Page 32 of One Night with a Rake

Private parts, indeed. The story of my life…

But instead, the footman headed for the back door.

“Wait a half a mo’, guv,” Sadie said. “I’m not leaving till I see his lordship. An’ ye doubt me, I’ll start caterwauling fit to bring down the house.”

“There’d be no point. My lord isn’t here,” the fellow in deep burgundy livery said. “So if you are earnest in your desire to see him, you’d best come along. And quietly.”

There was nothing else for it. She followed the footman out and climbed into the waiting hansom. Sadie was only mildly surprised when the footman came with her.

If this isn’t on the up-and-up, ’spect he means to see me out of this high-in-the-instep neighborhood for certain, Sadie thought grimly.

The cab rattled over the same cobbled streets she’d slogged along on foot to reach St. James’s Square. Sadie sighed. At least she was traveling back to Covent Garden in style, and if the footman wasn’t the most talkative of companions, he was at least one of the finest-looking fellows she’d seen in a very long time.

But His Nibs was going to regret trying to shuffle her to the side. It wasn’t in her nature to give up without a fight. She only needed someone with more money and power in her corner if she had any hope of getting her place back. Or something like her place.

The cab finally stopped before a dingy-looking pub called The Hare and Hound. Its shuttered windows sent tiny spokes of light through the cracks, mere hints of the warmth and candlelight within.

“His lordship is inside. Ask to be taken into the back room,” the footman said. “I’d advise you not to keep him waiting.”

“Hmph!” She climbed out of the cab without a speck of help, either from the footman or the cabby.

As if his lordship wasn’t the one who’d kept her waiting. Lord or lackey, all men were the same.

Especially once you shuck ’em out of their clothes.

Sadie should know. She’d been a whore for twenty years before his lordship finally came up with the chinks to help her open a house of pleasure. She’d been able to stop lifting her own tired skirts and live by skimming the income of those who still did.

Not that His Nibs did it out of the kindness of his exceedingly tiny heart. She had the goods on him and no mistake. He couldn’t avoid giving her a leg up.

And not the way he used to, either, she thought with a wry curl of her lip.

Why did men with the smallest winkies always insist on the most awkward positions? At least, thank God, that part of her life was over. She didn’t spread her legs for anyone now unless it was her idea.

But His Nibs had come through when she needed him to. Now he was going to help her again, if he knew what was good for him.

No one would put her out of her own place. Not even if the young gentleman did have what looked like official papers in hand.

His Nibs had better right the situation and damn quick, too. Or Sadie would see him swing. Hell, she’d dance on his coffin.

And she had the means to do it, too.

***

For the next two days, Nathaniel saw little of Georgette aside from the time he spent sitting across from her in the grand dining room each evening.

As far as she knows.

Nathaniel was aware of every place she went and had been able to shadow her effectively. To stay apprised of Georgette’s schedule, Nate had enlisted the help of Reuben Darling. Once he explained that his sole interest was in keeping Georgette safe, Nate found a willing partner in the footman.

Mercy had been more difficult. She wasn’t about to spy on her mistress, she claimed. But it only took the promise of sixpence a week and she was suddenly eager to provide him with eyes and ears inside the secret world of Georgette’s chambers.

He’d watched covertly from the little balcony as Mr. Gooch drilled Georgette on her dance steps. Nate could barely restrain a cheer when she sailed through the lesson without mishap. Mr. Gooch, on the other hand, was so flummoxed, his usually pasty complexion turned an unhealthy puce. The dance master had been forced to admit to Lady Yorkingham that there was no need for further instruction.

“Lady Georgette is now fully prepared to charm the royals,” Mr. Gooch had announced grandly, as if his time with her was responsible for the improvement in Georgette’s grace and carriage.

If he thought she did well with the line dances, the man should see her waltz, Nate thought with a wry grin.

Thanks to Reuben and Mercy, Nathaniel had tailed Georgette on her visits to the modiste for fittings. He’d followed at a discreet distance as Georgette and her mother paid social calls on prominent matrons.