“If you remember anything else, Patrice, you’ll contact Mr. Holt, won’t you?”
An amorous moan sounded from the next room, and a fever broke out across Ian’s forehead. His control was in grievous jeopardy of fraying if they stayed one moment longer. He wrapped his fingers around Diana’s elbow and urged her down the hallway, into the parlor, where the madam waited for them.
Before he could herd her downstairs, the proprietress placed a hand on Diana’s arm.
“Hold one minute, pet,” she drawled.
“We’re pressed for time,” Ian clipped.
“Indeed, you’re a busy man.” The madam leaned a protective arm around Diana. “Don’t let us keep you wiv our talk of female matters.”
The woman must have thought him deranged if she expected he would let Diana out of his sight in a bordello bordering St. Giles.
When he didn’t retreat, Diana murmured, “Go on. You can watch me from the doorway. I’ll be along in two shakes.”
The situation was too contrived not to be suspect.
He stomped his protest down the steps, walking sideways to keep Diana in view.
And the thousands of pounds in gems she wore cradled at her throat.
Hertête-à-têtewith the madam was thankfully brief, and Ian found himself able to breathe more easily when they finally darted out into the fading light of the afternoon. The wind gusted and dampness clung to the air as he directed Diana to the carriage. “It’s going to rain. We must leave.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me what she said?”
“You can tell me in the coach.”
“I’m not ready to go,” she said softly.
Her placid dissent infuriated him. He resented her ability to maintain such control, while his emotions were, uncharacteristically, running rampant.
Through gritted teeth, he asked, “Why did the proprietress want to speak withyoualone?”
“Careful, Ian. Your envy is showing.”
“No, only my misanthropy.”
“You should have that looked at.” Her lips curled into a half-smile.
He refused to indulge her by returning it.
“The proprietress believes Jared made a stop before the brothel last night,” she conceded.
“How forthcoming of her to tell you. Let’s discuss this developmentin the coach.”
“Patrice said Jared asked forhislady. Notalady. Someone he visited regularly.”
Jared’s current mistress was the latest in a long line of his brother’s companions, dating back far longer than his engagement to Diana. Ian had met none of Jared’s paramours, but he directed one of his men to monitor things, to ensure Jared didn’t mistreat them.
He didn’t regret keeping Jared’s affair from Diana. He suspected she’d known and turned a blind eye to it, as many women of her position in society did.
“The proprietress told you exactly where to find this woman,” Ian surmised. “She’s protective of the girls who work for her, so she wouldn’t tell me.”
“There you go. Doesn’t that feel gratifying to have worked it out yourself?”
Diana’s smile had never struck Ian as something dangerous before.
It did now. “What convinced her to tell you?”
