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“Yes, but you mustn’t let Mamma learn the truth. If she discovers I ran off to find Harry again, she will have my head.”
“Again? Is that where you went at Christmas?”
“I did,” she whispered.
“Oh my God, does Mamma know?”
“I told her when I returned.” Seeing the shock on her sister’s face, she quickly added, “But you do know that Harry is a gentleman and nothing untoward happened.”
Emma’s mouth gaped. “Just being in the same house without a chaperone is scandalous, even if nothing happened between you both.”
“I realized that. As did Mamma, which is why she made up that story of me going to our aunt’s house.”
Emma giggled softly. “I cannot believe what an adventure you have had, sister. I am quite envious as I have had none.”
“You are still young. I am sure you have plenty of time for you to have adventures.”
The carriage rolled to a stop. Louisa glanced up at the old church as she stepped down from the coach. It certainly didn’t look like a gaming hell to her. She wrapped her arm around her sister and walked to the front door. After knocking, a small opening appeared in the middle of the door.
“I hardly think we shall fit through that,” Emma whispered with a nervous giggle.
“Put your card in the opening,” a deep voice sounded from behind the oak door.
Louisa fished out a card from her reticule and slid it through the opening. “I am only here to see Mr. Kingsley if you please.”
They were quickly ushered inside what must have been the vestibule of the old church. Behind the large, carved wood doors, the gaming beckoned those with the urge. Louisa assumed the silence in the room beyond was due to the time of day.
A giant of a man with a shock of red hair stared down at them with a scowl. “Why do you wish to speak to King?”
“It is a private matter, sir,” Louisa replied primly.
“Remain here. I will let him know you are here.” The man skulked off down the hall until he disappeared into a room.
“We should not be here, Louisa,” Emma said with a trembling voice.
“Oh, yes, we should.” Yanking Emma’s arm, Louisa said, “Come along.”
“Where are we going?”
Louisa smiled impishly. “We are following that man.”
“Oh, this is not good,” Emma whispered.
“Shh, just remember this is an adventure.”
They reached the man’s location as he started to close the door to a room. Seeing them approach, he shook his head. “King is occupied at the moment. Give him ten minutes, and then you can see him.”
Emma slipped passed the man, pulling Louisa with her. “You’re right. We are having an adventure, and I’m going to embrace it.”
They both halted as soon as they stepped in the room. Louisa looked over at the desk to find Mr. Kingsley with a woman on his lap in the throes of ecstasy.
“You vile man,” Emma said, slamming the door behind her.
“Miss Drake, what an inopportune time to pay a visit,” he said, as the woman slipped off his lap and adjusted her gown with a scowl. He buttoned his trousers and then rose to escort the woman out of his office.
“What are you doing here?” Mr. Kingsley asked Louisa after closing the door behind them. “And you brought your sister into your folly, too?”
“Leave Emma out of this,” she retorted. “If you are angry then be so at me, not her. She is innocent in this.”
