Page 69 of The Confessions of a Lady
The man’s laughter was dry and ended on a cough. ‘Getting a little ahead of yourself, Renquist. Your offer of ships is much appreciated, and we may take you up on it at some point, but before we establish trust, I need to know your father was wrong. That you have what it takes to be a commanding marquess.’
‘What are you suggesting?’
‘We are in constant need of product, Lord Renquist. That is your first step in earning our trust. Providing us with cargo. Proving you have the bollocks to go as far as we might need.’
Girls. Fucking say it. Young, innocent girls. Not product. Not cargo. Women. But you won’t admit what you’re asking me to procure, because then you’d have to acknowledge the depths of your sins.
To win this man over, he would have to do the unthinkable. Risk the life of an innocent.
Though his expression was hidden, Liam could hear the smug smile in the Snake’s words. ‘It’s time to prove you aremore than just blustering words, William. Meet me in a week’s time with product in hand. If your contribution meets our expectations, and your offer of shipping still stands, then we shall have an accord. I shall sign your contract, and you will be one step closer to earning your father’s pride. Even from the grave.’
Liam forced his mouth into a smile when all he wanted to do was snarl. ‘Where shall we meet?’
The man stepped back, his hand on the door handle. The click of the latch reverberated like a gunshot in the quiet room. ‘An invitation will arrive later in the week. Come alone. Except for the product, of course. And don’t disappoint us. This could be a very lucrative deal for everyone.’
Light spilled in from the hallway, briefly illuminating the dark blue of the man’s suit before he stepped out and shut the door quickly behind him.
A red haze was descending. Liam bit his cheek and focused on that sharp pain.
I will be one step closer to ending your life, and the lives of your disgusting friends.
Liam needed to re-join the party. He wanted to find Penny. Hold her close. Remind himself the world still held beauty. But first, he needed to calm his rage, control his burning desire to find the man and tear him apart one particle at a time.
Penny held her breath as unshed tears burned her eyes. She leaned against the cramped wall of the small alcove between the study and the hall. It was a servants’ entrance to the back of Liam’s study where cleaning supplies and implements were kept close at hand. While she couldn’t see the interactionbetween Liam and his mysterious guest, she heard everything in devastating detail.
Relief and disappointment battled when she realised the letter she pilfered wasn’t even Liam’s. But then he made his deal with the mysterious bastard, and the meeting was set for an unthinkable exchange. A girl’s life for the price of admission into the Devil’s Sons.
This is the evidence I’ve been searching to find.
But elation didn’t fill her at the success of her mission. Her heart shattered. Liam was guilty. Of terrible crimes. And she could no longer harbour any soft feelings for the man. She could no longer let herself be swept away in a fantasy where the maid found her happiness with the marquess. And she could also no longer wait to report him. Something needed to be done before another innocent girl fell victim. With Constable Sweet entertaining his wife and sister-in-law in Bath, she would have to take matters into her own hands.
She waited until she heard Liam leave the room, then exited into the main hall. She sniffed sharply and exhaled a breath. Her corset dug into her ribs, the weight of so many petticoats and skirts pulled heavily on her hips, and she longed to take off the heeled slippers rubbing blisters into her toes. But even more desperately, she longed to complete her mission and leave this place. Return to her simple servant’s life and forget the man who once lit her soul on fire. Who then burned it to cinders.
He would be looking for her in the ballroom, but how could she possibly face him? Knowing the deal he made with the Devil’s Sons? Knowing what he planned to do to earn his membership into their brotherhood? How could she look into his beautiful amber gaze and pretend she saw a man and not a monster?
The commissioner.
He is here. Tonight. It may be the only way I can gain an audience with him. If I can find him… I can tell him now and end this horrible affair.
End anything of beauty existing between Penny and Liam.
Liam already ended things when he made his deal.
Tears threatened again as her throat grew thick. She swallowed hard and shook her head. She would not let her emotions cloud her judgment. There would be time to berate herself for falling victim to the charms of an evil man later. Now, she must focus on ensuring that evil man was held accountable.
As she entered the ballroom, she searched the crowd. Trying to find the commissioner by sight was a wasted effort. Even if she knew what the man looked like, everyone was wearing masks. Though not everyone was disguised. The Duchess of Dorsett, for example, was hardly hiding in the shadows. Her resplendent black-and-silver hair, her glittering dress of midnight and flames, her very posture and bearing set her apart from the others.
Before she could determine her next steps, Millicent rushed over, gathering Penny’s hands in her own. ‘Are you having a wonderful time, Penny? What fun it is to finally converse with you as friends, and not as a lady and her maid.’ Millicent’s dark eyes flashed with affection. ‘I do so miss seeing you.’
Penny bit her lip. ‘I may need a new position sooner than I thought. Perhaps you would be willing to take me back as your lady’s maid?’
Millicent’s copper brows drew down in concern. ‘Are you not happy here with Lord Renquist?’
Penny wanted nothing more than to tell Millicent everything. Unburden her heavy heart and let someone else carry the weight for a while. Lean on her as a friend. But this was neither the time nor the place for such damning confessions and as muchas Millie might say they were friends, Penny was still a servant, even cloaked in silk and lace.
Still, maybe shecanhelp me.
‘I’m perfectly fine. I need to find the commissioner. Do you know the man?’
