Page 4 of Kiss a Rake at Midnight

Two

De la Chance’s main gaming salon

A FEW TENSE HEARTBEATS LATER

Frombeneath her eyelashes, Siobhan covertly watched Mr. Westbrook leave. Her breathing didn’t resume a normal cadence until he’d disappeared, and the tension in her rigid shoulders eased.

Shefeared she’d given herself away this morning.

Theway Mr. Westbrook probed her with his bottle-green eyes, she felt certain he could see all of her secrets—see behind her carefully constructed façade and realize she was a fully grown female at seven and twenty.

Thankgoodness she’d inherited her mother’s petiteness, and with her hair tightly braided and pinned under Father’s cast-off flat hat, she passed for a boy.

FletcherWestbrook held to a strict code of honor, and Siobhan felt certain he’d dismiss her if he discovered her secret. But the truth was, she’d tried finding employment as a woman for three months with no success other than disgusting offers from even more repugnant men. By that time, what little money Da had left behind was gone.

Desperationdrove her to don Da’s old coat and Paddy’s trousers and to apply at De la Chance. She’d almost wept with relief when Mr. Westbrook had hired her. Now, at least, she could ensure her stepbrother and half-sister wouldn’t starve, and they had a roof over their heads, though the drafty single room they called home scarcely qualified as such.

Still, their humble accommodations were far better than the streets. IfSiobhan scrimped, the food Mrs. Dough provided fed them and Siobhan’s wages covered the rent and other necessities, such as a candle to teach her siblings at night.

Monthsago, she’d given up hope that Da and Maura would return. Not for a second did Siobhan believe they’d abandoned her and the younger children. No, something awful must’ve happened. The not knowing was almost as bad as imagining all the dark things that had kept her beloved Da and kind stepmother of twelve years from returning to their offspring.

Onlyfive years older than Siobhan, Maura had become the older sister Siobhan had never had, and she’d never resented Maura. Rather, it had pleased her that Da had found love again, after Mam had succumbed to a fever when Siobhan was eight. She adored having a little brother, and when Kimber came along, their family had been complete.

AfterSiobhan’s parents’ disappearance, Maura’s sister, FinolaFlorry, allowed them to remain at her lodging house. Yet the gesture hadn’t been entirely benevolent. She’d moved them to a single room rather than the two bedchambers and sitting area the family had occupied since arriving from Ireland last year. Finola insisted Siobhan also pay weekly rent, proclaiming she wasn’t a charity—that she had bills too.

Kimberand Paddy performed chores around the boarding house for their maternal aunt: chopping wood, dishes, cleaning, laundry, and taking out slop buckets.

Finolasaid their unpaid work compensated for the low rent she charged.

Whata load of manure.

FinolaFlorry exploited her young niece and nephew because they feared she’d evict them if they refused to do her bidding. It was as unlikely as the milkman delivering fresh milk every morning that they could find other affordable accommodations.

Afterfinishing arranging the chairs, Siobhan made her way to the kitchen.

Intruth, she felt poorly and longed for a cup of tea, but that wasn’t what had her nervous as a cat on hot coals.

Shehad seen something last night.

Infact, she’d invertedly become party to the offense—all because she’d been offered a pound in payment—a veritable fortune to a pauper like herself.

Whenthe elegant lady withdrew the innocent-looking letter from her beautifully beaded reticule along with a pound note, Siobhan hadn’t seen any harm in delivering it to Mr. Westbrook’s office.

“I’ve admired him for so long, you see.” The beautiful redhead blinked her big brown eyes, framed by charcoal-darkened lashes.

Siobhanconceded that with his wavy chestnut hair, bottle-green eyes, and tall, lithe build, her employer wasn’t an eyesore.

“Naturally, Fletcher requires discretion, as do I.” The beauty laughed, a tinkling, well-practiced chime. “My husband wouldn’t approve. You would be doing me a tremendous favor, child.”

LadyHuxley had bent over, purposely exposing more bosom than was seemly. Her cloying perfume had sent Siobhan into a sneezing fit.

Siobhanheld a very different view of adultery than her ladyship. To her, marriage was a sacred institution. However, amongst the ton, infidelity was as common and overlooked as beggars on the street.

Besides, who was she to judge her employer, who she had gleaned in the short time she’d been at De la Chance, had quite a reputation as a rake? Half the women attending the social club sent him coy smiles and blinked their eyelashes like the harlot Jezebel herself in blatant invitation.

“Naturally, I trust you won’t read the contents.” LadyHuxley curved her rouged mouth into a siren’s smile. “Such intimacies are not meant to be shared. ButI don’t suppose you can read, so there’s no need for concern.”

Siobhanhad procured a bland smile at the unintended insult.