Revealing Ruby (Bound and Determined #1.5)(29)

“I am leaving for Manchester today. I am not sure how long I will be gone.” He turned his head to stare at the door as if imagining himself already on the way. There was a tenseness about his shoulders that had not been there these past hours. Clearly whatever he was thinking—she could only pray it was not about her—was not pleasant.

“Will I see you when you return, before you sail away?” She could only hope she did not sound pathetic, needy. She was only curious. Lives needed to be planned and knowing if he would return would help her plan, that was all.

He hesitated, and then his voice sounded with a strange hope. “I could delay my departure one more day. It would give me time to deal with Thompson.”

Tonight. She could see him tonight. “I imagine that if you were to need to stay in London one more night you might wish to sleep again in such a fine bed. There is not another one like it to be found.”

She could see him consider, but then his face grew stern and he spoke as if to convince himself. “No, I really must not delay the tasks before me—and I can make no decisions about my return until my obligations are fulfilled.” He did not look happy, but he did look decided. There would be no changing his mind.

Reclining back upon the pillows, Ruby stretched, easing the knots out of her muscles. She refused to show her disappointment. “I will not expect you then. Do you have any idea when you will return?”

“No.” His voice was brusque. “My obligations could take some time—and even after they are finished I do not know if I will be free to return.” He looked down at his boots instead of at her.

“I will simply say goodbye then,” she answered, keeping her voice flat.

With a curt nod, Derek walked through the door and away from her.

He did not look back.

—

Ruby did not smile as she lifted the heavy wig. Placing it on her head, she arranged it with care, tucking each blond curl out of sight. Kohl already lined her eyes and her cheeks and lips were stained with vermillion. Madame Rouge had returned.

The gown this evening was black satin with a high sheen. White lace and red piping edged the neckline, framing her well-powdered bosom. There was no mistaking who she was tonight—at least not for the next few hours.

Twirling before the mirror, she spun like a young girl in a field of butterflies. She refused to allow her disappointment to mar her day. She had taken a night for herself and she would not regret it. No man would ever make her cry, not again.

Jerking to a halt, she stopped and stared into the mirror. The woman before her was almost proper, but would never actually cross that line, never be mistaken for a true lady, not even a wealthy widow in search of a little fun.

No, there was no mistaking who she was, what she was.

Madame Rouge, owner of the best and most discreet house in London.

And she was happy. She liked her life. She enjoyed the freedom that it offered her.

Was it everything she had dreamed of as a girl?

No, but what was?

Picking up her sapphire ear bobs, she threaded them though her ears, remembering how her mother had looked in them, remembering her mother’s happiness when she put them on.

She was Madame Rouge and she had a business to run, a life to lead.

If her stern captain returned she would welcome him, but if he did not, she would still go on, would still be Madame Rouge, be Ruby, be Emma. She refused to be unhappy. Yes, she did.

She was who she had made herself and that was more than enough.

If only Emma did not look out of the mirror through shadowed eyes, wanting more, hoping for more. Emma still dreamed of a home of her own, a man of her own, a man who she feared would look remarkably like Derek in all her futures dreams.

She closed her eyes one more time. Emma could have her hopes and dreams, but Ruby could not, and it was Ruby she needed to be to survive.

Without the slightest quiver of lips, Madame Rouge straightened her shoulders and walked out to greet her guests.

—

Derek slowed his horse to a walk, his thoughts on the woman he was leaving behind. It had only been one night. He could not miss her after only one night.

And yet he did.

What would happen if he turned the horse about and galloped back to London, abandoning the accompanying carriage and all his goods? What would happen if he abandoned his promises in return for the pleasure of a woman’s body and the secrets of her eyes?

The temptation was great, so great. He’d made his decision this morning but now doubt and hope returned.

When he’d been that foolish lad running from home and responsibility he would have turned in an instant and grabbed what he wanted, but now he was a man.

Still…

Would it matter if he put off the trip a week, or two?

Surely if he spent a week with Ruby, a week with Emma, he’d be ready to move on, to take up the responsibilities that awaited him, be ready to do the right thing.

He pulled his horse to a stop and considered.

There really was only one choice. There had always been only one choice.

A long sigh. And then he spurred his horse forward toward his future, his destiny.





BY LAVINIA KENT


Bound by Bliss

Revealing Ruby

Mastering the Marquess





About the Author


LAVINIA KENT is a former two-term president of the Washington Romance Writers and a four-time Romance Writers of America Golden Heart nominee. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her family and an ever-changing menagerie of pets.