Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(59)

“Almost.” She tied the strings about the hair she’d tightly braided back, before pulling the hood of a deep cloak about her face. Her attire had clearly been more carefully considered than the breeches of the other night.

Although he didn’t think she’d ever fully realized how much they revealed as opposed to hid.

“There. How do I look?” she asked.

“You look like a dark green cloak.”

“Perfect.” She turned and walked across the street toward Madame Rouge’s. Her small mincing steps called her femininity as loudly as any ball gown or low-cut bodice.

He groaned. It would never be easy with Bliss.

And then he followed, as it seemed he always did these days. When had that happened?



Speeding his step, he reached the door before her and gave a single sharp rap.

The porter answered and swung the door wide. Ruby stood in the front hall, smiling at another patron who kept his face turned away, but made no other move to disguise his identity. Lord Aspen. A good fellow. Duldon had known him at school, although he’d been several years younger. Duldon hadn’t seen him since he’d gone to war a decade ago, before the man had inherited his father’s title.

Bliss stepped into the hall behind him, and before he could stop her shook her head, causing her hood to fall about her shoulders and unruly blond curls to sneak from the braids. She smiled at Ruby, her lips shiny and pink beneath the indigo of the mask.

Cursing inwardly, he too smiled greeting at Ruby. He should have cautioned Bliss not to drop the hood until they were in private.

Lord Aspen’s face had turned to Bliss and his eyes measured her, considering. His gaze swept up and down, clearly imagining that which could not be seen beneath the heavy cloak.

Duldon stepped to the side, placing himself firmly between Bliss and Aspen. The two men’s eyes locked and the message was sent. Aspen turned to Ruby and with a few murmured words and a last nod slipped from the hall and out into the night.

“Scaring away my patrons, are you, my lord?” Ruby’s voice was firm, but her lips curled up.

“I am sure the man was finished with his business or he would not have left so quickly.”

“You would be correct. But then you always are.” She gave an exaggerated sigh and turned to Bliss, her eyes even more measuring than Aspen’s had been. “I had everything prepared as you wished.”



“Good.” He placed an arm about Bliss’s shoulders and began to lead her up the stairs.

Ruby placed a palm upon his other arm. “Are you sure this is wise?”

What did wisdom have to do with any of this? “I am sure.”

“But…”

“Don’t you make a practice of never interfering unless in the most extreme of circumstances?” He turned and stared at Ruby.

She paled slightly, but stood firm. “I just think…”

He cut her off. “I know the way to the room.” Pushing slightly on Bliss’s shoulder he led her up the stairs to the hall.

They walked down the dark hall until they reached the third door. He opened it and peered in, checking that all was as he’d requested. Yes. Ruby might have decided to raise questions that were not desired, but she’d done her job to perfection, as always.

Swinging the door wide, he stepped in, directing Bliss to follow.

He heard her release a deep breath as she peered about the room. He doubted she’d breathe so easily if she could see inside the high wardrobes or through the connecting doors to the next chamber.

“It’s not the room we were in before,” she said, turning about.

This room was far simpler, three dark wood wardrobes against one wall, a deep fireplace already set, should the evening turn cold, and, of course, the bed. Huge and dark and high, with the simplest of white linens, it filled the center of the room. She walked toward it, trailing her hand over the tall wood posts, her fingers playing with the brass rings that stood out at intermittent intervals.



She pushed her index finger through one of the rings and pulled back, considering, but said nothing.

Stepping to the foot of the bed she fingered the thick, padded leather that made up the baseboard. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she remarked, leaning against its hip-height top.

She stepped back and turned to the wardrobes, reaching out as if to open one.

“No.”

She stopped, her body frozen at his command.

“No?” Indecision played across her lower face as she nibbled upon that lush lower lip.

He could see her own desires war against the power of his voice. “No.”

Her hand dropped.

“You may take off the mask.”

Her hands rose, but then halted. “But what if somebody peeks in?”

He was glad to see she had some protective instincts, even if they had failed in the front hall. “I have given strong instruction that we wish no watchers.”

“I know, but…”

“Ruby’s is known for its discretion and reliability.”

“But you said sometimes Ruby checks and watches herself.”

That was true and it was something that had never bothered him, nor any of his companions, in the past. However, he could understand Bliss’s reticence. He considered the room and what he knew of the architecture of the building, the fireplace was on an exterior wall and the door through which they had entered led to the common hall. The other door led to the adjoining room. That left the wall with wardrobes.