Page 65 of How to Best a Marquess

Ellie led the way out of the women’s gambling room onto the main casino floor. It was busy, and men and women crowded around the tables. They passed the boxing room, and excited shouts sounded through the door. A fight was scheduled for tonight. It was one of the reasons Ellie had felt at ease with her plans for Lady Willoughby. Hugh would be occupied inside the boxing room increasing the profits of the club.

She hurried past and through the club’s back door. She hesitated long enough to grab the valise left there for Lady Willoughby. “Everything is going as planned.” She continued on toward the mews. It had recently rained, and the scent of horse dung was strong. Ellie wrinkled her nose but continued down the path until she spotted a waiting, dark carriage.

“She’s here.”

Samantha followed Ellie as she hurried toward the carriage. Ellie threw open the carriage door and tossed the valise on the floor. She stepped inside to find two occupants inside, and icy fear twisted around her heart.

Violet Lasher was settled on the padded bench.

And Hugh sat across from her.

…

Hugh barely held his anger in check as he glared at Ellie. He was aware of Violet Lasher and Lady Willoughby inside the carriage.

Ellie’s eyes were large in the lantern light. “What are you doing here?”

“Is that all you have to say?” he asked.

Ellie didn’t respond, rather she turned to Violet. “How did this happen?”

Violet raised a delicate shoulder. “The marquess waylaid my carriage. I could not refuse him entrance.”

The courtesan appeared unconcerned and nonplussed. As if his invasion of her carriage did not bother her one bit. Hugh would have laughed if he weren’t furious.

He’d never personally been introduced to Violet Lasher, but men spoke of her in the gentleman clubs. He’d once heard an earl claim she’d been the most skilled lover in all of England. Whether there was truth to the man’s claims or not, Hugh wasn’t interested in finding out. He had other interests in Violet Lasher.

Ellie turned back to him. “How did—”

“How did I find you? I suspected you were up to something when I spotted Lady Willoughby enter the club tonight. Instinct told me to circle the club outside, and imagine my surprise when I discovered a small valise by the back door and a fine, unmarked carriage waiting outside the mews.”

A breathless rage consumed him. Along with a paralyzing fear for Ellie. He’d considered dragging her back into the club by her red hair and sending word to her brother.

“I also knew you were up to mischief,” he said. “The women’s gambling room is plausible, but a secret bedchamber is something else entirely. I never believed your explanation that women may need to rest.”

“You should not make assumptions, my lord,” Ellie said, her voice weak.

His laughter sounded harsh to his own ears. “Assumptions? About the bedchamber or your appearance in this carriage tonight with these women?”

She swallowed hard. “Both.”

“You are correct. I need not make assumptions when my observations are damning enough. You enter the carriage of a renowned courtesan”—he glanced at Violet—“all the while dragging the wife of Baron Willoughby and her valise, which if I dump the contents on the floor of the carriage, I would not be surprised to find ladies’ clothing and unmentionables. Which leads me to believe you are helping Lady Willoughby leave her husband for a short time.”

Ellie bit her lip and twisted her hands in her lap.

Lady Willoughby began to cry. “I knew it wouldn’t work. I can never go to Derbyshire as a companion now.”

Hugh’s eyes narrowed at the lady’s admission, and his heart hammered in his ears. “You mean to smuggle her out of London? Permanently? To take up occupation as a companion?” His tone was frigid.

“We have little choice,” Violet spoke up. “If not, she will end up dead. Men such as Lord Willoughby do not change their ways.”

Silence filled the coach save for Samantha’s sobbing.

Hugh reached in his coat and handed Lady Willoughby a handkerchief. “I spoke to the baron about his temper.”

“Yes, he improved for a bit, but then he found my mask,” Samantha said, then loudly blew her nose.

“What mask?” Hugh asked.