Page 5 of The Duke of Fire
“W-what are you doing? Unhand me!” she commanded, trying to twist her arm away from him.
“Saving you. You have no idea where you are,” he whispered.
Or who I am, he wanted to add. But somehow, there was something thrilling about a woman not knowing who they were dealing with.
“I know perfectly well where I am,” she retorted. “I was to deliver some translated manuscripts to Mr. Featherstone by tomorrow,” she said smugly, still unaware of where she was and how delicious she looked.
Sebastian blinked. Then chuckled.
That explains her confusion.
“Well, Featherstone’s office is across the square,” Sebastian replied, enunciating each word carefully while regarding the lady. “This little establishment here, founded for the pleasures of men, and perhaps some like-minded women, isThe Blue Parrot.”
“The Blue Parrot?”
“Yes. A brothel.”
Color drained from her face.
“No,” she whispered in pure horror. Her gaze darted beyond the divider. Velvet drapery. Giggling courtesans. Pawing men. She covered her eyes. “No!”
“Well? How would you mistake a publisher’s office with a brothel?”
“I could not see a thing in that rain, and when I got in, I thought the publisher must have changed the drapery to something gaudy for a reason,” she whispered, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
Sebastian could not help but laugh. She glared at him and whirled around, intent on leaving the brothel. He sighed and stepped in front of her, using his tall and broad body to stop her from further humiliating herself.
“Move,” she ordered.
“You are not going anywhere.”
“How dare you? You cannot keep me in this… this…”
“Look at yourself,” he said. “You cannot walk into the street looking like that.”
“Looking like what?” The poor woman could not be this oblivious all the time, could she? The thought made him want to follow her everywhere, protect her from men. Protect her from herself.
He let his gaze trail slowly down her body. Her breath caught.
“Your dress leaves nothing to the imagination. It is soaked and transparent. You were already about to give everyone here a glimpse of heaven. Do not tell me you will also expose yourselfoutside,” he said reasonably.
Sebastian could not help but give her another look. She had a lovely, innocent face, a lady with a courtesan’s body. Her eyes widened when she realized her state of dress and how his eyes were traveling all over her body. Color surged into her cheeks. Somehow, he had seen the woman change into different colors in the short period they had been acquainted.
“You could have told me sooner, so that I-I could have covered myself better,” she stammered, trying helplessly to cover herself with her dainty hands.
“I was distracted,” he admitted. “You are… hard to ignore,” he murmured, again scanning her body boldly. “I was also enjoying the view.”
“You are a cad.”
“True. But a lady of polite society like you should be more careful. Wolves are lurking everywhere…”
“I am not… I would not call myself a society lady,” she gritted out, her eyes flashing even more. He wondered if she had something against society. Interesting.
“Even better,” he said approvingly.
“My lady?” Her chaperone called from outside. Her panic rose.
“T-that is my maid, my chaperone. I must leave,” she said, her voice shaking now.
