Carin poured them each a cup of tea and settled back in her chair, an uncomfortable feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.
“And how are things in America?” Shelia asked, sipping her tea. “Was your journey back terrible?”
Carin sat her cup down and tried to gather her thoughts. These were questions that she was not prepared to answer.
“Things are fine,” she replied. “And the trip wasn’t too bad. Long, but not overly unpleasant.”
“What ship did you come over on?” Shelia gave her an innocent look and Carin tried to quell her fear. This wasn’t going well.
“I don’t remember the name,” Carin said. “I was in shock, you know, from my father’s death.”
Shelia gave her a nod, her gaze saying that she didn’t believe the lie. “And how did your father and Lord Ellington meet? I deduce from your age that your father would be quite a bit older than Lord Ellington.”
Carin was prepared for that one, thanks to Tristan. “My father and Tristan went to the same school, if some years apart. They’d been friends for years.”
Shelia opened her mouth to speak and closed it quickly when the door opened.
“Miss Piper,” Temple said. “Lady Essex and Lady Thomas to see you.”
He opened the door wider and the two ladies stepped inside. Charlotte eyed Shelia warily and then smiled at Carin, who asked Temple to have more teacups delivered.
Carin had dodged the unpleasant questions, but she had to tell Tristan that Shelia McCoy was nosing around. Carin nodded as Charlotte and Layla sat down. She wondered about Shelia McCoy’s relationship with Tristan. Was she his mistress, thrown over when Carin had arrived on the scene? Or was she just a curious busybody?
Either way she could cause problems, this was a situation that could cause a great deal of trouble.
“I don’t understand why you received her!” Tristan’s voice boomed through the drawing room. Carin stood near the chairs, her hands on her hips.
“You didn’t say I couldn’t receive anyone,” she replied calmly. “That would make her suspicious, wouldn’t it? I’m sorry, but Miss Piper does not receive visitors.”
Tristan slammed his tall frame onto the couch. “She is already suspicious, or she wouldn’t have come.”
Carin remained standing, staring at Tristan. “Is she your mistress? I think I have a right to know.”
A bark of laughter broke the tension. “No, little thief, she is not. She is a woman looking for a husband who has set her sights on me and my fortune. I met her, in fact, the night I met you.”
Carin frowned. “Then why do you care what she thinks?”
“What if she is working for the man who hired your father? Or what if she knows about the keys and wants them back? Perhaps this has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with you.”
Carin hadn’t thought about that. Could Shelia McCoy be involved in her father’s death?
“How did you meet her?”
“Through Charlotte who is always trying to find me a wife,” Tristan said. “She met her through one woman or another. “We’ll discuss this little transgression later. Right now, I have new information for you. Come and sit next to me.”
She settled close to him, breathing deeply of his scent, which today was sandalwood with just a hint of vanilla. He smelled delicious, and she wanted to forgo the conversation and suck his cock as she had last night.
“The Duke of Rafferty did not hire your father,” he said. “Which means Lord Simon is our man.”
“How do you know this?” She pulled away from him and stared into his face. He looked resigned, as if he were delivering bad news. He took a lock of her hair in his fingers and gently twisted it.
“How did you find this out?” she asked.
“I made a little visit to the man of affairs today,” he said. “He informed me that Lord Simon hired him to go to Newgate and secure your father’s release.”
Carin raised her eyebrows. “He told you this of his own free will?”
Ellington grinned, “After a fact, so to speak.”
“You didn’t hurt him, did you?”
“Not physically, but I did threaten his business, and let him know I could ruin him.”
“You’re evil,” Carin said. “But what do we do now?”
“There will be no way to tie Simon to your father’s death. I’m so sorry.” Ellington’s words were soft, and he caressed Carin’s arm.
His words formed a hollow in her stomach. Tears formed in her eyes and fell down her cheeks. “Then he gets away with my father’s murder and gets to keep the spoils. Where is the fairness in that?”
“I didn’t say he wouldn’t be punished,” Tristan said. “He can be exposed for his thievery. He has obviously hired a second thief to take your father’s place, as the burglaries are continuing, and he has money for gambling. He will probably not serve any prison time, but his reputation will be ruined. He will be forced to leave London. But the plan may take a few weeks to execute. You must trust me.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she asked after a while. “My father is dead, in a mass grave, and this Lord Simon will be forced to leave London? What a shame.”
Carin turned to stare at the fireplace.
“Promise me, Carin, promise me you won’t go off and do something foolhardy.”
“All right, Tristan.” She prayed he didn’t notice she didn’t use the word promise.
“Very well, then it is time to discuss your decision to meet with Shelia McCoy. Tell me exactly how the meeting went.”
Carin stood, anger over what she’d just heard mingling with the unfairness of Tristan’s anger over her receiving guests.
“You never said I couldn’t receive guests. Should I have sent her away? What of Lady Essex and Lady Thomas? Would it look right if I received them and not Mrs. McCoy?”
“You’re right,” he said after a long pause. “Still, she could be a problem.” He paused for a moment. “Perhaps I need to talk with Charlotte.”
