“No.” His growl was ferocious, and the woman made to step back, but he clung to her hand all the more. “When I gained my title. I swore to myself that I would be nothing like my father was.” His intention had been to remain quite silent on this matter, but his urge to tell her everything simply grew all the more. Somehow, there had to be some mistake, and the determination to defend himself grew steadily. “I would never have come here willingly. I know myself well enough for that.” There was a moment of silence before James continued. “I swore that I would not be the man he was. That is why I know I would never have come to a place like this: my determination is much too great. So I shall ask you again, who brought me here?”
“My Lord, I… I know nothing.”
Her voice was shaking now, and James dropped his head, biting down hard on the inside of his cheek. Of course, this young woman would know nothing. If it truly was as she said, then he would have been in this roombeforeshe had been sent to him. He could not expect her to know anything, and yet all the same, he refused to believe that he had spent a few hours enjoying her company. He never would have allowed himself to do such a thing, regardless of how much he had drunk, or how much he had taken in.
Something was very wrong.
“I need my clothes.” He did not release her hand. “I need them returned to me. Fetch them at once.”
“I cannot, my Lord. I am not allowed to do that.”
“And why not?”
“Because I must first be assured of your payment. I am not to bring such things to you unless you give the payment first.”
James gritted his teeth. He did not want to give anything to this woman, did not want to even admit that he was here, and that theremightbe even the smallest chance that he had done what she suggested. To admit that would mean paying her what she believed she was owed. But if he refused to pay, then he would find himself lingering in this situation for a long time. What would happen to him next?
“And how can I pay you anything if you do not give me my things?”
“Perhaps you might give me a vowel?”
James blinked.
“Does that not mean that you will send a request for payment to my house shortly afterwards?”
“No, my Lord. I will make sure that such a thing does not happen. If you sign this vowel, then it will be on your honor that you return to pay the debt.”
“I could simply scribble you something as a debt of honor.”
The young lady hesitated.
“I believe my master has a vowel already written for you, my Lord.”
James closed his eyes.
“I see.” No doubt a place like this had a Jerusalem room, where those knowledgeable in such things would write out legal debts for himself – and other more unfortunate gentlemen – complete with a legal stamp of enforcement. He would have to pay the debt regardless of his feelings on the matter. He lowered his head, his shoulders rounding. There was nothing for him to do but to agree. “And once I have signed this vowel, you will give me back my things?”
Her breath brushed across his cheek, making him start with surprise. Just how close to him was she standing?
“Yes, immediately.”
He heard the sound of something being unfolded, and James quickly realized it was the vowel he was expected to sign. They had obviously worked quickly, eager to make certain that he could not escape without paying it. Shame burned in his cheeks as he considered what it was that she was asking him to pay for. This was certainly not the sort of thing that the gentleman he believed himself to be would do, and James struggled with the sudden fear that he had been as foolish as to give into a carnal desire with a wench, even though he had sworn to himself that he would never set foot into such a place as this.
I cannot let myself believe that I have done so. There must be some mistake.
“By signing this, I admit to nothing.”
“Here, my Lord.”
Her hands were soft as they touched his. A quill was pressed into one hand and the paper into the other. After a moment the hiss of a match lighting caught the air and the faint glow of a candle illuminated the paper. James had no other choice but to sign it and, with a tightness to his jaw, James forced himself to do so. That paper would promise to pay this young lady or the establishment the money which was supposedly owed for the time he had spent with her. Shame rose within him, but he closed his eyes as he handed it back to her.
I did not do this, he told himself silently. I cannot allow myself to believe that I did.
“Is that all?”
His brusque tone seemed to startle the young lady, for she caught her breath. James did not have much within him to care. He had not so much as glanced at her in the last few minutes.
“Yes, my Lord.”
