yet, Newton? A man can’t enjoy the pleasures of his mistress if she is missing, Newton.”
Newton shook his head. “She has no friends in London. She has no money to travel back to the family estate. And even if she did, it’s already occupied.” He ran his fingers through his already-tousled hair. “Where could she go? It doesn’t make sense.” He shook his head and poured more whiskey into his glass, spilling part of it on the table.
Lyons held out his own glass which Newton refilled.
They both sat brooding while they consumed their drinks. “Another annoyance,” Newton said, “is the bloody Rose brothers. Who the bloody hell do they think they are, banning me from their club? Do they know who I am?”
“Clearly, if you’re on their banned list.”
Newton scowled. “Fights happen all the time in those places.”
“According to the brute they have at the door, not at The Rose Room.” Lyons hiccupped.
“Damn aristocrats. And that last brother is a bastard. Where does he get off banning me,” Newton pounded on his chest, “a member of the nobility? I am Viscount Newton. He is nothing. A bastard, a by-blow, born on the wrong side of the blanket.”
Daniel examined his glass which was empty again. He shrugged, glanced at the empty bottle and placed the glass on the table. “Might be a bastard, but the old earl raised him with the other two. Nothing puts foolish ideas into a man’s head more than being treated as an equal to his betters.”
“Hah! Someone needs to bring the bastard down a peg.”
Just as Newton settled in, thinking a nap would do well right then, Daniel asked, “What are you going to do about your sister?”
Newton’s eyes popped open, and he slammed his glass down again. “Find her. Find the bitch and give her a well-deserved beating before I turn her over to you.”
Daniel shrugged. “Just don’t damage the chit. I like her beautiful face just the way it is, and I don’t want to wait to shag her while she heals from injuries.” He leaned forward, grabbing the table to keep from falling. “Just make it quick. The girl or the blunt so I can buy another one.”
* * *
Driscoll smiled at Amelia as she entered the dining room in time for breakfast. He was still brooding about her rejection the night before, but decided not to push her, and allow her time. Time for them to discover each other and for now just be his employee.
For now.
He did not mean to give up. There was something about her that touched a part of him of which he’d been unaware. He liked the feeling, but at the same time knew he had to go slow. No woman had ever captured his interest for more than a few nights in his bed the way she did. Since he was treading in unknown territory, it was best to give Amelia time to trust him.
He knew there was something she was running from, possibly dangerous, and he was not mistaken that something had upset her last night. He tried to remember what he and Dante had been talking about at the time, but all he recalled was going over the names and numbers of those indebted to the club.
He stood and pulled out a chair for her. “Good morning, Amelia.” It occurred to him that most likely Margie had only purchased one dress and she certainly could not wear that every day. “For as lovely as that frock is, I do believe you will need more than one. In fact, there might be other things that she did not purchase for you. Can I escort you to Bond Street to do some shopping this morning?”
At first, she sucked in a deep breath, her face growing pale, beginning to shake her head, then she stopped and seemed to reconsider. “Yes. Actually, if you don’t mind advancing more of my wages, there are some other things I could use.”
He was quite surprised that she was willing to go out in public but was happy to oblige. “Excellent. After we eat, we can take the carriage to Bond Street.”
She smiled and his heart took an extra thump. He quickly attempted to rein in his enthusiasm. Until he knew more about Amelia, he really needed to keep his heart protected.
They enjoyed their breakfast with his new employee admitting she was both anxious and excited to begin training for her job. She let slip that she’d never held a job before which was no surprise since he’d already classified her as a lady. It still confused him as to why he did not know her. At least by name. But he was not at all familiar with a Pence family.
That was another reason to believe she had given him a false name. But
