Beauty Tempts the Beast (Sins for All Seasons #6) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,34
over to her, offered a wry grin. “Yes. I feel guilty for being so relieved . . .”
“To be rid of me?”
He shook his head. “Never that. But to be able to assist him. I just hope this works out for you.”
“It will. I left the blankets for you and”—she hadn’t planned to tell him about the money but wanted to ensure he did return to the residence, did go into her room—“and all my earnings.”
As she’d known he would, he looked less than pleased at that. “You might have need of them.”
“I won’t. I’ll have him advance me this week’s wages, and I’ll be set.”
“You’ve certainly placed a lot of trust in him.”
“I’ve had no cause not to.”
“You’ve misjudged a man before.”
She knew he was referring to her betrothed. “That’s unfair. And we all misjudged Father.”
That seemed to take the wind from his sails. “Yes, we did.”
The hansom cab slowed and came to a stop outside her new residence.
“I know this place,” Griffith said. He jerked his gaze to her. “It’s a brothel.”
“Have you visited?”
“No.” He swung his gaze to the building, then back to her. “Some of the chaps from work suggested it. You can’t possibly think I’m going to let you walk in there.”
She sighed. “Ah, Griff, I’ve already been in there twice. I’m going in there to teach, not to do the . . . other thing.”
The doors of the vehicle sprung open and she clambered out. She wrapped her fingers around the handle of her bag. “Let go.”
Holding tightly to her bag, he leapt out and placed it at her feet. “Althea—”
“I’m going to be all right. I promise.”
“Shall I wait for you, sir?” the driver asked.
“No.” Once the horse and carriage were on their way, Griffith gave her a wry grin. “I don’t think Trewlove would have paid for my return home. If things don’t work out here as you expect them to or if you should have need of us”—he pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket, placed it against her palm, closed her fingers around it—“go to that address, knock on the door, and tell the gent who answers that you have a package for Wolf that needs to be picked up straightaway. Word will get to Marcus and that night you should hear a tapping on your window. When you do, meet us outside. But only contact us if it’s crucial.”
It was as if she’d stepped into a world of criminals and spies and intrigue. If not for their father’s actions, Marcus would have become the Duke of Wolfford. She wondered if that was the reason behind the moniker he’d chosen to use. Wolf. “That’s how you got in touch with Marcus.”
“Only a couple of times. It’s better for him if they believe he’s turned his back on all he once held dear.”
She did what she’d never done before. She hugged him close, hugged him as though she’d never again have the opportunity. When his arms tentatively came around her, she nearly wept. “Please take care. And if you need me, you know where to find me.”
He stepped out of her embrace and nodded toward the building. “Go on with you.”
Picking up her satchel, she made her way to the steps, hurried up them, placed her hand on the door handle, and glanced back to give him a final wave of farewell.
He’d already dissolved into the crowd of passersby on their way to work, home, the shops, and appointments. She had the unsettling thought that there were a good many aspects to Griffith of which she was unaware.
The door opened and before she could even react, the satchel was taken from her grip.
“He didn’t seem particularly happy,” Benedict Trewlove said. She imagined him with his nose pressed to the window, awaiting her arrival, watching as she said farewell to her brother.
She shouldn’t have been pleased with the thought that he’d been anxious for her return. Nothing of any serious nature could develop between them. He wasn’t to be part of her permanent plans, her future. He was simply the means to an end, just as she was for him. They would assist each other in achieving their goals and then they would amicably part ways and get on with their lives.
He moved back and she stepped over the threshold. “I doubt his disgruntlement over recognizing this place as a brothel some mates had told him about will last long. He’s rid of me now, free to do as he wishes.”