Page 25 of Cora
A thrill ran through her at the memory of Gideon’s,I will bed you when you come to me of your own volition. Not one second before.
Cora had barely seen him since then. She heard him preparing to leave early in the morning, and he arrived home late. She took her evening meals alone, but Martha often made a point of coming for lunch.
The man must think he could make her beg for his touch. He probably could. She was loath to admit how good it had felt to have his hands and lips upon her body, even to herself. She would go to her grave untouched rather than confess such a thing.
He hadn’t forced her. He could have, but Cora knew deep down that she would have given herself willingly if he’d pressed.
What she desperately needed was someone she could speak freely with to untangle her mixed emotions, but Cora didn’t know where to find that. Annalise would listen without judgment, but Cora was reluctant to bother her sister-in-law with complaints. Nor did she wish to put Annalise in the position of having to keep secrets from Eryx.
At some point during her rumination, Honey had ceased her chatter and turned to peer at the street below through a pair of opera glasses.
“What are you doing?”
Honey didn’t lower them. “Watching Number 9.”
Cora blinked. She knew that address. “Countess Oreste’s home? Why?” Countess Oreste could be the ideal sounding board. She was kind-hearted and knowledgeable. She would have good advice, and she kept secrets well. Hope sprung like a seedling in her heart.
Honey lowered the glasses and gaped at Cora, wide-eyed. “You know how she claims to be reforming former whores?”
Her tone fell to a whisper on the last word.
“Yes. My brother made a loan to her House of Virtue when she was first setting it up.”
Although there was no one to overhear except Titi, who couldn’t understand a word, Honey continued in a hushed tone, “There are rumors it’s really a brothel.”
Feigning shock, Cora pressed one hand to her bosom. “No.”
She had heard the rumors, through Eryx. Thetonwas cruel to the countess because she’d been a courtesan before marrying into the aristocracy. An undeserved slight, in Cora’s view. Honey had never interacted with the woman, to Cora’s knowledge. She was only repeating what others said. Her parents would never tolerate such a scandalous association for their unmarried daughter.
“Why the sudden interest?” Cora asked.
“I had to find something to occupy my time now that you’ve gone and married, and left me to sit on the shelf alone,” she pouted. “Look!” Honey held out the opera glasses as if she hadn’t said anything tart. “That’s the fourth carriage in the past quarter-hour to arrive. Only men have gone in. It’s like this week after week.”
“Aren’t they making donations to support the ladies?”
“Support in what way?” Honey demanded indignantly. “On their backs?”
Cora laughed and swatted her friend’s arm. Curiosity got the better of her. She scanned down the row of elegant townhome façades to the one marked with a large 9.
Sure enough, a man in a greatcoat and hat came around the corner and used the front door. Shortly thereafter, another man exited. “He must have achieved his objective in record time. That man’s coach pulled up at the same time I arrived here.”
“I am telling you, it’s a brothel! In Mayfair!” Honey’s voice again dropped into a scandalized stage whisper that made Cora want to belly laugh for the first time since her wedding. “There’s a separate entrance in the rear. I found it the other day when I saw a man literally disappear!”
“Men can’t disappear, Honey.” Although her husband had done his best imitation of a ghost lately. Unease settled into the pit of Cora’s stomach. She wasgladhe was leaving her alone. Wasn’t she?
The fact that she wasn’t sure disturbed her.
Had he only married her to acquire the bank? It hadn’t felt like that was the reason when he touched her. He could have simply offered for it. Marrying her had been his stipulation, not Eryx’s. Her brother had been willing to sacrifice his life’s work, his pride and joy, rather than acquiesce.
“You’re being a terrible snoop,” Cora admonished mildly.
“I’ll show you,” Honey insisted. “Let’s take Titi for a walk.”
Cora could think of many reasons to remain ensconced here in Honey’s comfortable sitting room. It was warm, for one thing, unlike the brisk February breeze outside. The hem of her fashionable new gown was already damp, and although she did not have any particular opinion about whether the color suited her or not, she did not wish to soil it further. It was a shame to ruin nice things.
But then a coach she recognized came around the corner, and a figure exited.
Gideon. Her heart scrambled frantically.
