Shock filled her as she’d looked down at her lap. She remembered the pain in Leo’s eyes the last time she’d seen him. Masterson’s markers had never been called due. The hunting lodge had never been taken. Even the damned horses had remained. Because the only thing he’d truly wanted had been her.
“Leo Murphy.” She’d whispered his name and watched Mr. Lind turn the color of a beet.
The solicitor had neither confirmed nor denied her statement. He didn’t have to. There was no one else who would have done such a thing for her. She couldn’t believe Leo had.
Mr. Lind had fetched her a sherry, which she drank in one swallow before asking for another. Afterward, she’d instructed Mr. Lind to make arrangements to send the entire sum still sitting in her account to Harold. It was her money, after all, no matter how it had gotten into that blasted account. The solicitor was to inform Harold, should he inquire, that she was taking up residence in France. Or Italy. It didn’t matter. Once Harold had the money, he wouldn’t look for her.
She did hope Mr. Lind would follow her instructions.
Her passage on the shipBetty Sue, bound for Boston, was the very first bit of business Georgina settled upon after leaving Beechwood Court. She’d hoped to get out of London without Harold finding her first, but now that wouldn’t be the case. Her carriage would need to be abandoned, along with her things. When she arrived on board theBetty Suein the wee hours of the morning without any baggage, Georgina would pretend upset—
I will hardly have to pretend.
—and inform the captain she’d been robbed on the way to the docks; she would seek his protection and that of her cabin.
“Another hand, Lady Masterson?”
Georgina smiled up at Larkin, whose features softened on her. He really was a lovely man, for all that he’d once been a pickpocket. “I believe so, Larkin. Thank you.”
She would stay for another quarter of an hour and then slip away. Georgina knew Elysium fairly well. Leo had explained to her that the merchant who’d once owned the mansion had built multiple exits. There were dozens of hidden rooms, staircases, halls.
Georgina pressed a hand to her lips, trying to still the rising panic Harold’s little visit had brought.
Leo.
His efforts to see to her care didn’t change anything. Couldn’t. Not now when she was leaving England. He had been very clear at not wanting to father a child, especially a bastard. Hedidbear her some affection. She supposed that should make her happy. But instead, the knowledge of what he’d done for her filled Georgina with a raw, gnawing guilt. Sorrow at what might have been.
It’s too late.
Georgina set off in the opposite direction of the main doors toward a thick velvet curtain trimmed in gold fringe. Behind the velvet was a short hall leading to the room set aside for Elysium’s female patrons. There was even an attendant to help with clothing mishaps or to repin a lady’s hair after a visit to the second floor. Nettie was the attendant’s name. A hook-nosed, scarred, older woman who had grown up in St. Giles. Another stray Leo and Welles had collected for Elysium. Like the one-armed Jones who sat at the door with Smith. Or Smith himself, who Georgina was certain had more secrets than she did. But Nettie, for all her vicious looks and brusque manner, was a surprisingly sweet woman. She was also good with a knife and handled a pistol competently, according to Welles.
Most importantly, there was another exit to the room Nettie guarded. Should any female patron seek to avoid the attentions of a gentleman, she need only slip thru the hidden door which led to yet another hallway and eventually a very private exit out of Elysium. The exit was always guarded by one of Leo’s employees. Whoever stood just outside would summon Georgina a hack. She would be aboard theBetty Suewithin the hour. Harold had undoubtedly watched her flee down this hall, but Nettie wouldn’t let him past her.
Georgina weighed the risk of going to Leo and asking for his protection. He might save her from Harold, but what then? Leo didn’t want a child. He’d made that abundantly clear. Georgina even understood,somewhat, why he didn’t. His reasoning was flawed, tangled up as it was in the death of Welles’s mother and the dislike Leo had for his father. But even beyond his aversion to children, bastard or otherwise, Leo had quite adamantly stated he would never marry.
Where would that leave Georgina, even if Leo wanted her to stay?
As a mistress. Without her son.Living far away from her beloved New York.
She stopped for a moment, her fingers trailing along the wall. The very idea was unfathomable, no matter her feeling for the proprietor of Elysium.
This was a game Georgina couldn’t hope to win.
10
Leo studied Georgina as she played faro for the better part of the evening, careful to stay out of her line of sight. His eyes lingered over the generous curves he longed to touch. The cascade of curls springing about her temples like bits of spun gold. She would smell of spring. Wildflowers. The burgundy gown she wore tonight suited her much more than black widow’s weeds, or any of the other dull colors society dictated she wear. Thetonwas still gossiping about the gown she’d chosen for that silly garden party Georgina had hosted at Beechwood Court.
The only part of tonight’s ensemble Leodidn’tapprove of was the near spill of her breasts over the edge of her bodice. The neckline dipped so low, Leo imagined any male close to her could see Georgina’s nipples.
Punishment. Meant to remind Leo with every glance in Georgina’s direction of what he’d so carelessly tossed aside. He gripped the banister, jealousy biting at his skin. It wasn’t the least bit amusing to have every gentleman at Elysium ogle what belonged to Leo.
A snarl left him. Pushing her away all those months ago had done little to banish Georgina from his thoughts. Leo no longer thought himself remotely noble for having “saved” her from him. He despised himself for wounding her. The terrible ache her absence caused had started as a hole that widened to a gaping maw within his chest.
Some mornings, Leo woke up with the scent of spring in his nostrils, hoping that when he opened his eyes, Georgina would be beside him, only to find himself alone. His fingers would stretch across the sheets, searching for her warmth.
Such a dream would put Leo in an incredibly foul mood for the remainder of the day.
Jesus, just go to her.
