Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(22)
And he did need her to learn to trust him.
“Wait, I will escort you.” He did not bother to keep emotion from his tone. “I will require you to do as I say. And I want your promise on that. More of this foolishness could be dangerous. Do you promise?”
The mask hid her features so that all he could see was the neat moue of her mouth as she pretended to consider. He’d felt her agreement the moment he spoke the words.
“I promise, as long you treat me like a woman and not a child,” she answered.
“No. I want a straight promise that cannot be argued about later. Once we go through that door you do what I say, no matter what.”
“And if I say no?” Her body gave the most delicious little squirm. She did like to play with fire.
A dozen forms of punishment filled his mind—but no. “Then I will put you over my shoulder and deliver you to your brother, along with a full explanation of the events of this night. I know that he will not be pleased that I played along, but if Swanston heard you were trying to get into Madame Rouge’s I imagine you’d be locked in a tower for the next twenty years.”
She chuckled. “Do you really think that Swanston knows about Madame Rouge’s? I bet he thinks it’s a gentleman’s club too. I know he’s gotten better since he married Louisa, but I don’t think she’s been teaching him about brothels.”
—
Why was Duldon looking at her like that? He acted like he’d taken her statement seriously when everybody knew Louisa was a true lady, and ladies certainly didn’t go to either gentleman’s clubs or brothels. And Swanston had been even duller than she liked to pretend Duldon was before his marriage. He no more knew about Madame Rouge’s than he knew how to unlace a corset. She wouldn’t be surprised if her brother’s valet and Louisa’s lady’s maid helped tuck them into bed.
She forced herself back to the moment before her thoughts could stray. The situation might make her more uncomfortable than she would ever admit, but it was important that she stay focused. She was going to a brothel. Never would she have dared suggest a thing, at least not intentionally, but she wasn’t going to miss a chance like this. Tonight she could have all her questions answered, her curiosity satisfied.
She glanced down at Duldon’s wrist and became entranced by the golden hairs that snuck from his cuff. She’d never noticed them before. Her fingers ached to touch them. Could they possibly be as soft as they looked?
“I think you will just have to trust me, although I know you find that hard to do.” Duldon drew her full attention back to his face. “There are some things that all gentlemen know—and Madame Rouge’s is one of those things. I daresay you could ask schoolboys and grandfathers and they all would know,” Duldon answered after a moment.
She wasn’t going to give in that easily. “I am still not sure I think that is true.”
“You are just being argumentative—and for no reason. Either you promise me or I carry you to your brother. And regardless of what he knows about Madame Rouge’s, you know he will not be pleased with any of this. I should add that should you fail to keep your promise I will lay you over my knee and you will not walk for a week. If you act like a child, I will treat you like one. Now, do you promise?”
“I promise.” She said it softly, her mind filled with the image of lying across Duldon’s lap and finding it not as distasteful as she would have imagined. She could almost feel his hard thighs pressed into the softness of her belly. The thought was enough to make her light-headed. Shaking her head, as much to clear it as to express her thoughts, she answered, “Let’s go. No more of these delaying tactics.”
Even as his boots began to tread toward the red door, she thought she heard a low sigh, but he did not speak. Mounting the few steps to the door, he held out his hand. “Do not speak, not to anyone, and keep your head low. You will follow me and do as I say. Do you understand?”
She nodded and gave a hushed yes as he rapped once upon the red door. It sprung open instantly.
For the first time she fully admitted the nerves that churned in her belly. She was actually going to do this. In that moment if she could have turned and run she would have. She, Lady Bliss Danser, was about to enter a brothel.
“Good evening, Lord Duldon,” the elderly porter said as he stepped back, allowing them to enter. “May I take your hat and…your companion’s cloak?” He glanced at Bliss, but quickly turned his gaze away.
“Simms, you may take my hat. I believe my companion will keep the cloak, for now. And I need to speak to Ruby. I have a request to make.”
“Of course, my lord. Madame Rouge is occupied at the moment. There was a slight incident in one of the upstairs rooms. If I may escort you to the parlor, I will have refreshment sent in.”
Duldon nodded his acceptance of this plan and the porter, taking Duldon’s hat, opened a door to the chamber beyond and then slipped away. Placing a hand on her waist, Duldon directed her into the room, just as a group of young gentlemen entered through the door, their laughter raucous and loud—and perhaps familiar. Bliss ducked her head as she sensed one of them staring at her, his long gloved fingers lifting his hat from his head. Trying to hide, Bliss quickly followed Duldon, glad she had not seen more and that they could not identify her.