Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) (23 page)

“I was not going to lecture you, my lord.”

“You weren’t?”

“No.  Even though you were quite inconsiderate to both
Mrs. Cartwright and Mr. Parker.”

“Bugger Mr. Parker,” muttered Hal.

“Lord Henry!”

“You said you weren’t going to lecture me, then you proceeded
to do just that.”

Melanie cleared her throat and began again.  “Lord
Henry, I would like you to take me to a brothel.”

Whatever Hal had been expecting her to say, it
hadn’t been that. 

“Is this some kind of trick, Miss Sutton, where I
say I would be delighted to do just that, then Parker comes back here and tries
to beat me to a pulp?”

“Do you really think Mr. Parker would ‘beat you to a
pulp,’ as you so colorfully put it?”

“I said he could
try
.”

“Regardless of your inflated notions of your ability
to best Mr. Parker in fisticuffs – now don’t grow churlish on me, especially
after your apology of a scant few moments ago – I am serious in my request.  I
would like you to take me to Madame Thurmond’s as it is my best chance to
investigate the disappearance of Miss LaRue.”

“You are not going to do any investigating.  I shall
relay this information to Arthur, Vanessa and Stapleton and they will look into
the matter.”

“No one at Madame Thurmond’s will speak to the
authorities.”

“They certainly won’t speak to you.  And you were
warned away from the place, if I recall.”

“I am not easily scared away,” said Mel, with chin
rising.  “I am also not suggesting that I go dressed like this.  I shall dress in
disguise as a lad.”

Hal wasn’t sure whether to laugh or try to shake some
sense into the foolish woman.  “You would never pass as a lad.  And even if you
could. they don’t grant admittance to just anyone.  There’s a lengthy
application process for membership and you wouldn’t be approved.”

“But members are allowed to bring guests, are they
not?  I believe you are such a good client that they would be only too happy to
allow you to bring your cousin who is visiting from the country.”

Hal almost had to admire her persistence.  Almost. 
“I am not taking you to a whorehouse.”

Mel stomped her elegant half boot in frustration.  “But
you must!  It’s the only way I can go.  Mr. Parker would never get past the men
at the door.  And I don’t think he’d take me even if he could get in.”

“That is the first thing I can commend Parker on.”

“I do not know why you took such an instant dislike
to the man.  He is all that is amiable and has an admirable dedication to
helping others.  In fact….what are you doing?”

Hal had had his fill of Parker’s finer points.  He
crossed to Mel in two strides.  She backed away from him until she was against
the wall and Hal was only inches away.  He was close enough to smell that bedamned
rosewater which seemed to envelope him at all times even when she wasn’t near. 
He could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest, proving she was unnerved by
his proximity. 
Good.
  Because he sure the devil was unnerved by her. 

“If you’re so fond of Parker and his good deeds, why
don’t you marry him?”

“What?” she asked, for all the world looking like a
cornered fox.

He leaned closer until his lips were inches away
from hers.  “Why don’t you marry him?”  Then he kissed her in a way that he
hoped would wipe out the bloody notion of Mel marrying anyone who wasn’t him. 
Not that he was going to marry her, of course.  But he could kiss her.

Some moments later she half-heartedly pushed him
away.  And he grudgingly let her.  “Will you do it?” she whispered.

He shook his head to clear it.   “Will I do what?”

“Take me to Madame Thurmond’s.”

Hal knew it was a very bad idea.  But at that
moment, he couldn’t deny her.  Not when she was so soft in his arms.  Her lips
still glistening from his kiss.  “Yes,” he finally managed to say.  “But how
will you get away without Starchy Parker finding out.”

“That is a terrible thing to call him.”

“Ah, but we’re playing by my rules now.  How will
you get Starchy Parker out of the way?”

“I will have him go to one of Mrs. Seton’s
protests.”

“Excellent plan.  I knew the dragon would come in
handy some day.”

“You shouldn’t call her that.”

He tsked.  “Remember…my rules.”  Her answering scowl
was so adorable he almost kissed her again right there.  “Where will you get
the clothes for your disguise?  For that matter, where will you dress?”

“I shall need your help for that, as well, my lord.”

“I think it’s about time you called me Hal.  After
all, we have surpassed a casual acquaintanceship.”

“You mean when we…”  Mel blushed and glanced toward
the settee.

Hal grinned.  “I meant that I’m about to take you to
a brothel.  But that, too.  In fact…”  He leaned down as if to kiss her again.

She pushed him away, then came out from against the
wall.  “You can pick me up at nine of the clock, Hal.  If that gives you long
enough to prepare.”

“It will,” he said, grinning at her rapidly
retreating back.  “It will be more than enough time.”

*                    *                  *

Richard walked quickly to the corner, hoping to
catch a hack as soon as possible.  Fortune favored him, as one appeared almost
directly. 

“Where to?” asked the driver, as he bobbed his head
to the well-dressed gentleman.

“The London docks,” said Parker, as he got into the hack
and closed the door.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Melanie had told her aunt and uncle that she’d been
too unwell to accompany them to the ball they were to attend that evening.  Her
aunt had offered to stay home with her, but Melanie had assured her she would
be all right with Flora to look after her.  Mary had looked like she didn’t
believe that Banbury tale at all – Mel wasn’t the only one who was the victim
of Flora’s avarice – but if she suspected anything, she did not let on.

Half an hour after her relatives’ departure, Mel got
ready to meet Hal, who said he would park his carriage down the street.  Flora
had wanted to go with her to see her sweetheart, but Mel had been rather adamant
that Flora’s presence in her room would be vital in the chance that the earl
and countess came home early.  Flora was none too happy about it but Mel
promised she would make it up to her.

