Then Came You (The Gamblers #1)(85)

Lily’s smile vanished. “No.”

“What do you expect ow ’im when ’e finds out you ’as a bastard daughter?”

She lowered her head. “I expect he’ll seek an annulment or divorce. I wouldn’t blame him for hating me when he discovers how I’ve deceived him. Derek, don’t be angry. I know it seems a foolish thing for me to have done, but really it makes sense—”

“I’m not angry.”

“With Alex’s wealth, I’ll be able to bargain with Giuseppe—” She gasped with surprise as Derek moved suddenly, scooping up a handful of coins and scattering them at her feet. Frozen amid the gleaming puddle of coins, she stared at him with wide eyes.

“You didn’t do it for that,” he said, his voice gentle and cool. “It wasn’t for money. Tell me the truf, gypsy—it’s all we’ve ewer ’ad, you an’ me.”

“The truth is that I want my daughter back,” she said defensively. “That’s the only reason I married him.”

He raised an unsteady hand and pointed to the door. “If you wants to lie to me, then leave my club.”

Lily looked down at her feet and swallowed hard. “All right,” she mumbled. “I’ll admit it. I care for him. Is that what you want me to say?”

Derek nodded, seeming to calm down. “Yes.”

“He’s good for me,” Lily continued with difficulty, twisting her hands together. “I didn’t believe someone like him could exist, a man without a trace of malice or dishonor. He says he doesn’t want to change me. When I’m with him, there are moments when I know what it’s like to be happy. I’ve never known such a feeling before. Is it wrong to want that, even for a little while?”

“No,” he said softly.

“You and I can still be friends, can’t we?”

He nodded. Lily sighed and smiled in relief.

Derek’s face was strangely blank. “I ’as to say somefing. You—” He stopped and made a careful effort to speak in the way that pleased her. “You needs—need—a man like Raiford, and you’ll be a bloody fool if you loses him. The life you’ve been at would of brought you low gypsy. It was making you hard. He’ll keep you respectable, and take care of you. Don’t tell him about your bastard babe. There may be no need.”

“He’ll have to know eventually, when I find Nicole.”

“You may newer—never—find her.”

Anger flared in her eyes. “Yes, I will. Don’t be petty and horrid, Derek, just because I’ve done something that’s displeased you.”

“It’s been two years.” The quiet urgency of his voice unnerved her more than mockery would have. “Not me or your bloody Learie man ’as been able to find her, and I’ve had my people look in ewery flash-house and gin shop, question ewery fence in Fleet Market and Covent Garden…” He paused as he saw the color drain from her face, and then he continued resolutely. “I’ve had them look in prisons, inn yards, workhouses, at the docks…she was dead or sold away from London, gypsy, a long time ago. Or…” His jaw tensed. “It’s too late to save ’er from what she’s become. I know what they do to chiwdren, things they make them do…I know, gypsy, because…some ow it was done to me. You’d rather ’ave ’er dead.” The cold green of his eyes seemed to glitter with the remnant of some long-ago torment.

“Why are you doing this?” Lily asked hoarsely. “Why are you saying this to me?”

“You deserves a fair chance wi’ Raiford. You ’as to leave your past behind, or it will bring the future tumbling down around you.”

“You’re wrong,” she said in a thin, shivering voice. “Nicole is still alive. She’s somewhere in the city. Don’t you think I would know if she were dead? I would feel it, something inside would tell me…you’re wrong!”

“Gypsy—”

“I won’t discuss it anymore. Not another word, Derek, or our friendship is over for good. I’m going to get my daughter back, and someday I’ll watch in pleasure as you eat your words. Now, I’d like to borrow a horse from you, just for an hour or two.”

“You’re going to give that Italian bastard the five thousand,” Derek said grimly. “I should follow you an’ kill ’im.”

“No. You know that if anything happens to him, my only chance of finding Nicole will be gone.”

He nodded with a sullen scowl. “Worvy will arrange for the horse. An’ after this, I ’ope to God Raiford can find a way to keep you ’ome at nights.”

Lily reached the meeting place at twilight. A light rain had begun to fall, temporarily washing away the smell of garbage, rotten food, and manure that always permeated Covent Garden. She was surprised to see that Giuseppe was already there. Approaching Giuseppe slowly, she noticed that his usual cocksure manner was absent. There was an edginess to his posture. The dark, well-cut clothes he wore seemed shabby. She wondered why, with all the money she had given him, he had not invested in new garments. As he saw her, his swarthy face turned eager.

“Hai il denaro?”

“Sì, l’ho,” Lily answered, but instead of placing the satchel in his outstretched hands she held it to her midriff, her arms wrapped around it.