Page 19 of The Trick of the Treasure
“That is certainly not respectable,” he said gravely. “But I doubt anyone but the reformers will hold it against me. It might cause a certain amount of ribald laughter in the clubs, but in gentlemen-only matters, few will care.”
“They will when your wife is seen there,” she retorted. “And I do need to be there, Solomon.”
“To live?” he asked expressionlessly.
“No… But my frequent appearance is necessary, not just to keep the place running smoothly and safely, but to keep the girls and the clients happy. I haven’t given those duties up for Silver and Grey, and I don’t want to now. Only…” She sucked in a wobbly breath. “There is you. I don’t want such a wife for you.”
His thumb caressed her chin. He leaned forward, his hat obscuring the lamplight from the window, and softly kissed her lips. “There is a solution, Constance. There is always a solution to our puzzles, is there not?”
Her smile felt a little tremulous. “So far.”
“It will require some thought. In the meantime, might you not just tell them you are engaged to be married but that the establishment will remain under your control?”
“I could tell them that,” she said, doubtfully. Some would know he could sell the place without her consent or even her knowledge if he so chose, but the women trusted her, and Janey would speak up for Solomon. It was a short-term solution while they solved the real problem, and for the first time, she began to think they might. Together.
She squeezed his hand gratefully and he sat back, rather to her disappointment. She liked his kisses… “Do you suppose every couple faces so many complications?”
“Probably. But they needn’t all be troublesome ones. Don’t you think it will be fun finding a new home and making it our own?”
She peered at him. “You want a new home?”
“Mine is too small. Yours is too scandalous. Shall we devote some time to that too?”
“Yes,” she said, straightening with a smile. “Why don’t we?”
The carriage drew up outside his front door. In sudden panic, she realized he was leaving her again, and she didn’t want that. She clung harder to his hand, as if he had been trying to withdraw it—which he hadn’t.
“We should dine together,” she said abruptly.
Either the invitation or her tone surprised him, for his brow twitched very slightly. “I would like that.”
“Does your man cook?”
“We have an actual cook. Tomorrow is the opera. Shall we say the day after?”
“What’s wrong with tonight?”
He smiled and raised her hand to his lips. “Tonight, you have to tell Janey and the rest of your staff.” He kissed her gloved fingers, then drew back her glove and kissed the inside of her wrist. “And then you will be more comfortable. Goodnight, Constance.”
She sighed. “Goodnight, Solomon.”
*
To Constance’s surprise,there were no lights in the offices of Silver and Grey. She had just discovered that the front door waslocked when Janey came flying around the corner from Chandos Street and skidded to a breathless halt.
“Ah, there you are, ma’am! I locked up, but I can get you some tea if you want to go back in?”
“No, we can take the carriage home now.”
Janey grinned, for she loved a carriage ride, and opened the door for Constance with an exaggerated flourish.
“I got loads to tell you,” she said as soon as she landed on the seat opposite Constance.
The horses eased forward while Constance regarded her former handmaiden. “New prospective clients? You and Lenny Knox have discovered something about the Lloyds?”
“What’s Lenny Knox got to do with anything?” Janey demanded aggressively, although betraying color was seeping into her face.
Lenny had proved useful very useful in discovering the truth about their previous case—in which he had begun as a suspect—and since he needed the work, they had agreed to call on him whenever necessary. He, a recent and devastated widower, and she, a former prostitute, had become unlikely friends.
