Page 98 of The Duke and the Lady in Red
Nodding, he grinned. She suspected he had no fear of being delivered to hell for any sins committed tonight since he’d spent most of his life in it. Surely that had to count for something, and the pearly gates would be thrown open to welcome him when the time came.
“Let’s be away then,” Avendale said, and she thought he’d never looked more handsome, more at ease, more confident. Something had changed in the past few days but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
He sat beside her in the coach. Relishing his nearness, she was determined to enjoy the night, to welcome the deceptive belief that their time together would never come to an end. He certainly gave no indication of tiring of her, but surely the novelty of her would wear off. She pushed back those troubling thoughts.
The coach came to a stop. The curtains were drawn, and yet it seemed she heard far more sounds than she’d heard in the alleyway the last time they were here: the whinny of horses, the whir of carriage wheels, rapid footfalls, leisurely ones, voices. The door opened. Avendale stepped out and extended his hand to her. As she emerged, her gaze fell on the front façade of the Twin Dragons, and she had to fight back the panic, the wrongness of it.
Trust him. Trust him.
“I assumed we would go in through the back where we would have more privacy,” she said.
“Not tonight,” he said, leveling a pointed stare on her. Did she trust him? Swallowing hard, she nodded. He signaled the footman, who reached in to the coach.
“Master Harry.” He then proceeded to assist Harry. Once her brother was standing on the pavement, his eyes widened. “Beautiful architecture.”
“I always found it rather gothic-looking,” Avendale said.
“Fits the name,” Harry said.
“I never considered that as I abhor the name. To me, it shall always be Dodger’s Drawing Room. Are you ready to explore it?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“Gentlemen,” Avendale said, before offering Rose his arm, and she realized there were two additional footmen.
As one helped Harry up the steps, the others flanked them. They were large, bulky men providing a shield. No one was going to approach Harry. She doubted anyone was going to get a good look at him. As they topped the stairs and neared the door, a footman bowed slightly. “Your Grace.”
He then pulled the door open. Only she, Avendale, and Harry walked in. Her brother’s face was wreathed in wonder, while Rose was surprised by the absence of a crowd, even more surprised that no one seemed to take note of their arrival.
“They’re not very busy,” Rose said. She did hope the business wasn’t failing.
“Invitation-only tonight,” Avendale said.
She looked up at him. “At your request?”
Before he could answer, Harry proclaimed, “Merrick!”
Roe turned to see Merrick, Sally, and Joseph greeting Harry. The gentlemen were dressed in evening attire as finely tailored as Harry’s. Sally wore a blue silk evening gown that had not come cheaply. She smiled at Avendale. “Thank you, Your Grace, for the invitation.”
“A night with friends is much more enjoyable than one without.”
She gave a quick bob of a curtsy. “Also, thank you for the lovely gown. I’ve never had anything so fine before.”
“My pleasure. And let me say that the color suits you.”
Her eyes twinkling, she looked at Rose. “He sent a seamstress to the residence. And a tailor for the gents. Merrick has never looked more handsome.”
“I daresay I’ve learned that the duke is quite generous and enjoys surprising people,” Rose admitted.
Merrick walked over, stuck out his hand. “Duke.”
Avendale took it, gave it a shake. “Merrick.”
“Quite the place here.”
“I can take no credit for that.”
Joseph approached, gave him a hard look. “This is a place of improper behavior.”
