Page 6 of Lady Gambit
Chapter Two
Lucius Daventry would regret saving Dorian’s life. If Daventry sauntered into Miss Darrow’s yard, Dorian would throttle him with his own cravat.
The sleuth’s urgent visit to the Old Swan this morning made perfect sense now. He had come to persuade Dorian to take the case. He had revealed Miss Chance’s real name and explained her predicament, though had failed to mention the most obvious fact.
Delphine Chance possessed an inherent beauty.
A means to distract a man from his intended course.
She had appeared as a vision in gold silk. A goddess of Olympus in a gown that hugged her figure like a glove. He’d tried not to stare at her bare shoulders and imagine brushing his mouth over her soft skin. It had been so long since he’d held a woman in his arms. It was doubtless the cause of his body’s fierce reaction.
Daventry had misled him. He had used the wordspinsterto imply the lady was beyond marriageable age. He’d not said she was undesirable or that she preferred to chase herindependence. But few people spoke of Aaron Chance’s sister, and so Dorian had assumed no one wished to cause offence.
“There are some things you should know aboutme, Mr Flynn.” She spoke quickly, her gaze darting to the door of Miss Darrow’s shop. “Confident men do not intimidate me. In theory, you might consider me worldly. There’s nothing you could say that would shock me. In reality, I have very little life experience.”
The lady was definitely chaste. It explained why she feared being caught alone with a man. Why her brothers would force her to marry. That said, Aaron Chance would likely kill Dorian before welcoming him into the fold.
“Is there anything else you need to know?” she added.
Yes, he needed to know why such a beautiful woman was seldom seen about town. Why had she not approached her brothers to ask for their help? They were powerful men. Dangerous devils. Why was Daventry so damned keen for him to assist her?
“In these cases, people rarely find what they’re looking for.” It was only right he cautioned her before she revealed sensitive information. Most women had unrealistic expectations. “The truth is often ugly.”
The day he learnt the truth about his own tainted lineage was a memory he’d sooner forget. A child had no need to question his parents’ relationship. He didn’t wonder why his father came home late at night and left before dawn. Why his mother’s favourite chair faced the window. Along with every punch, the pampered boys at boarding school were quick to offer explanations.
He’s Retford’s by-blow.
His mother is a common whore.
His mother had been Lady Retford’s maid.
Miss Chance stepped closer, the seductive notes of her perfume waking him from his reverie. “You may be right, butignorance won’t stop the nightmares. Who am I, Mr Flynn?” She opened her arms, tempting him to examine every delightful curve and contour. “I have no notion.”
“Our parents do not define us, Miss Chance.”
If they did, he would be a weak man, controlled by his appetites. He’d be a philanderer who lied at every given opportunity. A pathetic creature filled with his own self-importance.
“That’s easy for you to say. You know your parents.”
Dorian snorted. “Trust me, I wish I didn’t.”
Undeterred by his cold response, she pressed her case. “One of your parents must have dark brown hair. Someone in your family must be tall and broad. From whom did you inherit your proud nose?”
With a bitter taste in his mouth, he said, “My father.”
She gave a little huff. “You see my point? Is my mother’s hair as dark as mine?” She pulled an ebony tendril loose and let it slip through her dainty fingers. “Are her lips as full?” Said lips formed a perfect pout. “Who in my family has long eyelashes?”
Whoever it was possessed a pleasing countenance. And yet, the kindness in her eyes and the determination in her voice held him entranced.
“I dislike mussels.” She wrinkled her nose, ensuring he knew how much they turned her stomach. “There’s no logical reason I should.”
He found himself smiling. “Miss Chance, I cannot begin an investigation with nothing more than a hatred of mussels.”
“I’m a gifted horsewoman, though to my knowledge, I’ve never had a lesson. I’m quite pedantic when it comes to tidiness. I find beauty in small things—the shimmer of sunlight on the water, the first blooming buds of spring. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet makes me weep inconsolably.”
He raised a hand to silence her. “I’m not here interviewing for a wife.” Though he could not deny she was adorable. Thank heavens he need only spend a short time in her company. She would test any bachelor’s resolve. “We’re the sum of our experiences. Traits aren’t always inherited. Now. Tell me about the day you met Aaron Chance.”
She nodded and was about to begin when a harried Miss Darrow appeared at the door. “Your brother is asking to see you in the gown again.” The modiste spoke in frantic whispers. “He insists I finish it today and deliver it to Fortune’s Den. He won’t take no for an answer.”
