by Monica Burns
Tobias muttered something under his breath as they continued quickly along the back corridors of La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres. They were about to pass Angélique’s suite, when Jane halted abruptly.
“I can’t go home like this,” she said quietly and gestured toward her gown. “It’s not the gown I wore when I left the house. I’ll need my cloak as well.”
Tobias acknowledged her comment with a sharp nod and followed her into the suite. Bernadette emerged out of Angélique’s room and smiled. Jane quickly explained she had only come to change before leaving the club. The French seamstress eyed Tobias with appreciation, and Jane experienced a stark twinge of jealousy. Without another word, she hastily crossed the small, cozy salon and entered the dressing room Angélique had made available for her use. As she entered the room, she suddenly realized Tobias had followed her. Startled, she quickly backed away from him as he closed the door. As she met his unreadable gaze, he shrugged.
“I’ve served as a ladies’ maid on occasion.”
The idea that he’d helped other women dress made her heart twist with a jealousy that surpassed what she’d felt moments ago with Bernadette. When she didn’t say anything, Tobias arched his eyebrows, and her cheeks grew hot beneath his probing gaze. All too aware of his astute gaze, Jane turned away and began to undo the buttons of her gown.
Almost immediately, the heat of his body warmed hers, and he took over the task of undoing her gown. Jane fought to keep her breathing under control as Tobias’ fingers brushed across her skin. A moment later, she failed to suppress the shiver that streaked through her as Tobias slipped the gown off her shoulders and it fell to pool at her feet.
Eager to escape his close proximity, she quickly gathered up the gown from the floor and draped it over a nearby chair. Hurrying across the floor to the small wardrobe, she tugged her more sedate dress out of the tall chifforobe and threw it over her shoulders. Her hasty efforts resulted in her becoming entangled in the gown, and with an exasperated grunt, Tobias stepped forward to adjust the gown in a quick, efficient fashion. His fingers firmly grasped her shoulders and he spun her around to close up the back of her dress. Jane didn’t protest.
“You’ve not had a man dress you before, have you?” he muttered with irritation.
“No.” She shook her head as she suddenly realized how much she liked being cared for in this way. She knew he was still angry, but his wrath had softened considerably.
“There seem to be many firsts where you’re concerned, Jane.” There was an undefinable emotion in his voice tempered with pragmatism.
“And what precisely is that supposed to mean?” she exclaimed as she whirled to face him. His gaze unrepentant, Tobias shrugged.
“Are you going to deny I’m the first man you’ve ever chosen to serve you?” It wasn’t a question, it was quietly stated fact. Jane nibbled at her lower lip for a moment. Tobias watched her carefully, his gaze silently warning her as to the consequences of lying.
“No,” she said in a clipped tone. “But you’re not the first man to bed me either.”
Jane brushed past him in her effort to beat a hasty retreat, but Tobias caught her by the arm clearly intent on preventing her escape. She directed a withering look at him, and he immediately released his hold on her. Despite obeying her unspoken command, the scowl on his face remained.
“Whoever the bastard was who took your innocence, he was unworthy of you, Jane.”
His words made her breath catch in her throat. She looked into his eyes, and her stomach lurched with nausea as she saw something bordering on pity in his dark brown eyes. A cry of agony welled up inside her as she struggled with the fact he would never offer his heart to her.
“Barnaby might have been unworthy of me, but I’m the one who was too blind to see him for what he was.” Jane barely managed to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
“And your father has never let you forget that mistake, has he?” Tobias’ soft observation made her want to cry.
Jane simply shook her head as she bit back tears of anger and sadness. In an unexpected gesture, Tobias reached out to lightly stroke her cheek with his hand. Jane immediately shrank away from the gentle caress.
“I have no need of your pity, Tobias,” she said coldly.
“Pity is the last thing I would ever feel for you, Jane. You’re far too strong a woman to ever have need of such an emotion from me or anyone.” His dark eyes stared into hers until she turned her head away and nodded her understanding.
