AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Accidents happen,” she said darkly. “He could get lucky.”
His answering smile was grim. “I don’t allow for such things as luck.”
She ducked her head. No, indeed he didn’t. When Harrow aimed at a target—whether with bullet or blade—it fell. His deadly speed and precision were no surprise to Diana. The man practiced both sword and pistol several times a week with a master.
With monumental effort, she put the duel out of her mind. I’ll fret about it tomorrow morning. Her eyes wandered back to where Lord Blackthorn was standing, still observing them. His steady stare was disconcerting. It felt as if he could see right through her disguise. As if he somehow knew she was a lie. “I hope that one causes us no trouble.”
Fol
lowing her gaze, Harrow let out a low laugh. “As do I, but for different reasons, I surmise.”
She tore her eyes away, annoyed at her own transparency. “You know I would never—”
“I do know,” he agreed, his manner placating. “But I also know this cannot last forever. And it should not. You are young and beautiful, Diana. And someday, you’ll encounter a man who touches your heart. When that happens, it will be the end of our arrangement.”
“I promised you five—”
“And I told you I would not hold you to that number. This arrangement is for our mutual benefit. As long as you are happy to remain with me, Diana, I’ll continue to protect you. But whenever you deem it time to leave and make a new life for yourself, I shall allow you your freedom without any reservations.” His dark eyes grew sad. “Knowing as I do what it is to love someone and have to keep it a secret, I would never impose such a condition on you.”
She felt her own eyes filling and blinked to keep the tears at bay. Tears would be completely out of character and immediately questioned. A brazen mistress such as herself couldn’t afford to display such sentimentality. “You are a good man, my lord. I wish—”
“I know,” he interrupted softly. “But none of us can change the way things are, and so the truth must remain a secret—for all our sakes.”
It was a stark reminder of exactly what was at stake. Nodding, she pasted on a bright smile for the benefit of those watching, including Blackthorn, and moved to the proper starting position for the dance.
Later that evening as their carriage wended its way toward her home, she reflected on her encounter with Lucille. The woman she’d seen tonight was a vastly different person than she remembered. Lucy, the friend of her childhood, had always been a cheerful little sprite of a thing, alive with mirth and constantly into mischief. Life with Grenville had taken its toll on her and had clearly changed her into someone else.
Life as a fallen woman has done much the same to me. It was a sobering thought. For all that her external life was a facade, she, too, had changed. Her eyes had been opened, her reality transformed by knowledge. The world is never as it seems on the surface. Secrets abound in every life.
“When will René arrive?” she asked, keeping her voice low even though there was no danger of being overheard.
“One hour past. I presume all is ready?”
“Indeed,” she confirmed. “However, I feel I ought to tell you the new maid you hired may be cause for some concern.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. “She crossed herself when I told her you and another gentleman would be dining with us and were likely to stay until morning. I saw it in the mirror. I fear she won’t last the night.”
“Don’t worry yourself overmuch.” Harrow’s face twisted into a wry grin. “As long as she labors under the intended assumption, any tales that leave with her will only work in our favor. And we’ll take extra care to give her the right impression. Won’t be too difficult—René loves to give a good performance. He would have been a great actor had he not been born with such a love of music.”
“I believe it,” she said soberly. “His disguises are both clever and complete. Even I failed to recognize him the last time. I just hope the girl doesn’t run screaming from the house like that one we had a few months ago. I thought the neighbors were going to call out the guard—it’s not the least bit amusing!” she scolded, frowning as he chuckled. “I have to live there, you know.”
“Not for much longer,” he said, catching her by surprise. “I’ve wanted to relocate you to somewhere closer to me for some time now. As fortune would have it, I’ve managed to quietly acquire Number Nine, Old Burlington Street. It belonged to Baron Uxton, who was having it renovated when he died. His widow decided to sell it. It’s very nearly finished. I shall, of course, leave the decorating to you.”
The thought of living in one of London’s most fashionable boroughs should have made her woman’s heart beat faster, but it didn’t. Still, she could hardly refuse. “What of my current residence?”
“Let it out, if you like, or sell it. It’s sure to fetch a nice sum either way.”
He said it just as they pulled to a stop in front of her townhouse. She looked up at her front door, already missing the cozy rooms behind it. “When?”
“A fortnight.”
“So soon?”
He must have heard the reluctance in her voice. “If you truly wish to remain here, I won’t force you to leave.”
Guilt assaulted her. They might be good friends now, but she’d been hired to make it easier for him to live—and love—as he desired. “I’ll be happy to go wherever you wish. I did not mean to sound ungrateful, it’s just that since my parents died this is the first place I’ve truly thought of as home.”
