Page 3 of One Wicked Kiss
Lucas lifted her up into his arms and then stood on the edge of the seat to hand her up to Edward. The duke took the girl from him and then moved out of the way so Lucas could climb out. Once he was out of the carriage he hopped to the ground and reached to take the girl from his friend. They both walked over to the carriage, and Edward opened the door.
“My valise…” The girl said suddenly. “Please can you retrieve it?”
Lucas glanced at the duke and he grumbled something under his breath. He probably didn’t want to bother with the girl’s luggage. “I’ll go get it. Can’t be too many ladies valise’s in the coach.” Edward stomped off to retrieve her case.
With Edward handling that Lucas helped the young miss inside. He lifted the seat bench and pulled out a blanket and draped it over her. Lucas set her on his side of the carriage across from Lady Marin.
Edward headed back to the carriage after searching for the lady’s valise. Then he came back and placed it with their trunks. He stepped into the carriage and shivered. “Now can we bloody well go to Canterbury? The snow is awful.” He rapped the top of the carriage and it started moving again.
“I hope it doesn’t take too long to reach the town,” Lady Marin said. “I’m starting to see why you were so concerned earlier.”
It shouldn’t have taken the sight of an overturned carriage to give pause to her earlier disregard. As soon as the blizzard had come upon them in full force she should have worried. He didn’t remind Lady Marin of that though. There was no reason to upbraid her for her silliness. “I think we’re closer than I originally believed.” He’d traveled this path a few times when he visited Weston. “We’re on the outskirts of Canterbury now. The carriage was almost to town before it hit an icy patch and the driver lost control.”
The young miss shuddered next to him. “Thank you for saving me.”
Lady Marin stared at her intently. “You seem familiar. Have we met?”
The girl shook her head. “I don’t believe so.”
She didn’t seem to like Lady Marin’s scrutiny. The girl glanced downward not meeting the countess’s gaze. “I don’t socialize.”
“You seem well-educated,” the countess said off handedly. “Your clothing is finely made. You even have the proper social graces. That means you come from a good family. Who are your relations?”
The girl didn’t reply just kept staring down at her lap. She pulled the blanket closer as another bout of trembles wracked her body. Lucas didn’t think it was all from the frigid temperatures. The girl was frightened. Maybe it was a residual effect of being tossed around a tumbling carriage, but he didn’t think that was all of it. “Are you running from something?” His gut instinct told him there wasn’t something right with her. Would she admit it though?
“No,” she said. Her voice as timid as she appeared to be. “I’m traveling to visit my family for Christmastide. My father makes me take the mail coach instead of sending the family carriage.”
“Where were you if you had to travel home?” Lady Marin asked.
“Finishing school,” she answered.
“What one?” Lady Marin inquired immediately.
“Quit interrogating the girl,” Edward ordered. “She’s had quite the ordeal today. She doesn’t need you pushing her darling.”
Lucas frowned. He didn’t understand why the countess was so concerned about the girl and where she came from, but he now wanted the same answers she did. He wasn’t certain how to go about getting them. The girl hadn’t even offered her name to them. Who was she and why was she being so secretive?
The carriage rolled into Canterbury. They’d find shelter and then he’d have a long talk with the young woman. She needed their help and he’d ensure she received it. While he provided her shelter and a warm meal he’d do a little interrogating of his own. Lady Marin had been a little too abrupt in her questioning. Charm would work much better and put the girl at ease. He’d have her answering whatever he asked without even realizing it. Lucas wasn’t one of London’s biggest rogue’s for nothing.
Chapter 3
Natalia couldn’t believe her luck. First the mail coach had crashed and nearly killed her… It had definitely ended the driver’s life… Now she was being forced to create story—a lie really—to tell the lovely people who’d rescued her. She didn’t want to deceive them, but her very survival made it a necessity. Natalia had to protect herself. She couldn’t tell them the truth and have them send her back to her father. He’d make her marry Comte Foix.
They stopped outside of an inn and Lucas went inside to see if he could secure lodgings for them. He’d been gone an awfully long time and when he came back a frown graced his handsome face. This man who’d saved her seemed kind and in another place or time she’d have liked to have become more acquainted with him. Lucas stepped into the carriage and shook his head. “We are not the only ones stranded by the storm. All the inns are filled to capacity. The innkeeper gave me directions to Klaus House located on the outskirts of town. It’s on Castle Street—they should have rooms to provide us for the night.”
Klaus house? That was an odd name for a place that provided lodging. It wasn’t an inn since Lucas had said all of them were full. What kind of place could it be? The carriage started moving again and stopped shortly after. Natalia glanced out the window of the carriage. Her curiosity got the better of her… The house was large and ornate. There was a quiet elegance to it. The man and lady across from them exited the carriage first. Then Lucas stepped out and assisted Natalia. They all strolled up to the door together not saying a word. Lucas knocked and the door swung open almost immediately. A tall woman with blonde hair and deep blue eyes greeted them. She was wearing a brilliant green turban striped in gold. A gold broach was pinned to the top with three short, snow white feathers. She lifted an expressive eyebrow and said, “May I help you?”
“Pardon our intrusion,” Lucas began. “We’re here to beg for shelter. All the inns are full and the storm has left us stranded.” He gestured toward Natalia. “She’s soaked through and desperately needs to get out of her wet clothing.”
The enigmatic woman stared at Natalia for a brief moment and then opened the door wider. “We’ve become a haven for many stranded travelers this night. We can certainly aid more.”
Lucas kept his arm around Natalia’s waist as they strolled past the woman. The other couple followed behind them. The woman shut the door with a soft click. “I’m Frau Klaus,” she introduced herself. “You may call me Mrs. Klaus.” She waved at the room. “This of course is the foyer of my establishment. Please wait here and I’ll send one of my girls to show you to a room.”
Lucas’s friend’s mouth fell open as Mrs. Klaus walked away. “Bloody hell this is a brothel. We can’t stay here.”
Natalia had never been in a house of ill repute before. Though to be fair she shouldn’t be in one now. The man… What had Lucas called him? Weston. He was right. If they cared at all about their reputations they should find someplace else to stay. Though Natalia didn’t give one fig about keeping her innocence intact... If it was up to her father she’d be whoring herself to Comte Foix. She’d use this little prelude from her escape to perhaps gather a bit of an education on the more delectable side of life. Natalia might not ever get another opportunity to learn about passion. She could have a long talk with one of the girls employed by Mrs. Klaus and see if they’d answer whatever questions she might have.
“There is no other place to go,” Lucas reminded Weston. “If we leave we’ll be stuck in a blizzard and probably die from the cold. Get over your indignation. It’s not as if you’ve never been in a brothel before.”
