Revealing Ruby (Bound and Determined #1.5)(10)

“You bitch.” The words were not screamed, but were spoken with such raw anger that Ruby felt the shiver run down her spine as they rolled down the hall.

Geoffrey, the Marquess of Swanston. That was unusual. She’d never seen him lose his control. Didn’t know it was possible.

“Is there a problem?” she asked, stopping halfway down the hall.

“Tell that bloody woman I never want to see her again. And if you had any sense you’d keep her from your house.” He started to walk past her, all dark cloth and masculine swagger, a riding crop tapping against the top of his boots.

“You need to tell me more than that if you want me to help.” This was not what she needed right now.

Geoffrey stopped and turned to her, his dark eyes flashing. “The Countess has a girl in there. I doubt she’s fourteen.” He nodded at the door he’d just slammed. “She seems to think I’d take pleasure in punishing an unwilling child. She is clearly mad.”

Before he could say more the door opened and a tall, black-haired woman exited, her mouth a slash of crimson. She stared at Ruby a moment, and then discounted her, her eyes moving to Geoffrey. She stepped from the room, letting her robe fall open, revealing that she wore nothing beneath it. Old welts marked her thighs. “Come back, Geoffrey. It’s just a game.”

Ah, Lady Ormande, the Countess. Yes, that explained much.

“Not a game I care to play,” Geoffrey answered, turning away again.

“Come now. It’s not so different than the games we’ve played before,” the Countess answered. “I just thought it would be delightful to add something extra to the fun.”

“No. And we are done.”

“If you don’t like her I’ll find someone else,” the Countess tried again, stepping forward, her body sensuous and serpentine.

Geoffrey stared at her coldly. “I’ve told you. I like to play one-on-one.”

“But…”

“I mean it. I am done.” Geoffrey turned to Ruby. “Forgive the disturbance, Madame Rouge. You can send the bills for tonight to my man. After this I will never pay for her messes again.” He nodded to the Countess. “And please be sure that poor girl is well paid and taken care of. This was never what I wanted.” He strode down the stairs, boot heels clicking.

Ruby held in the sigh. One more thing to deal with this evening. She turned to the Countess. “Is what he says true?”

The Countess tightened her lips. “Of course not. It is all a misunderstanding. She merely looks young and is a better actress than I credited. I never thought he’d believe her performance.”

“I will need to talk to her. Tonight. You know there are things that are not allowed here. Not by anyone.”

The Countess looked about to argue.

Ruby felt Billy materialize behind her. The man had good instincts when it came to trouble.

The Countess took one look at him and stepped back. “I will send the girl out.”

Ruby considered. “I think Billy, here, can go in and wait with her until I am ready.” She turned to Billy. “You can send for Marie if the girl seems to need further help. I’ll come and talk to her as soon I finish with my business.”

“I tell you she’s fine. Just a little whore I picked up on the street,” the Countess protested.

Ruby wanted to slap her. She hated for one woman to have so little consideration for another. Men were bad enough. Instead, she pasted—and it took a lot of glue—her professional smile on. “I am sure everything will be fine, then, and we will have no further trouble. I do hate trouble.”

The Countess was not happy, her lips pressed even tighter—and then softened. She smiled, let the robe fall open until all of her charms, and they were quite substantial, were revealed. She leaned forward a little, running her long fingers over the welts that marked one thigh. Licking her lips, she fastened her eyes over Ruby’s left shoulder.

Ruby turned, already knowing what she’d see, sensing him. Captain Price.

He stood leaning against the door, hips cocked to the side, one foot resting against the other. And his eyes were on her, not the Countess. Now, wasn’t that a surprise?

“Do you need any help?” he asked. His voice a low growl.

“No. You are not waiting where you were supposed to,” she replied, turning from the Countess without another word.

“I am not good with idleness.”

“You should have asked if you wanted entertainment.”

“I did. You said no.” His eyes raked over her. One hand rose, brushing the air, and she felt as if it caressed her. Her nipples peaked and she could only hope that the heavy velvet hid them.

She tried to pull back her power. “Do you wish to have the discussion in the hall, where anyone can hear?”

“I’ve always preferred privacy.” The growl turned to a purr.

“Follow me.” She was not going to play this game. Take care of business and then he would leave.

Unless he asked for a girl. Her gut knotted at the thought. She might have joked about it a moment ago, but now she realized how shallow a jest it had been.

Still, if he asked, she would send someone. She just wouldn’t like it, but she’d done plenty of things in her life that she hadn’t liked.

The hallway turned and she led him past several closed doors and then up a small flight of stairs.