“You mean we need to,” she said. “Please don’t shut me out again. You said we would work out things together.”
“Well, go and change into a proper dress and we shall pay a call on Charlotte and her husband. I’ll send a card around to let her know we’ll be there soon.”
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Charlotte said the moment they came inside. She paced in front of the fireplace, and Carin noticed she didn’t offer them tea, although it was sitting on a tray.
“Charlotte, I told you to calm down.”
Carin looked to where Dalton sat in a chair. He looked at Tristan and Carin watched as he rolled his eyes.
“She’s a little agitated,” he said. “Shelia McCoy came over. I think she’s figured out the gig. She went to Mrs. Thompson’s shop for a dress fitting and was surprised to find out she had a new assistant. She immediately came over here and asked Charlotte if the old assistant looked like Carin, Tristan’s new ward.”
“It’s a disaster,” Charlotte said. “What happens when everyone finds out? We’ll be shunned.”
“No one will shun us,” Dalton said. “If anything, it will make our stock go up. People love a scandal, Charlotte. Now, I want you to sit down and relax. Your nervousness is not good for the baby.”
Charlotte obeyed, but Carin noticed she still worked her nails, pulling at them as if to rip them from her fingers.
“It’s simple,” Tristan said. “We’ll just have to tell people that Carin and I have realized we’re in love and plan to get married.”
Carin’s mouth dropped open. “What did you say?”
Tristan’s laugh filled the room. “Wear your best dress tonight, my little cat. You’re going to be the belle amongst society this evening.”
The theater was packed that night. Carin had chosen to wear a beautiful peach dress full of ribbons and flowing lace. She felt like a queen and everyone who greeted her did so with a smile
As she accepted every c
ongratulations and air kiss from the society ladies she had to remind herself this was just an act. Tristan hadn’t said he loved her. They were telling people this to cut Shelia off at the knees before she told everyone who Carin really was.
“Now, if she tries to spill the beans, she will look like a jilted lover,” he’d said in the carriage as they made their way back to his house.
“But you said you were never lovers.” Carin had hoped she didn’t sound jealous.
“We weren’t, but I will tell people we were,” he said.
Carin wasn’t sure she liked the idea of ruining the woman’s reputation. But she didn’t want Tristan hurt, either.
“We’ve gotten far off the mark here,” she said. “We need to get back to Lord Simon and figure out what he has to do with the four keys.”
“All in good time, my little cat,” he said. “I promised you we’ll make him pay, and we will.”
The evening was a whirlwind, and Carin was thankful it was almost over. The people of London would talk that she, a single woman, was still spending the night with no chaperone under Tristan’s roof. But he’d told her he was too old to care about that, and she shouldn’t either.
When the intermission came they stepped outside the box, Charlotte was there to pull her into a hug.
“I’m so happy for you and Tristan,” she whispered in her ear. “He is a wonderful man and the two of you will be very happy together.”
Carin smiled, but she whispered in Charlotte’s ear, “You know this is not real.”
“So, you say,” Charlotte whispered back. “But I know Tristan, and I think it is very real.”
Carin pulled back, and she was sure those around them could see the look of shock on her face.
Charlotte giggled and pulled Carin along as they headed for the necessary room.
“Come by the house tomorrow and we’ll discuss it,” Charlotte said.
Carin wanted to tell her she wanted to talk about it right now, but she knew this wasn’t the time, or the place. Why would Charlotte say something like that? She was one of the ones “in the know.” Did she know Tristan at all? Did she know he didn’t want a wife? Tristan said he’d met Shelia because Charlotte was always trying to find him a wife. So maybe she didn’t really know him, at least not as well as she thought she did.
“We really do need to talk,” Carin said.
“Oh wait, there is Lady Thomas,” Charlotte said. “Please wait here and I’ll be right back.”
Carin managed to say, “Wait,” but Charlotte melted into the crowd.
And then, suddenly, a voice at her ear erased all the wonderful feelings she’d had that night.
“Carin, could you help me please? I seem to have popped a button and you are so skilled at sewing.”
Shelia McCoy gave Carin a calculating stare.
“I beg your pardon?” Carin’s voice was shaky.
“Oh, don’t bother, Carin,” Shelia said. “You may have fooled everyone at the party the other night, but I know you’re nothing more than a seamstress, trying to use what’s between your thighs to better yourself.”
Shelia kept her voice low and Carin could feel her blood boiling with each word.
“But what will Lord Ellington say when he finds out the truth?”
Carin’s voice caught in her throat. She wanted to tell Shelia that Tristan knew everything, but that would not be a good thing to say.
“That’s what I thought. He might even have you arrested for trying to swindle him.”
Carin had heard enough. “My relationship with Tristan is none of your business,” Carin replied. “And I hate to tell you this, but he already knows who I am. So, talk to him. It won’t matter one way or the other.”
