Page 71 of Dance with the Dragon Duke

The silk vibrated with Ruby’s low snores.

Tomorrow went in search of Susan and Margot. Dressed as she was, patrons took notice and parted for her. She found her friends conversing behind the bar in the parlor, debating what to stock. This time of night, the house was starting to grow busy. Clearing her voice softly, Tomorrow stole their attention.

“My, don’t you look fancy, Your Grace.” Margot beamed at her. “How’s it going with the inheritance headache?”

“It hasn’t been much of a headache at all,” Tomorrow said. “The earl was very helpful. He sat with me and my father’s solicitor this evening, and we finalized everything. Your friend, Jonas, is securing orchards for me up north. Dark was supposed to hear from him today. And that’s that.”

“As glad as I am to hear of your good fortune, does this mean you’ll be moving on soon?” Susan asked. “It won’t feel the same without the two of you about.”

Margot sighed wistfully. “Won’t feel the same at all.”

“We’re not going anywhere just yet. There’s still details to be ironed out, and we’re in no hurry.” Tomorrow leaned across the bar. The rest of what she had to say was for their ears only. “At the winter ball, how did your pursuit of the dandy lord go?”

Color shot into Susan’s cheeks.

Margot cackled. “It went too well. She can’t get rid of him now.”

Susan elbowed her business partner. “Anthony’s sweet and a bit inexperienced. Thinks he’s in love, but he’ll learn better soon enough. I’m only interested in lust and a good time.”

“And deep pockets, don’t forget.” Margot tittered. “I doubt he’ll learn that anytime soon, though. He’s too smitten. What’d you do to him, anyway? He keeps turning up here like a lost puppy dog.”

Susan ignored the question and reached across the counter to squeeze Tomorrow’s arm affectionately. “Did you need something else, love?”

“Actually, no.” Tomorrow’s chest puffed out proudly. “For the first time in a very, very long while, I don’t need anything at all. In fact, I get togivesomething, so please don’t put up any fuss about it. I owe you both so much. I insist.”

“Aw, you’ve got us all wrong,” Margot said, swatting a hand at the air to shoo her words away. “We never make a fuss about gifts.”

Susan agreed wholeheartedly. “Right you are. We love getting things.”

Careful not to jostle Ruby’s sleeping form, Tomorrow retrieved a leather purse stuffed with gold crescents and silver half-pieces from her reticule. There was more wealth in that small leather bag than she’d ever had in the three centuries she’d been alive, and now she could give it away without flinching because she was the Duchess of Easton at last.

She dropped the fat purse on the bar. It gave a satisfying thunk against the wood. “When you took me in, I thought I would need to turn tricks to earn my keep. That life isn’t for me, but I planned to soldier through.” Tomorrow swallowed down the lump of joy growing in her throat. “But instead of putting me to work, you told me you had a fund for women like me, women who were in trouble and had nowhere else to turn. You called it the Penny fund.”

Susan and Margot shared a meaningful look. When they faced her again, their eyes shimmered more brightly in the gaslights. Margot blinked a moment before her gaze cleared. Susan’s smile was solemn.

“I don’t know who Penny is,” Tomorrow said, “but I sure am grateful to her. I think it’s wonderful what you’re doing in her name, and I want you to have everything in that purse for the next woman who needs you.”

Susan lifted the heavy bag, weighing it in her palm. Coins clinked together inside. “For the Penny fund,” she said in gentle agreement.

“And maybe some new shoes for theMargotfund.” Margot waggled her brows at her business partner. “What?” she said when Susan shot her a look. “Penny would like it if I got new shoes.”

“You have enough dratted shoes,” Susan scoffed. “You don’t even wear all of them.”

“Some of them aren’t forwearing,” Margot insisted with an impressive pout. “Some of them are just for making me happy. Don’t you want me to be happy?”

“You are happy, you silly tart. In fact, you could probably do with a little less happiness in your life.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Tomorrow listened to the pleasant sound of their playful bickering until her keen ears picked up a strange noise comingfrom outside. Something very large had landed hard enough to make the ground tremor gently. She craned her neck to peek through the nearest window.

“Right on time,” Susan said.

There on Main Street amongst the cobbles, Dark stood alone, illuminated by gas lamps, his hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his heavy coat. His horns and tail steamed in the cold. The corner of his lips twitched.

He crooked a finger at her.

That gesture would forever remind her of the first time they’d made love. Butterflies took flight in her belly. She left Ruby and her reticule in Susan and Margot’s capable care. With the help of a footman, she donned her coat but forgot her gloves in her excitement.

---