“Thank you.” She retrieved her cloak from the wardrobe and put her mask on again. “If you’re still insistent on seeing me home, then I’m ready.”
“I’m still insistent,” he murmured with a wry twist of his lips. With a slight bow, Tobias gestured toward the door with a small flourish of his hand.
Several moments later, Tobias assisted her into the hansom cab waiting for her then dropped his large frame into the small space next to her. The small confines of the vehicle made it impossible for Jane to put any real distance between them. His spicy scent filled her nostrils and it ignited a hunger deep inside her. That he could affect her so easily made her realize how terribly difficult life would be after they were married. Perhaps she should simply defy her father and refuse to marry Tobias. It was a short-lived thought. As his wife she would be able to see him from time to time. The thought of never seeing him again was too painful.
As the vehicle rolled out of the mews and onto the street, Jane fought hard to focus her attention anywhere but on the man beside her. It was an impossible task when everything about him tugged at her senses. Acutely aware of how his shoulder and thigh were pressing into her, Jane longed to let her hand slide out of her lap to rest on the hard leg, which had tangled with her own just a short time ago.
The vehicle moved quickly through the streets toward Culverstone House and Jane removed her mask. The crumpled silk domino settled in her lap, and as she stared at it, she knew she’d never wear it again. It represented winning Tobias’ surrender while losing all hope of capturing his heart. She released a soft sigh, and Tobias immediately bent his head toward hers.
“This Barnaby, did he force himself on you?”
The unexpected question caught her off guard, but it was the fierce, dark note of anger in Tobias’ voice that made her jerk her gaze toward him. The cab passed a lamppost, and the light revealed a glitter of emotion in Tobias’ eyes that made the anger she’d witnessed in him earlier pale in comparison. A shiver raced across her skin as she shook her head.
“No. I can’t accuse Barnaby of that,” she said quietly. “I gave myself to him freely, and I was well aware of the consequences in doing so. I simply wasn’t prepared to discover he was married, and that his sole purpose had been to seduce me and secure payment for his silence about out liaison.”
Tobias dragged in a harsh breath beside her and uttered an inaudible word before he reached for her hand. Gently, he curled his large hand around hers. The gesture was a comforting one and Jane closed her eyes to fight back tears. It had been a very long time since she’d cried over Barnaby or her father’s callous treatment. She refused to cry anymore. Jane pushed the past as far back into her mind as she could and looked up at Tobias.
“I know it’s hard for you to believe, but I am sorry for deceiving you,” she said quietly. “I truly meant to tell you when I entered the room tonight. But when I saw you waiting for me, all I could think about was how splendidly handsome and male you looked. You took my breath away.”
Although she knew she’d shared far too much, she wanted him to understand she’d meant to tell him, but had been caught up in the moment. Silence lingered between them for a long moment before Tobias squeezed her hand.
“I believe you, Jane.” There was an odd catch in his voice that made her think he’d meant to say something else, but had decided not to.
The hansom cab rolled up to the doorstep of Culverstone House, and Tobias leapt down from the vehicle then turned to help Jane ali
ght from the small cab. With a quiet order to the driver to wait, Tobias cupped his hand beneath her elbow and escorted Jane up the steps to the front door. Gently, he raised her hand to his lips and brushed his mouth across her fingertips. A tremor shook its way through her as her body responded to his caress with an intensity that made her heart skip a full beat. If he sensed her reaction, he didn’t acknowledge it.
“Sleep well, Jane,” he said quietly as Caldwell opened the door behind her. “I’ll speak with you soon.”
Without another word, he walked down the steps leaving Jane to stand there watching him depart with a feeling of hopelessness feeding her soul. It was as if he’d just said good-bye to her for the last time, and her heart released a silent cry of anguish. The sound of the horse’s hooves on cobblestone filled her ears as she crossed over the threshold of Culverstone House. Despite every instinct in her body telling her to run after him, Jane did just the opposite and allowed Tobias to ride off into the dark without her.
