Warrick frowned. “I don’t know.”
“Are all brothels this quiet in the morning?”
As if summoned by the question, the door creaked open and the one woman Warrick never wanted to lay eyes on again waltzed into the room.Heragain. She was followed by two women carrying trays in their hands.
“What happened to my shirt?” Warrick demanded even before Lady Ridgeland could part her lips to speak.
She smiled. “I thought you might be more comfortable. And if I am honest, I’ve fantasized about doing that for weeks. Even if it’s just a hint of skin, it’s a sight worth looking at.”
“Now I’m really insulted,” Saville muttered. “Is my chest not a sight worth looking at?”
Warrick shot her a glare. “Bedlam has a room for you, madam.”
She laughed. “In any event, your Lady Selena has made her choice. She did not show up for our meeting.”
Selena did not show?
Selena didn’t show.
The tension that had gripped his body slowly trickled out in a breath of relief. Did that mean she refused to cut ties with him? Perhaps she didn’t believe this vixen was his lover.
“I see you are quite pleased. Of course, this is not ideal,” Lady Ridgeland sauntered over to him and raked a finger over his chest. Distaste filled him. “Luckily for us, we have the two of you. So we sent her a missive to inform her that we have her beloved earl.”
He stilled.
Saville gave a very loud snort. “And if my sister missesthatassignation, it means...” He grinned. “Well, who is to say what it means? What would happen then?”
Warrick blinked at his friend. His silent mockery had been just as loud as that exaggerated snort. His lips twitched.
“Thenwe would send news that we have herbrotheras well. That might do the trick, I believe. It would be rather shocking if she did not respond to her sibling being caught in our web as well.”
Loathsome woman.
“My sister won’t show because she won’t believe you have Warrick, and neither will she believe you have me.”
“Are you certain? You’ve been gone for two days.”
“Selena is smart.” Warrick squared his shoulders and lifted his chin, sending her a slight yet confident smile. “She won’t fall for your tricks. If she doesn’t show, it means she will notbe blackmailed by you. She must have changed her mind about joining your mysterious little club. I wonder how the club will feel about your failure.”
Lady Ridgeland’s smile took on that syrupy—sickening—edge as she stepped up to grab his shirt with both her hands and yank, ripping it right down to his navel.
“What the hell are you doing?” Warrick roared.
She leaned in even closer. “I’m not in the best mood, Warrick dear. But looking at your body along with your face lined in anger will make me feel better in no time at all.”
“You better hope,” Warrick ground out between clenched teeth, “by the time I am free from these binds, you are not within my sight.”
I’ll drag you to Bedlam myself.
Chapter Nineteen
“Perhaps he iscursed after all.”
The duke glanced at her. “I beg your pardon?”
Selena shook her head, indicating she’d spoken to herself, and peered from the top of her horse at the warehouse she recognized all too well. She had decided to change into her Turkish trousers, which made riding a horse astride more comfortable than riding sidesaddle.
She scowled at the building.
