Page 90 of Trade of a Lifetime (Trade Wind 1)

Not wishing to speak of her brother, she didn’t remind James that David was here, another important reason she remained in town. The LLS loomed large again in her thoughts, but she changed the subject. “And you? Do you go to the country? To your own properties?”

“Aye, and I’d like to show them to you. If you usually leave London in any case, why not come with me? We could go for a few weeks.”

Again, the unbidden image of them surrounded by fresh country air and bright sunlight forced itself before Clara’s eyes. She saw James in rolled-up shirtsleeves and knee breeches, his huge feet bare in the grass beside a babbling stream. His skin looked golden in the light, not its London pale.

She rolled onto her back, covering her eyes. “Icannot. Not without my brother discovering.”

His face clouded at the mention. “Why?”

“Our pact was not to speak of him, and that is not a term it behooves us to renegotiate, James. David is my brother, and we’re important to each other.”

James nodded tightly, but his hand caressed her shoulder. “Understood.”

“Often he visits if I go to the country. And in any case, when I go, it’s to his estates, of course. I can’t leave town without telling him. We see each other too often. If I tell him I’m going, hewillknow whether I have actually been.”

“Then we won’t go for weeks. Tell him you’re going, and after we spend time at one of my houses, I’ll return to London and you’ll go to one of his estates.”

“James, no. It’s one thing to live without speaking of what takes place in the shadows. But I cannot lie outright; the web of lies could easily untangle. And I do not wish to lie.”

“Is there a quiet estate of yours, a small one, you and I could visit together?”

She gasped at the idea, pulling her hand off her eyes to glare. “No! The servants, James! My London staff is loyal to me. But we couldn’t be together in front of my brother’s!”

“There must be a way,” he muttered.

“We may find one, perhaps. I’ll think about it. I must admit, I didn’t miss Pulley’s knock this past week. How novel it would be to spend the night with you. Not to be dragged out into the darkness to scurry home.”

Clara had tried for a playful tone, but she heard her own wistfulness.

“Yes.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m sorry, lass, for pressing you. It’s no small thing I ask of you, I know. For now, it’s already an improvement to right here.” His arms tightened around her.

“Very well—pretend you’re here to see me, when you can scarcely hold back from running down to the parlor and finding your favorite quail.”

Quiet laughter vibrated through him, and his warm lips caressed her temple.

Clara sighed into him, enjoying the moment of comfort.

As she lay against him, however, the pressure to tell James of Violet House built.

She rose on an elbow, looking down into his eyes. “There’s another reason I don’t leave London as often as I might otherwise. A reason I’d like to share with you. First, allow me this curiosity. What do you think I do every day?”

He frowned.

“Whatever ladies do all day?” Clara articulated for him.

He nodded.

Her eyes narrowed, and she sighed. “I would die of boredom if that’s all I had in my life. After Aunt Violet passed, I found myself without purpose. I needed an outlet, so I created a charitable endeavor with a friend.”

James picked up her hand and kissed it. “Not a bird sanctuary.”

She smiled despite her nervousness. “It is, of sorts. It’s a sanctuary…for ladybirds. Or former, anyway.” Her heart pounded as she awaited his reaction. When he merely listened attentively, she continued, “We took over a boardinghouse in Soho, and hired a staff. We take in very ill women without means.”

He blinked, searching her face. “You take care of prostitutes.” His tone was matter-of-fact.

“Most are former prostitutes. Some were servants, cast out when their bodies gave out and they couldn’t toil anymore.”

He smiled faintly against her hand before turning it and placing his lips against her palm. “You’re remarkable, Clara. You cared for your aunt for years, and now a houseful of women.”

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