Page 40 of Beyond Scandal and Desire
“Thank you.” She strolled toward the stairs.
Fancy left the group of people to whom she was speaking and gazed toward the door. “Is his lordship all right?”
“He’s imbibed a bit too much.”
“I don’t understand why men do that. It’s such a silly thing.”
“Yes, well, we’re leaving now, and I just wanted to say that it was a pleasure to see you again.”
“I do hope you’ll come to my bookshop when it opens.”
“I look forward to it. Good night, Fancy.”
“Safe journey home, Aslyn. And sleep well.”
She doubted she was going to do that. When she got outside, she was grateful to see the carriage was already there. Mick Trewlove stood there empty-handed. She assumed he’d already stuffed Kip inside.
“Thank you for inviting us. You have an extraordinary hotel here, Mr. Trewlove. We wish you great success with it and all your future endeavors.”
“That sounds like a forever sort of goodbye, Lady Aslyn.”
“I think it unlikely our paths will cross much in the future.”
“One never knows what the future might hold.” He held out his hand. She placed hers in it. Such strength there, such warmth, such surety. He handed her up into the carriage, and she settled on the squabs opposite Kip, who was slumped into a corner.
“He’s going to have a devil of a headache in the morning,” Mick said.
“Good.”
He grinned. “You have a vindictive nature, Lady Aslyn.”
“Until this moment, I’d have not thought so. I hope it’s only temporary, as it’s not a very pleasant trait.”
“Sometimes life calls for unpleasantries. Good night.” He closed the door, yelled up to the driver and the carriage took off.
She refrained from looking out the window, looking back to see if he was still watching her. For some unfathomable reason, she didn’t want him to dismiss her and merely go on his merry way. But neither did she want him to know she was indeed vindictive. She kicked Kip in the shin.
“Damnation!” he blurted, stirred, straightened a tad and glared at her through one eye.
“You lost my mother’s pearls and comb.”
“I’ll purchase replacements.”
“They won’t be the same. I treasured them not because of what they were but where they came from. I have so little of her, hardly any memories at all.”
“I’m sorry, Aslyn. I thought I would win. Instead I lost everything I had on me.”
“How much?”
“A thousand pounds.”
She stared disbelievingly at him. “What were you doing with that much money on you?”
“I thought to go to the club afterward. The money is inconsequential.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I lost my pocket watch.”