Shelia’s smile disappeared and then reappeared seconds later. “Maybe he doesn’t care but the other members of society will care. His reputation will be ruined. The great Lord Ellington taking a whore to his bed is one thing. Moving her into his house is something altogether different. Announcing he is marrying her is quite another.”
Carin blushed at being called a whore, but there was a large part of her that knew Shelia was right. Ellington’s reputation would be ruined.
“So, you see, Carin, the best thing for you to do is slip away and leave him alone to live his life as he was meant to. With me.”
Shelia looked over her shoulder at Lady Essex who was moving in their direction, a frown upon her face. “Do give my regards to Tristan.” Then she vanished into the crowd.
Chapter 11
I think that naked actor in the third act was a bit over the top, don’t you, my sweet cat burglar?”
Carin nodded. “I believe you’re right, Tristan.”
Ellington snorted. “Just as I suspected. You haven’t heard a word I’ve said since intermission. There was no naked actor.”
“What? Naked actor?” She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Tristan shook his head. “What’s wrong, little one?” He pulled her onto his lap and smiled. “You shouldn’t be so distracted, not just yet. I had a present delivered for you this afternoon. That should distract you. We’re going to have great fun with it tonight.”
His lips pressed against her neck and she shivered in response. How she loved him. Needed him. But could she stay and let him be ruined? He would hate her if she destroyed his place in society. No matter what he said, when his life was changed, he would blame her.
He took off her hat and she sat still as he pulled on the pins and her black tresses fell down her back.
“I love your hair,” he whispered, twisting strands around her fingers. “I wish you’d tell me what’s bothering you.”
Carin schooled her features and turned to look at him. “I’m just upset that we’re not at the house yet. You said you had a present for me.”
“I do,” he said. He kissed her, his lips caressing their way to her neck and over her shoulder. “But first I want you to give me one.”
Unease swept through her. “You know I have no money.”
“Gifts come in many forms,” he said. “This one is trust. I don’t feel as if I have your trust right now, though.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because you’re keeping something from me,” he said. Before she could respond he held up a finger. “I’m not going to ask you to tell me. But I would like to think you could trust me enough to explain what happened. You were all smiles, and then you were so withdrawn it was as if you weren’t there.”
“I have a lot on my mind,” she said, praying he didn’t push her further. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just that I’ve had to rely on myself for so long that its strange to have someone to talk to.”
“Get used to it,” he said, right before he gathered her in his arms and kissed her, harder than he’d ever done before. Her body quickened as he pushed his tongue into her mouth. She wanted to stay here forever, wrapped in his arms. It was as if no one else in the world existed. It was just the two of them. She felt safe, and warm, and absolutely protected.
But she didn’t open her mouth to tell him about Shelia McCoy’s threats, about how Carin could make Tristan an outcast amongst society.
“Tell me about my present,” she said in an effort to change the course of the conversation.
“I had it sent over from a doctor on Harley Street,” he said. “He stocks them and says they are for use in psychological studies. I say they are fun for sexual purposes.”
Still sitting on his lap, Carin shook her head ever so slightly. “I read newssheets and magazines. I don’t think I’ve ever…” Her words trailed off and her eyes widened. “Are you talking about, um, rectal dilators?”
“I am,” he said. “Some of my lady friends have told me it’s very pleasurable to have one inside her bottom while I fuck her.”
“What if I don’t like it?”
“Carin, you’re too afraid of things,” he said.
She wanted to tell him that she was, in more way
s than one. But she kept her mouth shut.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she said, even though she still wondered about this particular activity.
“I can read your body, and I will prepare you properly before we do it. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.”
Carin wasn’t so sure of that, but she’d already refused one of his activities when he’d brought out the flogger. He had changed things up that time, and she’d enjoyed what they’d done together. But you really couldn’t change something that involved an anal dilator. It was either inside you, or it was not.
“Are you going to follow my lead? Are you going to trust me?”
Carin looked out the window. She could see by the houses that they were drawing closer to Tristan’s house.
“Lead me,” she said softly, and then she turned to him. “I want to learn everything you have to teach me.”
Tears formed in Carin’s eyes. No matter what she said she knew she couldn’t stay. They hadn’t discovered the mystery of the keys, but they had found out who had been involved in her father’s death. Although Lord Simon wouldn’t be punished as she saw fit, he would face problems for what he had done, and that would have to be enough for her.
One more night with Tristan and then she would leave. When she was gone he would be able to marry and keep his place in society. But a nagging doubt lingered in her mind. He’d said many times that he didn’t want to marry. Could she stay on as his mistress? No, not after he’d told people they would be getting married. The thought made her blood run cold. If she left, people would think she’d deserted him. But he would get over that. Perhaps he would marry Shelia to make things look better for him.
Carin sniffled, but he didn’t seem to notice because he didn’t say anything. When they pulled up in front of the house.
“Pull yourself back to the carriage, Carin,” he said. “Maybe in the morning you will talk to me about whatever is bothering you. Until then my dick wants to come out and play, and he wants to play with you.”
His Disobedient Thief (Rakes of Mayfair Book 2) Page 13