Page 10 of Keeper of Secrets

“You slept well, I hope?”Chloe asked, nipping at her lip as she stepped into the skirts.

“I did.I’m feeling much refreshed and looking forward to the day.We have tea with my dear friend, the dowager Countess of Strasmore.”

“Excellent.”The maid finished fastening the gown’s row of intricate buttons and then curtsied as she turned and left the room.

Silence fell between Mildred and Chloe as she turned to the one person who’d held her up all these months.“Please say you forgive me.”

Mildred made a pishing noise, sweeping her hand.“Already forgiven.You think I didn’t kiss my share of men?”

Chloe blinked in surprise before a small smile tugged at her lips.Even older, Mildred still cut a striking figure.“I’m sure you did.”

“I was the sister of a duke.I have always been able to afford freedom, Chloe.You do not have that luxury.You’re going to have to be smarter, I’m afraid.”

Chloe’s fingers knotted together.“I know.You’re right.I won’t let it happen again.I just got caught up in his good looks and charm.There are no men like him in Durham.”

Mildred’s shoulders softened.“I shouldn’t have allowed you to wander off last night, untrained as you are in men of his ilk.There are a thousand like him here in London.Handsome, charming, but rakes.They’ve been hardened and they’ll take what they can get without giving you anything in return.You can’t just give any man free liberties.He has to earn them.”

Chloe shifted, hearing the truth in Mildred’s words.“I’ve heard every word you’ve said, and I’ll stay out of trouble in the future.I promise.”

“Good girl.”Mildred patted her cheek with a brilliant smile.“You’re smart enough to learn.Now…” The older woman dropped her voice.“My friend knows all the gossip, so she’ll know if there are any rumors.”

“Will we have to tell her what I did?”The butterflies beat in her stomach again as her chin dipped with her embarrassment.

“We will.But we can trust her with the information.”

Chloe didn’t wish to tell anyone but she had no choice.Mildred knew best how to survive here in the city.“Whatever you think best.”

“Let’s go down to breakfast and meet your new guardian.”Mildred laced her fingers in Chloe’s and began walking with her toward the door.“All you need to do is nod and smile.He’ll provide what I ask of him.Don’t you worry.”

Chloe was worried.But she pushed those fears aside as she followed Mildred out the door.Facing the duke was the moment she’d been waiting for.

* * *

Ryker rakeda hand through his hair, knowing he was ruffling the carefully combed strands.But the gesture had become a bad habit when he was agitated.

First, he’d had too many drinks too close to bedtime, so his head ached this morning.After he’d left Mildred’s room, he’d imbibed several more.The events of last night had been too… personal.

He’d dreamed of the woman he’d kissed all through the night.Broken dreams that had been fueled by alcohol, but nonetheless, in his sleep, he’d held her and kissed her, until she suddenly slipped away, leaving him as lonely as his mother had always left him feeling.And then his father— Ryker hadn’t dreamed of the old duke in years—had appeared laughing at his son and proclaimed that Ryker was even more useless than he himself had been.

Ryker shook his head.He knew better than to drink that much so close to bed.

The dreams had shaken him.He didn’t get emotionally involved with anyone.

He was in no state to deal with club business.Still, he had a meeting with the Emperor this afternoon, where he’d have to explain how little he’d discovered about Adam.

His correspondence still sat in front of him, the letters he’d received waiting to be opened.His head ached, his temples throbbed, his mood too sour to open anything now.

He shuffled past the king’s note and the unmarked envelope until he saw the bit just under it.A bill of sale from a dress shop.

His aunt had spent a king’s ransom on dresses.Why in the bloody blue blazes had she needed so much?

He rose from the desk, the bill in hand, and started for the breakfast room where his aunt’s laugh filtered down the hall.

His head gave a decided throb as his long strides carried him down the hall.

Turning into the dining room he saw his aunt in her usual seat at the opposite end of the table from his place.

But she wasn’t what caught his gaze.Because sitting with her back to him was another woman.

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