Page 13 of A Caribbean Heiress in Paris
“Apparently she’s establishing herself in Edinburgh in the next couple of weeks or so.”
“That’s convenient,” Evan heard Murdoch exclaim from under the water his brain seemed to be suddenly submerged in. It had been so long since he’d craved like this. The distillery...that was retribution. It was getting what was his. But this was pure need. Need was a risky emotion.
“Establishing herself in Edinburgh...permanently?”
Raghav nodded. “Yes, according to Antonio, she’s having some trouble with the trustee to her inheritance.”
“That sounds dire.” It could mean anything really, and likely none of it good.
“Quite,” Raghav concurred, looking around again. “I didn’t get many details, but from what Antonio said, she’s departing to Scotland forthwith. She’s asked me if I’d be willing to provide her some guidance once we’re all back in Edinburgh.”
He liked the idea of her asking anyone other than him for help even less than he liked the thought of Raghav tasting her rum. What was the matter with him?
“She came to a brothel to ask you for help?”
Raghav’s grin deepened. “She’s here to do business,” he said, then seemed to realize how that could be interpreted and fluttered his hands. “Not that kind of business. Her friends wanted to see Le Bureau, and she’d heard about Seynabou. She’s going to attempt to sell her some of her rum.” Raghav’s smile was in full force now, and Evan felt his own lips turn up.
“She’s bold,” he said, not bothering to hide his appreciation of her tenaciousness.
“And that’s where she’s gone. I pointed Seynabou out for her. She’s offered to gift me one of her rum casks as a thank-you.”
“I see a lot of possibility here,” mused Murdoch. He was likely teasing, but Evan was truly beginning to think that he was being presented with an opportunity he’d be a fool to ignore.
“Did she saywhenshe would give you the cask?” Evan asked, head swiveling around the room looking for his lioness.
Raghav frowned at that. “No, I was going to call on her tomorrow and settle the details. In fact, if we could get our hands on a few of her casks, that would make for a phenomenal batch of Special Reserve. The bourbon ones we used on the last are stellar, but this rum is like nothing I’ve ever tasted.”
Evan caught a glimpse of blue and silver go through a set of curtains on the far side of the room and turned in that direction. Perhaps a brothel was indeed the ideal place to secure a temporary wife.
“Where have you been?” Manuela asked dramatically as Luz came upon them in one of the many sitting rooms on the ground floor of Le Bureau.
“I was formally introducing myself to Mr. Kapadia,” she explained, leaning to pluck a glass of champagne from a tray carried by a very attractive young man dressed in a burgundy jacket with lavish golden embroidery on the lapels. “I was thanking him for his offer to assist me when I arrive in Edinburgh.” Things with Childers would likely only get worse and she was not too proud to take a hand if it was extended to her, for Clarita’s sake. If it came attached to a certain arrogant, too-handsome, too-tall, insolent Scottish arse, so be it.
Manuela made an impatient noise which was a mix between a huff and grumble. “No more work tonight. We are supposed to be enjoying ourselves. You areallowedto, Luz Alana. We’re in a place built for pleasure.Indulge, Leona, for once.”
She opened her mouth to argue, to recriminate Manuela for not taking her situation seriously, then deflated. Her friend was right. She should be snatching the moments of joy she was given. She couldn’t remember when she’d last taken a day for herself. It wasn’t just her father’s death either; she thought about the distillery and ways to improve the business constantly. Conceiving ways to get her ideas past the gauntlet of objectors she found at every turn. Even with her father’s support things had been difficult. It was more of the same, except now she had no champion.
Let yourself have this night, Luz. It will all be waiting in the morning.
“What mayhem have you organized for us?” she asked, proffering a white flag. She would still keep an eye out for Seynabou Cisse-Kelly, but she would try to have a good time. Manuela leaned to kiss Luz’s cheek and waved a hand in the air as if offering the entire establishment to her.
The famous brothel, at least when it came to the decor, certainly lived up to its reputation as the most lavish in Paris. From the glittering crystal chandeliers to what seemed like miles of bloodred velvet, the place evoked indulgence. And it was certainly popular; there were patrons everywhere. Ladies and gentlemen sipping champagne while canoodling on plush settees or behind one of the curtained-off nooks around the room.
“There is much to do this evening. Antonio said there are even live shows.”
“Absolutely not,” Aurora snapped.
“You’re a physician,” Manuela interjected. “A scholar of the human anatomy. Think of this as research.” Aurora’s snort made it clear she would do nothing of the sort.
“Consider me anofor any kind of live entertainment,” Aurora said with finality, just as Antonio approached them.
“Ah, my Leonas!” he exclaimed, his handsome face the very picture of hedonist delight.
“Our gentleman has returned,” Manuela trilled and immediately hooked her arm in his. “Antonio and I are heading to the upper floor, where I’m told there is an array of Sapphic pursuits this evening.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Aurora balked without heat.
“A lost cause,” Manuela confirmed giddily.
