Page 30 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
After a brief pause, he continued, “For what it is worth, Lady Edwina, I do not think he goes to the brothel to use their services. Word is that he is only meeting other people there. Not women.”
Edwina tried to suppress her discomfort further as they rode to the brothel.
The Duke caught her gaze and refused to look away. “What do you know about Madam Molly’s?”
“Not a lot,” she admitted. For why would she?
He nodded grimly. “It is one of the most notorious brothels, and it is led by a steel-fisted woman who will not take well to having a duke sniffing around her establishment. Getting information out of her will be hard, but if she sees me with you, then she might be more amenable.”
Edwina felt the blood drain from her face. “Would my presence not be suspicious?”
“I do not think so,” he said. “Molly treats her girls well, so if she thinks you are distressed and searching for Nicholas, then her tongue might loosen. We might also learn where he goes daily. However, she is paid most handsomely by her male clients for the utmost discretion.”
“We will try our best,” Edwina insisted. “I will not leave my brother alone. Even if he has already returned, the information is still necessary.”
She did not add,for we might very well need it many more times.
“One thing I cannot ignore, though,” the Duke continued, “is why of all the places we have been told that your brother might be in, there is not one respectable place. Perhaps except for the Raven’s Den. But there is not even one well-reputed gentlemen’s club.”
Edwina bit her lip, knowing full well why, but she could not tell the Duke of Stormhold that.
Madam Molly’s was a darkly lit place, three levels of a townhouse that was bedecked in lavish, gold-accented furniture and paintings that depicted all manners of carnal positions. Lucien spared a fleeting glance at them and then guided Lady Edwina along.
“Do not speak to anyone,” he told her. “Unless it is the Madam herself.”
Eyes wide, Lady Edwina followed him. It was the wide-eyed, stunned look of a naive girl who had not seen the inside of a place such as this. Although the Duke had never indulged in such pastimes, he had pulled enough friends out of them over the years before they tarnished their titles.
Too many people passed them, curious looks from beneath lowered lashes, women who brushed too close, too eager.
Without thinking twice, Lucien reached out. With a growl, he wrapped an arm around Lady Edwina’s waist and led her to the office at the back of the hallway. He bypassed hopeful workers and stumbling clients who were holding out pouches of coins.
He knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal a busty, tall woman. Her hair was styled elegantly, like that of a lady of theton. But Madam Molly was no lady of the ton. Her reputation was too sunken.
She looked Lucien up and down.
“It is not every day that a duke sullies his name by knocking on my door,” she purred. “Andwith a lady on his arm. What sort of indulgences might I offer you, Your Grace?”
“I am not here to sully my name or indulge,” he bit out. “I request an audience with you for some information.”
At that, she narrowed her eyes, dropping the act. “I don’t give information, Your Grace. Indulging or not, you must know that.”
“It is regarding a man who has not solicited your girls’ services.”
At that, curiosity flickered in Madam Molly’s eyes. After a moment, she waved them both in and shut the door.
Lucien did not waste any time. “He comes here to meet with other lords. I am not sure why, but he knows that this place is protected from prying eyes.”
At Madam Molly’s silence, he took out a bag of coins. He tossed it onto her desk.
“There are two more of this, and I can promise that even one is enough to double anything your usual clients will payfor discretion. We do not seek to use this information against anyone or to bring trouble to your doorstep. We only seek the whereabouts of one man to ensure his safety.”
The Madam still did not look convinced. She was tough, he would give her that. Many in her position would not hesitate to rat out a client, thinking it would land her favor.
Lucien did not need to threaten her, though. If she refused, he would try somewhere else.
But he did not expect Lady Edwina to step forward.
“Madam Molly, I am Lady Edwina. His Grace and I would not be here if we were not desperate, but the man we are searching for is my brother, the Earl of Montgomery.”
