A Lady To Redeem A Rakish Lord (Historical Regency Romance)

by Lucinda Nelson

Berangere shrugged. “Where did you see them again?”

  “I met them both trying to steal silverware from a Merchant I know quite well. I had just gone to buy some jewelries and I saw these two sneaking around his shop. I caught Emma first. She was the one on the lookout while Lucy was the one trying to steal. Pierre, my Merchant friend, wanted to punish them, but I asked him to let me go with them. I knew they were going to be useful for me in the future. So, I brought them in.”

  “What were they going to do with the silverware?” asked Berangere.

  Madame Brisbois shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. Lucy said they wanted to sell it and get some food.”

  “But you seem to have trusted Lucy enough to allow her to wander around as she likes. What about Emma?”

  Madame Brisbois shook her head. “That girl had tried to escape many times. I think she’s planning to go back home.”

  Berangere tilted her head with a frown. “So, where do you think she came from?”

  “I think London, or Spain. I am uncertain but sooner or later, I am going to unravel that. I plan to keep her locked up for a while. She is not to attend to any man for now. If anyone will be used at all out of the two, it will be Lucy. However, for now, I would appreciate it if you could go back to where you are needed. I have told you all that you needed to know.”

  Berangere sighed and stood up. Madame Brisbois watched as she walked to the men who were happy to see her again.

  After this, Madame Brisbois sat at the table and was lost in thought. She needed more girls for her business, but she would need to wait for about a day or two before including Emma and Lucy.

  However, she had only brought them here for one reason, for them to see how their lives would turn out in the next couple of days. Also, she knew they might want to do something stupid, like trying to escape, just like they had once done but she had been too smart for them.

  She had collected writing materials from them and thrown them away, after which she locked them up separately. She was certain that they would not dare do that again.

  Chapter 3

  Julian Winthitorpe, the Duke of Havenwood

  Julian closed his eyes to inhale the cold French air. He and his friend had gotten to the estates about two hours ago and he was being shown around Paris.

  “Paris is indeed beautiful,” he said as he opened his eyes. “William, I cannot thank you enough for bringing me here.”

  William smiled. He was sitting next to him in the carriage. “I would not want to have this trip alone. It has been years since I last visited my father’s property here in Paris,” he replied. “Having you here would make things more interesting.”

  “You have no idea how much relief it brings me, knowing that I am far from the daily marriage discussions,” replied Julian. “It is a torture.”

  William smiled. “No matter how much you evade the topic, my friend, you will still have to settle down and get married soon.”

  Julian shrugged, he wasn’t disputing that fact. “The only difference it will make will be that by that time, I would be ready to settle down,” he replied.

  William smiled. “Well, you are right.”

  “You are lucky, that you do not have a mother like me,” said Julian.

  William smiled. “But you know my mother has always bothered me in regards to marriage. She has only grown quiet for some time now because of my brother’s marriage. Once the excitement goes down, believe me I will be in your shoes faster than you think.”

  Julian smiled. They had gotten to Paris in the late afternoon and now darkness was fast approaching.

  “It is getting dark and I do not wish to go home yet. Pray tell me what you do for an enjoyable night here in Paris.”

  William looked at him. “We go to the gambling hell where you get to drink absinthe for as long as you want. You get to gamble your inheritances away and sleep with any lady or ladies of your choice.”

  When Julian heard this, his eyes lit up. Back in London, he was a morally upright man, but here in Paris, all that was going to change.

  “Well, then,” he said, “what are we waiting for?”

  * * *

  Miss Lucy Howard

  She shifted uncontrollably in her seat while Emma paced to and fro. Madame Brisbois had brought them with her back to the gambling hell without any explanation as to why they were there.

  The worst part of it was that, they had yet to see both Berangere and Amy, and they had been in the room for about two hours without being attended to.

  “I think she has brought us here to start our work,” Emma said restlessly. “I cannot do this, Lucy. We are supposed to be planning our escape!”

  “Quiet, Emma!” Lucy said to her. “I am trying to think. Besides, if we must escape, I told you that we need money. So, for whatever reason Madame Brisbois had brought us in for, we must go along with it.”

  Emma stopped when she heard this and faced Lucy. “Are you saying you are going to sleep with a man, to get the money we need?”

  Lucy nodded. “Yes, and that means I get to do this so you wouldn’t have to. Once Madame Brisbois is around, I will let her know that you are feeling sick.”

  Emma was surprised and couldn’t utter a word. “Oh my goodness, Lucy,” she whimpered. “You want to sacrifice yourself for both of us? How can I thank you enough?”

  As they spoke, Madame Brisbois entered and she looked surprised.

  “What are you two doing? Why aren’t you dressed?”

  Lucy frowned. “You never asked us to dress up, