Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (18 page)

Besides, if he were to ride to speak
with the father that would take him days away from London. The last
time he had left London in the middle of the Season he returned to
an angry and distant Audrey and he wasn’t about to chance that
again.

A note was waiting for him when he
returned home. Jordan broke the seal and grinned. It had been over
a year since he stepped foot in that establishment. Had the ladies
missed him so much they felt the need for an invitation? Jordan
laughed and fell into the chair behind his desk.

What could Madame Devine need him for?
He knew it wasn’t because her ladies missed him but he couldn’t
imagine why he was being asked to call on the brothel.

Jordan came to his feet. He would stop
by Lincoln’s Inn to see if there had been any further developments
into breaking Creighton’s guardianship and then he would visit
Madame Devine’s. Jordan checked his watch. He should be able to
accomplish all of his tasks and still return home in time to
prepare for the ball. With any luck, he would arrive early enough
to meet Miss Montgomery and secure the supper dance
again.

Jordan stepped into the private
chambers of Madame Devine and was surrounded by all things feminine
in a matter of moments. The curtains were light and white and
danced on the breeze. The walls were rose damask that matched the
accent color in the green upholstery of the chairs and settee. One
wall was lined with books and the other a large fireplace with
furniture arranged for the purpose of conversation. Beyond was a
door and Jordan wondered if that was where her chambers lie. Not
that he had ever been privy to Madame’s private rooms. As the owner
of the establishment, she did not work as the other girls did, but
ran her business with an iron fist.

At the opposite end of the room was a
delicate ladies desk made of a cherry wood. She was seated behind
it and nodded a greeting. A woman sat in one of the spindly chairs
but her back was to him. Slowly she turned and Jordan did not fight
the smile that came to his lips. It was Angelique.

She stood and glided across the room to
greet him. Not in the form of a curtsey but with her arms about his
neck and lips against his. Jordan enjoyed the embrace for a moment,
remembering the years they had enjoyed one another’s company before
he pulled back. He thought of her only as a friend now.

“Angelique,” he said looking down at
her. “It is good to see you.” He meant every word. This woman had
taught him so much. It was to this place his father brought him on
his sixteenth birthday. It was Angelique who had taken his hand and
led him up the stairs to her chamber and introduced him to the
world of carnal relations. She was only eighteen at the time and
Jordan had fallen in love.

“Mr. Trent, please come in,” Madame
insisted as Angelique led him to the chairs before her desk. Jordan
waited until Angelique had taken a seat before he settled into the
matching chair. “How can I be of service?”

“I am retiring,” Madame
announced.

Did that mean Madame Devine’s would
cease to exist? Jordan suffered a bit of panic at the loss. He
hadn’t crossed the threshold in over a year, but he knew it was
always here and held more pleasant memories than his family
home.

“I’ve purchased a small cottage in the
country. I want away from London.”

Jordan simply nodded. What could he
say?

“Angelique is to become the new owner,”
Madame announced. Her smile was bright and wrinkles he had never
noticed before formed around her mouth and at the corners of her
eyes. How old was Madame? Jordan turned to Angelique, his first
love was not yet showing signs of age, but she was also only three
and thirty, rather young to become owner of a thriving business,
yet Madame would not leave her in charge if she were not
capable.

“I would like you to draw up the
documents necessary to complete the sale.”

“Gladly.” And he wouldn’t even charge
them. These women had provided him with memories he would always
cherish. Angelique, far more than Madame.

She slid a piece of parchment across
the table. Jordan picked it up and scanned the details which
included the name of the business, location, amount that would be
paid, yet the names were unfamiliar. “Ennis Flynn and Nessa
O’Toole?”

Both women laughed. “Dear boy, you
didn’t think we used our real names did you?” Madam
asked.

His face heated. “I had never really
given it thought.”

Jordan glanced at Angelique.
“Ennis?”

She grimaced. “Not particularly exotic
or lends one to think of passion.”

She had a point. He folded the
parchment and shoved it into an inside pocket. It would not take
long to draw up the necessary documents.

“We have another concern.” Madame
announced, her smile now gone.

Jordan sat forward. “Yes.”

“I may own the building, but I have
never owned the land. The agreement was in place long before I
became the owner. The original Madame Devine could rent the land
and build as she wished. The owner was rather close to
her.”

Jordan could just imagine what all that
closeness entailed.

“We’ve carried on this way for nearly
fifty years but the last owner has recently passed and his son
wishes to sell the property.”

Jordan nodded. “You wish to purchase
the land as well.”

“It was our intention but there is
competition. Mac Geary has purchased the land and building next to
us and wants this land as well.”

“He owns Jesters, correct,” Jordan
clarified.