Chapter 14
Tobias sank down into the mahogany swivel chair behind his desk and stared at the note in his hand. It had been more than a week since he’d yielded to Jane. In that time, he’d managed to cry work as his excuse for avoiding her and all social engagements at Culverstone House. Now, thanks to Lady Hounslow’s meddling, he had their engagement party to attend. He studied Jane’s handwriting. It was soft and feminine, yet conveyed the same strength he’d seen her exhibit time and again.
He missed her even though he knew he shouldn’t. The woman had brought him to his knees, and he couldn’t afford to let her do it again. The rage he’d experienced the moment Jane had touched the darkest part of his soul had blinded him to everything around him. It had been the same way the night he’d fought Hopkins. He’d been out of control that night. The knowledge made him realize he could have easily hurt her. He could never allow that to ever happen again where Jane was concerned. Tobias closed his eyes as fear slashed at every inch of him.
With an explosive sound of fury, he cursed Culverstone for having blackmailed him into marrying Jane. In saving his own hide, he’d only managed to make things worse for himself. Mystère would still have captured his attention, but it would have been easier keeping his distance once he realized the danger he was in. He snorted with disgust at the ludicrous notion.
Once more, his gaze reviewed her message. The notecard contained no mention of their night at La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres or the fact that he’d not been to see her since then. She’d simply inquired as to his health and had shared the news that Irene had taken it upon herself to host a party to celebrate their engagement late next week. From the wording in her note, he could tell Jane was furious at her future stepmother’s interference. He released a breath of exasperation. He wasn’t happy about it either.
Tobias threw the card down onto the desktop cluttered with paper files. Irene had even managed to contact John and his childhood friends to invite them to the party. He’d be happy to see his friends, but he wished it were under different circumstances. It would be fairly easy to fool John and his friends that he was truly happy, all with the exception of Samuel. His best friend knew him well enough to sense there was something odd about his engagement to Jane. That meant questions he wasn’t eager to answer, and once Samuel got a bone in his mouth, the man worried it until he had the answer or results he wanted.
With a scowl, Tobias leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. Although he’d not been back to La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres since the night he’d bared his soul to Jane, he knew she hadn’t either. The morning after he’d left her at Culverstone House, Tobias had recruited young Charlie Atkin to follow Jane wherever she went.
With his warning for her to be alert to strangers and possible danger, she was apt to notice an adult following her. A child was less likely to arouse her suspicion. He’d tried hard to convince himself it was strictly to ensure her safety, but he knew that wasn’t entirely true. Tobias had come to dread Charlie’s daily reports on Jane’s activities. He had no idea what he would do if the lad were to tell him that Jane had visited the club.
The idea of her being in La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres without him aroused a possessive emotion in him that made him decidedly uneasy. It was bad enough he’d made her admit she was his and his alone just before they’d climaxed together the other night. His job was to serve her, not demand. It was his task to keep her safe. Tobias had known from the start he would have to protect her from the dangers of his job. It had never occurred to him to consider he could be a danger to her as well.
The pencil in his hand snapped in two as he remembered how easily he’d yielded to Jane. In a number of ways it had been a relief to share his secret with her. John and Samuel had heard his confession when he was still a boy, and they’d always reassured him his actions were those of self-defense. But confessing his sin to Jane in La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres had been a cathartic experience.
He didn’t remember much of those few moments when Jane pulled the darkness up into the light. But he’d not forgotten the rage that had consumed him. Only her strength had saved him from falling into the dark pit hiding in the deepest regions of his heart. Jane had not only heard his confession, she’d forced him to face his demons. Afterward she’d comforted him with a tenderness few women had ever shown him.