At the appointed hour, Mel slipped out of the French
doors in the drawing room, then across the garden to the alley.  She ran to the
street, hoping Hal would not be late.  It was a few minutes before nine and she
didn’t wish to linger on the street where anyone could see her.  But, true to
his word, his carriage awaited.  As she approached, he opened the door and got
out.

“Good evening, Melanie,” he said, as he handed her
in.  “To what do I owe Flora’s welcome absence?”

“Her presence at the house will be vital in
maintaining our ruse.”

“Please don’t tell me that bit of logic was all it
took to convince her to stay.  I would lose faith in her blackmailing spirit.”

“I promised her a new gown.”

“That’s my Flora,” said Hal, as he sat back and
looked at the beautiful woman seated across from him.

His direct gaze did odd things to Mel’s body. 
“Where are my clothes, Hal?”

“You called me Hal,” he said with his lazy smile. 
“I like hearing my name on your lips.  I like many things about your lips.”

“My clothes, Hal.  Where are they?”

“Back at Lynwood House.”

“But I cannot go there with you to retrieve them.  You
should have brought them.”

“You couldn’t very well change in the carriage,
could you?  Of course, if you are so inclined, feel free to disrobe now,
although I guarantee we would never make it to Madame Thurmond’s.”

He said it in a light-hearted manner, but Mel felt
there was some truth to his words.

He continued.  “Liam is out for the evening, as are Vanessa
and Arthur.  Ned, Jane and Violet have arrived this very day from Marston Vale
and are visiting my sister.  Ned’s valet Rigg has volunteered his services to
dress you for the evening.”

“But surely this will cause a scandal if word gets
out.”

“Surely it would, although I’m surprised you care
about such things, given the risks you’ve taken in the past.  Rest assured that
Rigg is completely loyal to Ned and the family.  No word will leak out through
him or any of the servants.”

“All servants gossip.  How can you be sure word
won’t get out?”

“Liam rewards them quite well for their loyalty.  I
would trust the servants at Lynwood House with my life.”

“I take it Flora wouldn’t last long there,” said Mel
with a smile.

“Flora would never get in the door.  Heskiss is the
best judge of character I’ve ever met.  And your Flora doesn’t come up to
snuff.  Ah, here we are.”

Mel looked out the window at the immense Mayfair
mansion.  It seemed at once to be grander, yet less imposing than the
surrounding homes.  There was none of the ostentation one might find in houses of
its size.  There was no mistaking that an important man lived here, but with none
of the garish embellishments that so many others had utilized as if to add
consequence to themselves.

“It’s rather large, isn’t it?” asked Mel.

“It is,” said Hal.  “And the house is quite big, as
well.”

“That is quite enough of that, my lord,” said Mel as
repressively as she was able.  Which wasn’t all that repressive.   The man was
most definitely having an effect on her, as unsettling as it was exciting.

The doors opened and Hal escorted her into the
house. 

“Heskiss, this is Miss Sutton, who is working on a
mission with me tonight.  Miss Sutton, this is Heskiss, without whose tireless
efforts the house would fall down upon its foundation and civilization would no
doubt crumble.  Heskiss, I believe Rigg is waiting for us.”

Heskiss bowed to them both.  “Yes, Lord Henry.  He
is waiting in your bedchamber, but said he can go to a different room if that
would make Miss Sutton more comfortable.”

“I am sure Miss Sutton will be fine, Heskiss, thank
you.”

Hal steered her through the foyer on their way to
the stairs.  Mel tried not to gawk at the elegant surroundings, but had a
feeling she was not as successful in her
nonchalance
as she would’ve
liked.  “Do you really think it is wise to go to your rooms?  It is most
improper,” she said.

“This entire business is most improper, Mel, which
is one of the reasons I’m enjoying myself quite so much.  But Rigg will prove
himself an admirable chaperone, I assure you.”

He swept her past bedchambers in what she assumed was
the family wing.  While her uncle’s house was well-appointed and certainly
grander than any home she’d seen in Philadelphia, Lynwood House was truly
awe-inspiring.

He came to a bedchamber at the end of the hall,
opened the door, then waited for her to enter.  She had to admit to a case of
nerves.  She’d never entered a man’s bedchamber before and as she stepped
across the threshold, she was amazed by the sheer masculinity of it.  There was
the bergamot scent that was so very Hal.  The heavy wooden furniture, the dark
blue of the bedspread.

The bed.

It drew her eyes, seemed to draw her very being.  It
was much larger than her own bed, but somehow she felt that if she were in it
with Hal, she would find it much too small.  He was standing at her elbow and
she could feel the heat of him.  How easy it would be to let him lead her to
the bed, lay her down and give herself to him.  She turned to see him looking
at her with an almost desperate gaze.

“Hal,” she began, only to be interrupted by someone
clearing his throat.  She hadn’t even realized they weren’t alone.  Blushing a
bright red, she turned to see an impeccably dressed man in his late ‘30s,
standing next to hangers holding a lad’s clothing.

Hal made the introductions.  “Miss Sutton, may I
please present Rigg to you.  He is my brother Ned’s valet and as such is wasted
in the rural hinterlands of Marston Vale.  Ned, Miss Melanie Sutton.”

Rigg bowed.  “A pleasure to make your acquaintance,
miss.  Per Lord Henry’s instructions, I have assembled several clothing options
befitting a young lad on the town.”  He stepped back to show them a variety of
trousers, shirts, waistcoats and jackets.  “Since most of the
ton
would
be familiar with any Kellington cousins, I took the liberty of imagining you to
be a second cousin twice removed, having come to London from Northumberland,
thereby minimizing the chance of anyone questioning your story.  As a
consequence, I am afraid your clothes are not in the first stare of fashion. 
It was my first foray in buying outmoded clothes for a Kellington.  I must say
I did not care for it a bit.”