Revealing Ruby (Bound and Determined #1.5)
Lavinia Kent
Chapter One
Her feet ached. The dainty-heeled slippers might be fashionable, but even though she’d worn them only to walk about the house Ruby knew she had the beginnings of blisters on her stinging toes. Placing her cup of tea down, she eased herself onto the chaise longue and slid her feet from the shoes. Deep purple satin with tiny red heels, they really were quite pretty—but definitely not designed for walking. She kicked them beneath the chaise, wishing that they’d vanish. Unfortunately she had only about another two hours before her patrons began to arrive and then appearance became all.
Reaching up, she scratched her head beneath the heavy curls of the red wig. Even now, hours before she could expect to be seen, she kept it firmly in place. Madame Rouge must always be perfect. Nobody could ever know the truth about her. And if that meant shoes that pinched her toes and wigs that scratched her scalp then she would wear them and smile.
But not now—now was for her. A cup of tea. A romantic novel. A comfortable seat. And two hours that were all her own. It was these few minutes each day that reminded her life was good. And she needed that today. All morning she’d felt unsettled, wanting, needy—not at all like herself. Leaning back, she pulled her feet up and hid them under her skirts. The room was warm with the mid-June air, but even so her feet were cold. Her feet were always cold.
Picking up her tea, she blew across the top and then took a sip. One of her favorite things about summer was that the tea stayed hot. In January her tea was cold by the time she took her third sip and she hated cold tea.
It was perfect. This whole afternoon was going to be perfect.
Placing her porcelain cup back on its saucer, and picking up her spectacles, she admired the beautiful hand-painted roses that adorned the cup. Maybe she should take up painting. It might be relaxing—not that she needed relaxation in general, but at this moment she could use some settling. And she’d always appreciated beauty and fine things. How wonderful it would be to create them.
One more sip and then she’d take up her book. She tended to forget her tea once she started reading and a fine cup of tea was not to be squandered. Mmmm, that was good. Maybe she’d ring the maid and ask for some biscuits—no, that would be too indulgent. She’d just ordered a new evening gown and the tight fit was most unforgiving. It was far easier not to add the pounds than to take them off.
Picking up her book, she reclined back, wiggling her toes with pleasure.
“I want to talk with Madame Rouge. Now,” a loud masculine voice stated. With a sudden thrust the door to the front hall burst open and a man entered, a very large, very angry man.
“I tried to stop him, Madame,” a far more timid voice stated as her porter followed behind.
Blast. Mr. Simms was well able to deal with the gentleman callers who filled her house at night, gentlemen who expected their coats and hats taken, and their titles used correctly. Billy, her top footman—and a former pugilist—was supposed to deal with any rougher problems, but Billy wouldn’t be here until nine. She normally had no need of his services during the day.
Rising quickly from her seat, slipping her spectacles behind a cushion, she moved toward the men.
“Madame Rouge, I am most dissatisfied and I want recompense,” the large gentleman demanded. And, well, he wasn’t so much large, as tall and…
“It is fine, Mr. Simms. I will deal with Mr….” Ruby turned to focus on the man. She had a great memory for names. It was necessity in her business. Only…she couldn’t even think about names as she looked up at cold black eyes and stern features.
It was him, the man with the dragon. The man who’d left her feeling so unsettled and wanting. Her eyes swept down his body.
She could only hope that color was not rising to her cheeks. A madame was not supposed to blush, not at anything. But it was harder than she’d imagined to look a near stranger in the face calmly when last night you’d been staring at the dragon tattoo that swept down his belly and wrapped about his cock, a restless dragon that twitched and pounced with his every movement. And it had been a mighty fine cock too, large in proportion to his body—and given that he must stand close to six foot five that was saying quite something.
And the rest of him had been quite something too, large, muscled, glistening with sweat, body straining with desire. She swallowed as the image of him replayed in her mind.
Normally she only glanced through the peepholes for a moment to be sure that all was as it should be, that her girls were safe. It was a strict policy of the house that voyeurism was not allowed—unless a patron requested to be watched.
Last night, however, she’d failed at her own rules. One glance at that muscular ass and thrusting thighs, and she’d needed to see the front, and once she’d seen the front…
“It’s Captain, actually, Captain Price.” He spoke with the drawn-out syllables of an American.
She forced her eyes back to his face and pushed her memories away. “Captain Price, do forgive me,” Ruby answered. “I know that we spoke briefly last evening, but I am afraid I’ve been rather occupied.”
His eyes shot to her book and cup of tea. A look of disdain passed across his stern face. “Yes, I can see that you have been quite busy.”
“Appearances can be deceiving.” Even if they were not in this case, although she had been quite busy all morning. It was the day of the month when the local midwife checked all her girls and it was most exhausting making sure that nobody skipped their appointment, then dealing with any complications that occurred. She had more than earned time with her novel.