Page 49 of Lady Controversial
‘It would make sense, but I have yet to decide where. It’s too isolated to attract much business, unless…’
‘Unless?’
‘Your father’s estate gives onto Chichester Harbour, does it not?’ Ellery said slowly.
‘Not directly. It’s a good mile from the shoreline, but there is a small track that leads from it to the coast.’
‘Then that’s what he has planned. A pleasure vessel.’
‘Pleasure vessel?’ She frowned up at him. ‘I don’t understand.’
Ellery was very glad to hear it. A floating whorehouse with gambling and every other kind of depravity would be right up Brooke’s street, and likely to earn him a pretty penny. It was just the sort of debauched scheme he would dream up in an effort to embarrass Ellery. And if he got it off the ground he would succeed too. His mother would hear of it and Ellery wouldn’t know a moment’s peace. For once, he wouldn’t be able to find fault with his mother’s complaints either, and Brooke would have finally earned his revenge, to say nothing of securing himself a small fortune. Gentlemen—a certain type of gentlemen— Ellery knew very well, would find his venture impossible to resist, if only for its novelty value.
It was all most unsavoury.
‘He wants to make a nuisance of himself with a gaming enterprise and embarrass me at the same time,’ Ellery replied, gritting his teeth.
‘Surely you would have heard rumours…’
‘No. He would have to bribe certain parties, but it’s vital that he keeps the particulars as much to himself as possible. And those who have been bribed are in no position to speak out. It would only expose their dishonesty if they do so.’
‘If we are right then it would explain why he needs Rose Cottage so badly,’ Isolda added. ‘He requires the access track.’
‘Well, we are onto him now, and I can take steps to prove it.’
‘What steps?’ she asked, blinking up at him.
A very good question, Ellery thought. He was hampered by secrecy just as much as Brooke would be. If he revealed his hand too soon then he would lose the advantage. More pressingly, if Brooke discovered Isolda’s identity as the masked swordsman, he would stop at nothing to force her into his service. He would be aware of her value and it wasn’t the type of opportunity that he would pass up. She felt the burden of responsibility for her silly and selfish sister, and if Brooke revealed the nature of Isolda’s pastime then Jane’s prospects would be in tatters.
Ellery was equally determined that Brooke would not get the opportunity to put her in that position.
‘That is something we will discuss in due time,’ he said, ‘but for now I can see that you are done in and struggling to remain awake. I will send a maid down to help you.’
‘There’s no need. I am accustomed to taking care of myself.’ She glanced down at her attire. ‘A robe and some hot water are all that I require. But really, will not my presence here cause you difficulties with your family? I mean, a female alone and…’
Her words trailed off and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Her naiveté threatened to melt Ellery’s heart and he smiled his reassurance. ‘My family will know nothing of your presence until tomorrow when your sister and your servants will join you. I will tell my mother that your roof has collapsed, or something of that nature, and that I have offered you shelter until it is fixed.’
‘You appear to have thought of everything,’ she said ungraciously, clearly unaccustomed to kindness that didn’t come with a heavy price tag.
‘My man is at Rose Cottage as we speak, reassuring Mrs Compton. She, your sister and your other servant will be escorted here at first light, but I will have someone watching the place all night in case Brooke gets the right idea.’
‘Thank you.’ She looked down at her hand, seemingly surprised to notice his fingers still entwined with hers. If she objected to the arrangement she gave no sign, and so Ellery saw no reason to release her. ‘My sister will think that all her name days have arrived at once,’ she warned, a hint of humour lighting up her eyes.
Ellery chuckled. ‘I am not doing it for her sake.’
‘No, you are doing it to get the better of Lord Brooke and prevent him from polluting this lovely part of the world with his debauchery. I can quite understand that, and I have reasons of my own for wanting to see him put firmly in his place.’
‘Sweet Isolda.’
‘If…if we can somehow prove that he defrauded Papa of his estate it would be an added bonus, but I am a realist and understand how unlikely that is.’
She looked away from him, clearly conflicted and, Ellery hoped, drawn to him in the way that he was to her. A way that would complicate everything if his mother got wind of it but over which he had absolutely no control. He leaned forward and briefly covered her lips with his own. Then he released her hand and forced himself to stand, whilst he still possessed a remnant of self-control. There was something about this highly controversial female that compelled him, and if he remained here alone with her for a moment longer then he would not be responsible for his actions.
He turned his attention to the fire, threw another log on it and pushed it into place with the heel of his boot, watching as a shower of sparks shot up the chimney. Then, as in control as he would ever be, he turned to smile at her.
‘Someone will be here with the things you need directly. Good night.’
He left quietly, walking into the teeth of a storm but barely feeling the wind tearing at his cheeks and the rain pounding down on his hatless head.
