Page 6 of The Duke of Fire
“You must not. Not like this. People will look at you, a lady bursting out of a brothel in transparent clothes. Setting foot in here is scandalous enough. Think of your reputation.”
She hesitated, uncertain. Sebastian was suddenly pulled by the urge to comfort her, but he stopped himself. He could help her get out of the situation at least.
“You need a change of clothes,” he said. “And an umbrella.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you… offering to help me undress? You said you belonged here in this brothel. Do you want to take advantage of me?”
“Sweetheart, if I wanted to take advantage, you would know.” Sebastian drawled. He laughed again, this time a little louder. He saw how the red traveled from her cheeks to her chest.So responsive.He tried to push the inappropriate thoughts from his head.“I do not need to take advantage of anyone. Usually, women come to me.”
“Y-you are unbelievably arrogant,” she stuttered in fury.
“Does that mean you want me to help you undress?” he asked, a smirk slowly spreading on his face.
Her eyes widened in outrage. It tempted him to goad her further, but he sighed and called one of the courtesans. Yes, he was a rake, but he rarely dealt with maidens. They were more trouble than they were worth.
He laughed, then turned. “Marla!”
A girl of about twenty, with warm brown eyes, appeared before them.
“What is it, Your Grace? How can I help?” she asked, almost like a lady’s maid would.
“Please find a modest change of clothes for this lady. She had been caught in the torrents outside and got lost. She will need anumbrella, as well.”
Marla’s eyes widened. He could not blame her. It was not every day that a lady came bursting into a brothel by accident. There were two instances of married ladies raidingThe Blue Parrot, wearing their maids’ clothes while looking for their errant husbands. He chuckled, remembering one instant he was present for.
“Come, my lady. I will help you.” Marla beckoned the yet-unnamed, drenched woman in his company.
As Marla and the lady left to have the latter change, Sebastian wondered.Who was she?
He waited for her at the front salon, glancing furtively at the patrons flirting with the courtesans. She was taking too long. What was it about women today? Perhaps he was simply becoming impatient, but he needed to see her, ask her name before she left.
Twenty minutes later, he saw Marla walking back to the front salon, but the mysterious woman was not with her.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“S-she… well, Your Grace, I believe she must have left through the back door.”
Then, he noticed her bag. She had left it on the floor. Perhaps it could give him some clues about her identity.
Curious, he opened it and saw a sheaf of papers. He began to read, the Latin flowing easily in his mind. Then he froze.Latin?That alone gave him pause. Not many women could read it, let alone write in it with such fluency—and abandon. His interest deepened. Who the devil was she?
“She tossed her head in abandon as his mouth descended on her—” he read aloud. “Wait a minute…”
There was more of it. Detailed writing. In Latin.
He pressed her against the leather chair, and she cried out, not in pain but absolute surrender.
The lady might have the face of an angel, but her writing was full of sin. His hands tightened around the sheaf of papers, but he could not stop reading. The writing grew bolder. Darker. Delicious.
Sebastian stared at the pages, heat settling heavy between his thighs.
How?She seemed so prim and furious. Even the way her eyes sparkled with innocence and indignation. But if these were her fantasies, then there was more to this lady than she presented to the world.
“Well, then,” he murmured. “What could you be hiding?”
He licked his lips. He would find her again. He would know everything about her. Her name, her address, and all her secrets.
And when he did, he would make sure that she would lie beneath him and forget the name of every man who came before.
