Page 7 of Only a Lyon Will Do
You may call me Persephone. Her quiet words had jolted inside him like a bolt of lightning. The lady had a fair amount of gumption, he surmised and he certainly liked what he saw.
“Persephone?” he chuckled. “Daughter of Zeus and the Goddess of Spring.”
“Indeed,” Patience whispered.
“Then I suppose you might consider me Hades?” he asked in a husky tone.
Her mouth opened in anOof surprise. “Her husband in the underworld?”
“Is there any other?” he inquired stepping closer as he watched her carefully. A sudden gleam entered her eyes before a slight smile spread over those perfect lips.
“Considering where you just came from, perhaps Hades might fit. However, I may not beyourPersephone.”
Laughter erupted from him, and he noticed that her eyes went wide as if even she was surprised by her daring words. “What a delight you are.”
“Perhaps Iamtoo bold in my assumptions, my lord. I am only speculating since I’ve made an educated guess as to where those stairs lead,” the lady declared before taking her fan dangling from her wrist and snapping it open. She waved the device frantically in front of her face as though the flames of hell were indeed igniting the room.
“You are bold, my lady, but I can’t say that I am not impressed with your banter,” he replied. “I shouldn’t have teased you so, but I also admire that you can throw caution to the wind and return my jesting. Now, tell me, how can I find you again?” he urged hoping she would tell him her real name.
“I fear that you ask the impossible…” his mystery lady said softly with a look of disappointment. Now that was an interesting development.
But any further conversations were interrupted when one of the Lyon’s Den’s wolves returned from whatever had taken him away from his position near the stairs in the first place.
“My lord, you know the rules. You must go back downstairs where I believe Mrs. Dove-Lyon is waiting for you in her private office,” the bouncer ordered crossing his arms over his chest.
Asher frowned at the man. “Your timing couldn’t be worse, Flute,” he grumbled as he watched the man shrug before holding out his arm toward the stairwell.
“I must go but I hope to see you again…Persephone,” he said emphasizing her false name before bowing over her hand.
“My lord…Hades,” she said with another delightful laugh.
Then she left him standing alone with only the bouncer for company as she returned to the gambling room. Asher watched her move around the gambling tables before she stole a glance in his direction. He continued to linger in the alcove watching her before Flute came and ushered him toward the stairs. He swore she gave him a seductive look before she was lost to his view but perhaps that was just wishful thinking on his part.
Asher made his way down the remaining stairs and across the gambling area to the widow’s private office.
“I believe I am expected, Lysander,” Asher drawled wondering what awaited him beyond the door.
“Indeed, you are, my lord,” the bouncer said opening the door for him.
There was a soft click behind him that sounded oddly ominous. Or perhaps the sense of dread he felt was merely because he had no idea why she would wish a private word with him.
“Lord Rowley,” the lady said from behind a large mahogany desk. “Please have a seat.”
Asher came to stand before the desk and gave the lady a nod. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon… a pleasure.” Sitting down he glanced around the room before looking to the woman dressed all in black. No one had ever seen her face and little was known about her except the rumor that after her husband died, he had left her with a mountain of debt and nothing with which to support herself except for this building, which had been her home. But then she created the Lyon’s Den and it had become one of the best-known gambling establishments for the rich. Though everyone knew the Lyon’s Den was mostly a front to her matchmaking business which was the real moneymaker for her.
“You wished to see me,” Asher finally said when the black shrouded lady remained silent and he perceived she was inspecting him.
“Yes, I did and thank you for indulging my whim. You’ve been here a lot as of late. Do you enjoy my gambling tables, my lord?” the lady asked.
“They’re the best in London despite some of the bets being on the unusual side,” Asher remarked casually wondering where this conversation was going.
“And yet the cream of Society still comes here knowing… well… sometimes a lady must do as she must to achieve the end result of her plans.”
“And am I a part of your current plans, Mrs. Dove-Lyon? If I am, I suggest you find another candidate. I have no intention of settling down any time soon,” Asher said hoping his remarks would be the end of any further ideas the woman had for him.
“You do not need to marry, Lord Rowley? Surely every man with a title eventually needs to settle down and sire an heir.”
“I have an heir in my brother. And if I do decide to have children, it doesn’t need to happen any time soon,” Asher drawled wishing he had a drink.
