Page 35 of One Night with a Rake

Vesta narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “What are you, some kind of saint?”

“Hardly.” The word slipped out Georgette’s mouth before she could stop it.

Nathaniel splayed his fingers across his chest as if she’d pierced him with an invisible arrow. “You cut me to the quick, Lady Georgette.”

“No one asked you to get involved,” she said, turning toward him tight-lipped.

Nathaniel Colton didn’t have an altruistic bone in his body. There was something else behind this sudden spurt of goodness. And she doubted that ulterior motive was good in the least.

Nate started toward her. “Contrary to what you might believe, you are not the only one in this room capable of compassion.”

“Yeah, yeah, the two of you can go at it hammer and tongs later.” Vesta placed herself firmly between them. “What about me? Don’t you think it likely Madam Bouchard will send Mr. Duggins after me once the pair of you do-gooders flit back to whatever cloud you dropped down from?”

“That’s why I hired Mr. Bagley to act as guard for the residents across the way,” Nathaniel said, casting Georgette a smug grin over Vesta’s shoulder. “He’s a former pugilist and is easily a match for Mr. Duggins in height and girth.”

“What about the fact that Vesta must learn a trade?” Georgette asked, wishing she could persuade this Mr. Bagley to smack that grin off Nate’s face. “I doubt your pugilist will be much use if Vesta wants to pursue the craft of millinery or flower arranging.”

“That’s why I’ve also engaged Mrs. Throckmorten.” Nathaniel waved Vesta out of his way with every courtesy so he could plant himself firmly in front of Georgette. “She’s a former headmistress at a ladies’ academy with ties to several merchants all along Bond Street. She’ll evaluate Vesta’s skills and set her up with an apprenticeship or find her a suitable position in domestic service.”

Georgette crossed her arms over her chest. “So it doesn’t bother you to think of Vesta emptying someone’s chamber pot so long as it’s your idea.”

“No.” He raised a finger in reproof. “Only so long as it’s her idea.”

“Seems you’ve thought of everything,” Georgette said grudgingly. An academy of sorts for soiled doves was nothing short of brilliant.

He gave her a mocking bow. “One does one’s best.”

“Oh, why don’t the pair of you just shag each other and get it over with?” Vesta said. “We’re supposed to be talking about me, you know.”

“So we were. My apologies, Vesta,” Nate said. “And I will take your shagging suggestion under advisement.”

Georgette’s cheeks heated, but there was nothing to be gained by protesting that she wouldn’t dream of letting Nathaniel “shag” her.

Besides, she was afraid she just might.

“What have you decided?” Nathaniel asked Vesta.

“If you square me with Madam, I’ll take that room.” Her expression softened. “Thank you.” Her gaze flicked to Georgette for a moment. “You too, milady.”

Mercy hugged her friend. “You won’t regret it, honest you won’t.”

“I regret it already.” Vesta fingered one of her silk gowns in the open wardrobe. “Don’t imagine a lady’s maid has any call to wear something as grand as this.”

“Sure I do. There’s a Ladies’ Maids’ Ball coming up and I plan to deck myself out like a duchess. No offence, milady, ye bein’ only a marquis’s daughter and all.” Mercy cast a lopsided grin at Georgette in apology and turned back to her friend. “Besides, ye might decide to do something different than me. Something ye haven’t even dreamed before. Trust me, Vesta. Life is ever so much sweeter when ye get to do the deciding for yerself.”

“We should leave you two to do some packing.” Nathaniel turned and offered Georgette his arm. “My lady, would you care to accompany me while I do business with Madam Bouchard?”

She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. Once they cleared the doorway, she hissed, “Where did you get so much money that you can run around Covent Garden clearing the debts of fallen women?”

“I won more than the deed to the House of Sirens in that poque game. If I didn’t spend it on this, I’d just waste it paying off my tailor.” He covered her hand with his. “Mercy’s right, you know.”

“In what way?”

“Life is sweeter when you do the deciding for yourself. When are you going to give that a try?”

Fourteen

Normally, Georgette slept well when it rained, pulling the bed linens up to her nose and reveling in the snug feeling of being warm and dry and safe.