Page 76 of A Tempest of Desire
He laughed. Oh, she was going to miss that sound.
The carriage came to a stop and a footman wearing the Twin Dragons livery stepped up and opened the door for them. Langdon climbed out and then reached back and assisted her. With a smile, she wound her arm around his.
She took a step.
Felt the pull as he took a step as well, only in the opposite direction.
They both stopped, looked at each other. With his brow furrowed, he appeared as confused as she felt.
“Why are you headed toward the front steps?” she asked. “The entrance to the secret rooms is around this way.”
“We’re not going to the secret rooms. We’re going to the main area.”
Her bubble of laughter cut off into a scoff. Because people were rushing past to get to their destination, she dragged him off to the side. “I can’t go in there.”
“Why not?”
“It’s for proper people.”
“You’re proper.”
“No, I’m not. I’m a courtesan.”
No one wanted mistresses in the respectable part of the Dragons for fear that if associating with them, wives would begin having affairs and daughters would decide to become paramours instead of wives. It was ridiculous, of course. No one was going to change their ways because they looked upon a mistress or stood near one. It wasn’t as though they were a disease to be caught.
“You’re not tonight. Not mine. You refuse to be mine. You’re my lover.” He leaned near and whispered sotto voce, “But no one need know that.”
“They’re all going to believe I’m your mistress. Just as those who were in the secret rooms the night we left together are convinced that I’ve chosen you.” She sighed. “Let’s just go to the area where the clientele is more accepting of sinners.”
It was where she belonged. Why was he being stubborn about this?
“Have you ever been inside the more acceptable area?”
“Of course not.”
“I should think a woman who is daring enough to go up in a balloon would at least be curious.”
She was dying to take a peek. “I hate you,” she muttered under her breath, which only caused the rapscallion to laugh.
He offered his arm. “Come on, Marlowe. Let’s go have some fun.”
“Are you going to attempt to play cards?”
“Roulette. I don’t have to know the numbers to place my tokens on them. If I’ve lost the croupier takes them away. If I’ve won, he adds to the stack. I’ll even give you tokens to play with.”
She placed her hand on his arm. “If things go pear-shaped, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Everything is going to be fine.”
She wished she didn’t feel so much excitement as they ascended the steps.
At the top of the stairs, a footman opened the door. “M’lord.”
Langdon gave a curt nod and ushered her into the massive, elegant chamber with its gigantic chandeliers. So many tables of various games. The gentlemen weren’t attired so differently from those in the questionable areas of the club, but the women...
They were all so stylish, with glittering jewels at their throats. They didn’t bray, talk loudly, or seek attention. They were graceful and sophisticated, projecting an image similar to hers. She understood now that Hollie had done her a favor when he’d taught her to act demurely. It was what would appeal to these men of rank, what they were accustomed to.
And Langdon was correct. She didn’t feel at all out of place. In truth, she felt she belonged heremore than she did within the secretive walls. She looked up to find Langdon watching her with the air of a man whose horse had just crossed the finish line first.
