Page 110 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
They all clinked their glasses before tossing back their scotch. The warmth from the liquid going down was nothing compared to the warmth Drake felt for these men surrounding him.
He had them because he’d once been forced to climb down a chimney flue in order to steal valuables from a fancy residence.
What an odd turn of fate, that the man who sired him had in a strange way been responsible, after all, for giving him a family.
Drake stood in the shadowed balcony—one aspect of Dodger’s that remained untouched—and looked down as the main floor of the Twin Dragons filled with the curious. Tomorrow more gaming tables would be added, but for tonight much of the space had been left open for dancing. An orchestra played. Liveried footmen served champagne. People drank, laughed, wandered. By all observations and accounts, tonight was a success. Yet something was missing.
Then he saw her. Phee. She’d come. He’d hoped but hadn’t truly expected her to accept the invitation. She was more beautiful than ever, dressed in pale green silk and dark green velvet. Long white gloves that rode past her elbows hid hands that had once caressed him. Her hair, held in place with pearl combs, revealed a slender throat that he desperately wished to nibble. And he knew she’d have arrived on a cloud of orchids. He rather imagined that her fragrance had wafted up to the balcony, that even now he could inhale her scent. Although he knew it was impossible.
No shadows seemed to be hovering about her. She greeted those she knew with a smile. He stayed where he was because he didn’t want to see that smile wither. He didn’t want to see ghosts dim the sparkle in her eyes. He didn’t want his presence to ruin her enjoyment of the evening.
Even as he argued that she came knowing he’d be here, he couldn’t convince himself that she’d be glad to see him.
“People are beginning to speculate that the owner of this establishment is a phantom,” Avendale said as he placed his forearms on the railing and leaned forward.
“Avendale, for God’s sake—”
“They know you’re up here watching. I daresay you have a more potent stare than Jack Dodger. A shiver went through me every time your gaze landed on me.”
“Must be guilt that caused the shivers as I wasn’t giving you any notice at all.”
Avendale grinned. “So whoisgarnering your attention this evening? Ah, could it be Lady Ophelia Lyttleton, returned from her uncle’s? Nasty bit of business that. Wigmore killing himself while cleaning a pistol. Although I can’t say I ever really cared for the man.”
An accident was the story they had all decided on. Simpler that way.
“Something is different about her,” Avendale continued.
“Who?” Drake asked, coming to attention.
“Lady Ophelia. I ran across her at Hyde Park, thought to stop, have a quick chat, offer my condolences. Strangest thing. While we’re talking, she notices her lady’s maid’s nose is turning pink from the sun and insists that she use Lady Ophelia’s parasol. Can you imagine a lady giving her maid her parasol?”
He could quite well imagine it of Phee.
“She is suddenly quite intriguing,” Avendale said. “I’ve decided to pursue her.”
Drake hardly had time to give any thought to it before he grabbed Avendale by the lapels and slammed him back against the wall. Still holding the duke in place, he growled, “I’ll not have her touched by the likes of you.”
“The likes of me? I’m a bloody duke.”
“You’re a bloody scoundrel.”
“What’s going on here?”
Peering over at Lovingdon, Drake realized he was making quite the spectacle of himself. Unclenching his fists, he released his hold on Avendale and stepped back, but he’d be damned if he was going to apologize.
Jerking on his waistcoat, Avendale said, “I seem to have struck a nerve. Thought I might. I don’t know why you won’t admit you have a fondness for Lady Ophelia.”
“Just stay clear of her or I’ll cancel your membership here.”
“I can’t have that now, can I? Not when things are on the verge of getting most interesting. Ladies in a gaming hell. They shall be the ruination of us all, but what fun we’ll have along the way. Lovingdon, I’m off to the card room. Hopefully you’ll join me there.”
“Perhaps after I dance with my wife,” Lovingdon said, but his gaze never left Drake.
Avendale wandered away. Drake took a deep breath. Phee was perfectly capable of warding off the man’s advances.
“Grace wondered if you were coming down,” Lovingdon said. “Everyone is asking after you. They’re all rather interested in meeting the enigmatic owner of the Twin Dragons.”
Drake nodded. “I’ll be down in a bit.”