He could still feel the warmth of her sweet curves against his back as she’d warmed his cold body with her own heat. His body hardened as he remembered the way she’d given herself up into his care. In her arms, he’d found an exquisite pleasure that was unrivaled by anything he’d experienced before. The physical pleasure had only escalated his need for her with every stroke of his body into hers. But his hunger for her was nothing compared to the tenderness that had struck something deep in his heart. It scared the hell out of him.
The sharp tapping on the office door’s glass window abruptly jerked him out of his thoughts. The sight of Molly Hopkins peeking around the edge of the office door made him invite her in with a wave of his hand as he stood up to greet her.
“Molly, how are you?” he asked with a cautious smile of welcome.
The fact that he’d given her husband a sound beating recently made him a bit uncertain as to the reason for her visit. Tobias knew many women were incapable of seeing their abusers in a bad light. The fact that she was one of his best informants made him hope she had the good sense to know that her husband had been wrong to hit her. He’d hate to lose Molly from his employ. She and Charlie were his most reliable resources in his network of informants. As Molly smiled and moved deeper into the room, relief swept through him at her cheerful expression.
“I’m right enough, Mr. Tobias.” She beamed. “I don’t know what ye said to my Ned, but he’s been nuttin’ but a gent since the two of ye fought.”
“Good. If he hurts you again, you’re to come to me straight away. No man should ever hit a woman,” Tobias said with a firm conviction that made the woman nod in agreement. Satisfied she understood him, he nodded. “So, what brings you here today?”
“Well, I hear ye were asking a while back fer information about a Lord Hadley,” Molly said with a questioning look on her face.
“A couple of weeks ago, yes. Have you heard something you think might be useful?” Tobias folded his arms across his chest. Viscount Hadley had been one of the candidates on his initial short list of suspects for the person who’d betrayed him to Culverstone. He’d ruled the man out early on, leaving Viscount Ashcroft and a merchant by the name of Lionel Tewksbury as the only two names left on his list of traitors.
“Me cousin’s friend, Bessie, is a parlor maid in his Lordship’s house. Bessie told me cousin that Lord Hadley lost a great deal of money a month or two ago in one of those…spec…spec…” Molly frowned with obvious frustration.
“Speculative investments?”
“Yes, that’s it. Speculative investments.” Molly nodded enthusiastically. “Bessie said the man was plumb out of his mind with worry.
Talking about some earl he owed money to, who was threatening to ruin him.”
“Did Bessie say who this earl was?” Tobias asked with a frown of curiosity.
“Copperstone? No, that’s not right. Culperton?” Molly shook her head and frowned as Tobias went rigid with surprise. “Culverstone. Yes, that’s what she said. Culverstone.”
Satisfaction settled on Molly’s features as she remembered the earl’s name. In silence, Tobias absorbed the woman’s words. There was little logic in thinking Hadley had revealed Tobias’ connection to La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres to Culverstone.
The thought itself stretched credibility. He’d never met the man that he could recall. Although there was the fact that Tobias didn’t wear a mask in the club. Hadley could have easily recognized him on the street and pointed him out to Culverstone. That made no sense though. Hadley would have needed to confess his own association with La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres in order to implicate Tobias as a club member.
Tobias found it highly unlikely the man would willingly reveal something so personal to Culverstone. It was ridiculous even to consider that something might be made of the information. Nonetheless, every small piece of possible evidence warranted looking into.
The mere fact that Molly had mentioned Culverstone’s name was enough to arouse Tobias’ suspicions. Where there was smoke or blackmail there was Culverstone. His mouth tightened with anger at the memory of how he’d been forced to propose to Jane. God help him if she ever learned the truth.
With a frown, Tobias turned around and went to the tall, green safe in the far corner of his office. The tumblers spun softly inside the vault as he twisted the brass knob back and forth to enter the combination. At the soft click of the safe’s locking mechanism, Tobias pushed down on the handle to open the vault. He ignored the stacks of paper files stored in the tall safe and reached for the black metal box that contained a small amount of cash he kept available for paying his informants.