Suddenly You(31)

“Because I’m not a fool, Gemma. Amanda Briars is the kind of woman who needs—and deserves—more than half a man.”

“Half a man,” she repeated, laughing at the phrase. “Why do you say that? From all the reports I’ve heard of your anatomy, dear, you’re extremely well accounted for.”

Jack abandoned the subject then, understanding that Gemma had no wish or ability to discuss problems that had no concrete solution. In fact, neither did he. He turned to smile at Gemma’s maid, who had entered the room with a cup of heavily creamed and sugared coffee. “Ah, well,” he murmured, “there are other women in the world besides Amanda Briars, thank God.”

Following his lead, Gemma mercifully let the subject drop. “Anytime you desire the company of one of my girls, just say the word. It’s the least I can do for my dear publisher.”

“That reminds me…” Jack paused to drink the hot coffee, then continued with a deliberately bland expression. “I received a visit from Lord Tirwitt at my offices this morning. He was displeased by his portrayal in your book.”

“Really,” Gemma said without much interest. “What did the old wind-guts have to say?”

“He tried to skewer me with a spear-point cane.”

The comment sent the madam into a torrent of laughter. “Oh, dear,” she gasped, “and I did try to be kind. Why, you wouldn’t believe the things I omitted, things that were simply too distasteful to print.”

“No one is accusing you of an excess of good taste, Gemma. Including Lord Tirwitt. If I were you, I would advise your staff to be vigilant, in case he should call on you after his stay at the Bow Street holding room.”

“He wouldn’t come here,” Gemma said, wiping a stray tear of mirth from her kohl-smudged eyes. “It would only serve to confirm the nasty rumors. But thank you for the warning, darling.”

They talked comfortably for a little while, about business and investments and politics, the kind of conversation that Jack could have had with any seasoned businessman. He enjoyed Gemma’s tart humor and utter pragmatism, for they shared the same unscrupulous view that allegiance to any particular person or party or ideal was to be avoided. They would support either liberal or conservative causes according to what would best serve their own selfish purposes. Had they found themselves on a sinking ship, they would have been the first pair of rats to abandon it, and stolen the best lifeboat in the bargain.

Finally the pot of coffee had turned lukewarm, and Jack recalled other appointments he had scheduled for the day. “I’ve taken enough of your time,” he murmured, standing and smiling as Gemma remained on the chaise. He bent and kissed her outstretched hand, his lips connecting not with skin, but with a mass of jewels that flashed and clicked beneath his mouth.

They exchanged friendly grins, and Gemma asked with seeming idleness, “Shall Miss Briars be writing for you, then?”

“Yes, but I’ve taken a vow of chastity where she is concerned.”

“Very wise of you, darling.” Her voice carried a note of warm approval, but there was a glitter of merriment in her eyes. As if she were laughing at him inwardly. Jack was perturbed to recall that his manager, Oscar Fretwell, had looked at him with the same secretive amusement this very morning. What the devil did people find so damned funny about his dealings with Amanda Briars?

Chapter 6

To Amanda’s surprise, the contract from Jack Devlin was not brought to her house by an errand boy, but by Oscar Fretwell. The manager was as engaging as she had remembered, his turquoise eyes warm and friendly, his smile sincere. His polished good looks seemed to impress Sukey to no end, and Amanda had to suppress a grin as the little maid inspected him with brazen thoroughness. Amanda was certain that Sukey did not miss a detail, from the well-cut blond hair that shone like a new-minted gold coin, to the tips of his gleaming black shoes.

Sukey made a great show of bringing Fretwell to the parlor with the deference she might have accorded to visiting royalty.

At Amanda’s invitation, Fretwell sat in a nearby chair and reached into the brown leather satchel at his side. “Your contract,” he said, extracting a heavy sheaf of paper and giving it a triumphant rustle. “All it requires is your inspection and signature.” He smiled somewhat apologetically as Amanda received the thick stack with raised brows.

“I’ve never seen such a long contract,” she said wryly. “My lawyer’s doing, no doubt.”

“After your friend Mr. Talbot was finished with all the details and stipulations, it turned out to be an unusually thorough document.”

“I shall read it without delay. If all is well, I will sign and return it on the morrow.” She set it aside. She was surprised by her own feeling of anticipation, something she would not have expected to feel at the prospect of writing for a scoundrel like Jack Devlin.

“I am to give you a personal message from Mr. Devlin,” Fretwell said, his blue-green eyes glinting behind his highly polished spectacles. “He said for me to tell you that he is wounded by your lack of trust in him.”

Amanda laughed. “He is as trustworthy as a snake. In the matter of contracts, I would not leave a single detail open to question, or he would take certain advantage.”

“Oh, Miss Briars!” Fretwell seemed genuinely shocked. “If that is truly your impression of Mr. Devlin, I can assure you that you are mistaken! He is a very fine man…why, if you only knew…”