“He has shown an interest in this
building as well. We fear he will buy the land and then raise the
rent so high that Angelique will have no choice but to sell to
him.”

Jordan had heard rumors of the man
wishing to move out of Seven Dials and build a gentlemen’s club to
rival Whites and Boodles. Did he intend to make a brothel part of
the club?

“Who owns the land?”

“Lord Rowley or the current Lord
Rowley.” Madame said with disgust. “He came to inform me that he
was selling the property. When I asked about the purchase price he
simply sneered at me. He did not believe in women owning property
and even if I was willing to pay twice the cost, he would not sell
to me.”

Jordan wasn’t surprised. Rowley was a
pious judgmental prig.

“We need to block Geary from purchasing
the land,” Angelique insisted.

“I will look into it.” Jordan stood, as
did Angelique.

“I will escort you out,” she smiled up
at him.

Angelique led him into the hall and
closed the door to Madame’s office and then slipped her hand into
his. “Allow me to thank you properly.” She favored him with a
seductive smile and Jordan was not immune. She was the only person
he ever visited when he came to the brothel, sometimes visiting her
up to four times a week, paying for the entire night. She taught
him everything he knew about giving pleasure and receiving
it.

For a moment Jordan was tempted to
revisit their past and if he weren’t anxious to get to Audrey he
may have lingered. Even if Audrey wasn’t across town attending a
ball, he would decline the invitation. Since meeting her he had
wanted no other woman, not even Angelique, who he thought had
stolen his heart long ago. It had only been an infatuation. “I must
decline.”

She pouted up at him. “I’ve missed
you.”

He simply laughed. “I know you are not
without company.”

She smiled and shrugged. “There are a
few gentlemen who are as attentive as you.” She ran her hand up his
chest. “You will always be my favorite.”

He glanced down at her. “And you will
always hold a special place in my heart.”

She was as bad as Millicent, Audrey
chastised herself. She had been at this ball for nearly an hour and
Jordan Trent had yet to make an appearance. Each time a gentleman
stepped through the doors, she looked even though it really wasn’t
necessary since everyone was announced. Still, she couldn’t help
herself.

Her dance card was beginning to fill
and soon there wouldn’t be any place for which he could write his
name, if he chose to.

She glanced around the room at the many
guests and noted Lady Rothsbury was not in attendance either. She
could very well be at a different ball, as could Mr. Trent. Was he
attending the same function as the widow? Had they grown closer
than she realized?

Of course they had. He had been at her
home until the early morning hours twice this week.

Audrey groaned. She had let it happen
again. She had fallen for a rake. Jordan Trent had no more
intention of courting her than he did giving up all of the ladies
that were free with their charms.

Mr. Everton approached and bowed before
her. “Miss Montgomery, you are as beautiful as always.”

She dipped a small curtsey. “Thank you,
Mr. Everton.” Why was he approaching her? He never had before. They
had been introduced last spring but that was as far as their
acquaintance went, other than when she saw him at Millicent’s that
afternoon. She had been very cautious to avoid gaining the
attention of gentlemen like Everton, who were more debauched than
Mr. Jordan Trent, if that were even possible.

“Do you have at least one dance
left.”

She had a few and held out her card. He
penciled in his name by the last waltz of the evening. Audrey
inwardly sighed. She had hoped Mr. Trent would arrive in time to
claim her last waltz but that was not to be.

“I’ll anxiously await our waltz.” He
bowed and left her to her own thoughts.

Why should she be saving dances for
Trent? If he wished to dance with her he would have arrived by now.
Clearly he was done with her. Was it because she didn’t allow him
to kiss her last night? If that were the case then she needed to
dismiss him from her mind and heart. He would only toy with her
affection and reputation and it was time she set about finding an
honest and trustworthy husband for herself.

She glanced at the names on the card.
Unfortunately, none of the names interested her enough to be
involved in a relationship longer than a country dance. But, it was
still early in the Season. Any number of gentlemen could come to
her attention and then Jordan Trent would be but a distant
memory.

Audrey stifled a groan as Millicent
glided across the room. “Where is he?”

“Who?” Audrey asked even though she
knew exactly who Millicent was asking about.

“Jordan. I was sure he would be
here.”

“Perhaps he has been delayed.” Audrey
smiled at her. For her sake she hoped Trent did show so she didn’t
have to listen to Millicent whine all night. But was that any worse
than watching Millicent make a cake of herself when he was
present.

“It is already too hot in here.”
Millicent began fanning herself.

The color was high in Millicent’s
cheeks as if she had caught a fever. It was a bit warm, but not
uncomfortably so. By the time the dancing began it would probably
be unbearable. “Perhaps we should step outside and get some
air.”

Millicent glanced back to the entry and
bit her bottom lip. She didn’t want to miss Trent’s entrance no
doubt.