Page 3 of Only Pleasure Will Do

She swung back around, stopping him halfway to his feet. Embarrassed to be caught with his desires showing, Reginald jumped up, avoiding her eyes by casting his own down to the smooth wood of the sofa arm he’d been caressing. The end of the arm had been carved in the likeness of petals to resemble the grooves of a woman’s most intimate parts. He’d been stroking that. He bit back a groan as fire surged in his groin.

“If you would be so kind,” he mumbled, not trusting his voice.

“But of course.” The hint of amusement in her voice rasped against his already thrumming body. “This way.”

She led him down a different corridor, streaked with sunlight from a bank of windows, past more artwork. The madam’s hips undulated seductively as she glided down the hall, the soft swish-swish of silk rubbing against her legs filling his ears. Reginald took an agonized breath and gripped the cloak so hard his fingers sank into the material.

Madame Vestry halted at the end of the hall then gestured to the door on the right. She stepped back to let him enter.

A quick look told him the room didn’t fit Lady Katarina’s description, for it was long and narrow, with no bars on the window. The inspection, however, gave Reginald time to breathe deeply and bring his now-throbbing flesh under control. With a nod, he exited the room and glanced down the hall. Two doors on each side of the hall spelled more chances for success.

Sending the madam a charming smile, Reginald indicated the next door. “The other rooms are at hand. Do you mind if I take a look at them as well, Madame Vestry? It would only take a few moments of your time.”

“No bother at all, Mr. Matthews.” Vestry sounded delighted at the request. “Inspect all the rooms, if you desire.” Her sultry voice seemed to linger on that last word as her gaze swept low on his body. “Come back and visit your favorite one.”

Several very distracting images surfaced in his mind, none of which had anything to do with his investigation.

She opened the next door, and Reginald walked to the center of a square room painted green and slowly pivoted, taking in a bed, washstand, gold wingback chair, and a window with bars. He turned to the lovely woman standing behind him and said in a low, suggestive voice, “I think this one could be a favorite. Which tableau wench was housed here?”

A slight pause only before Vestry replied, “There was a mix-up at the last moment, but I think the harem girl was in this room. The security bars on the window were to help with the illusion of a seraglio.” The madam smiled, as if at some private joke, then, with that secret smile still in place, left the room.

Reginald trailed after her slowly, mulling over the madam’s lie. The room was obviously the one Katarina had described. For form’s sake, he peeped into the other rooms on his way down the hall, but none of them held any interest. Madame Vestry, on the other hand, had become even more interesting in her own right. Why would she lie for the marquess after the high-handed way he’d dropped her last year? Reginald would’ve bet his soul that Dalbury had been the man in Katarina’s room three weeks ago—obviously the way she’d come by his cloak. So why was Amorina Vestry not implicating him?

At the outside door, he hesitated then asked, “What were the other tableaux at that auction, Madam Vestry? For my report.”

A granite gaze met his. “Of course, Mr. Matthews. There was a pirate scene. Poor Serena was quite chilled after walking the plank. And the last one was…” She paused, tapping one perfectly rounded fingernail on her chin. “The last one was a Christian slave and Roman senator.”

“And this girl’s name?”

“I don’t know.”

The woman still wished to toy with him. Out of patience, he growled, “I cannot believe you don’t know your own girl’s name.”

“She wasn’t one of my girls.”

“No?” His heart missing a beat, Reginald froze. Was he to get a full confession now?

“She was borrowed from another house at the last moment,” Vestry continued smoothly. “My original girl, Chloe, was taken ill during the afternoon. I had no one else with the skills the tableaux required, so I sent my bodyguards around to Mrs. Bontemp’s house to borrow one for the night. I forget the chit’s name. I understood from her purchaser that she did not please.”

“And the harem girl’s name?”

“Ah, Racine.” She smiled, a fond light in her eyes. “Her purchaser was quite delighted. He’s been a constant customer since that night.”

Reginald nodded. He’d expect her to have her story straight, especially after three weeks. But now that he was sure where Lady Katarina had been held, it was only a matter of time until he found her attacker.

Once again in the erotic reception room, Reginald deftly bundled up the cloak, keeping his eyes on the garment. He retreated down the corridor and escaped across the threshold into the fresh air of the early morning. But he had to deliver one parting shot. “You neglected to say whether the marquess was satisfied with his ‘lady in distress?’”

The color drained from Madame Vestry’s face. She recovered almost immediately, but Reginald grinned to himself. That, my dear, was as good as a confession. He waited, oh so patiently, for her response.

“I really have no idea, Mr. Matthews.” She arched an eyebrow at him. “As I said before, I saw the marquess when he paid for his tableau but not afterward. I have no idea whether he found Jenny to his tastes or not. He has not returned here, so perhaps he was displeased with her.” Her gaze held his uncomfortably. “I certainly have never known him to be displeased before, but men do have different tastes in women. But I’m certain you know all about that, don’t you, Mr. Matthews?”

Again, that deep, hungry look made his temperature soar.

“As you say, madam.” Reginald took himself off the rear stoop as quickly as possible without breaking into a full-fledged rout.

Deep, throaty laughter followed him out to his waiting carriage, his groin aching anew. He bounded inside, breathing hard. Considering his current state of arousal, the concealing walls were a godsend.

Reginald rapped on the top of the carriage and the coachman started the team. The lurch as they pulled away caused Reginald’s breeches to rub against his engorged flesh and he groaned.

It was going to be an extremely long day.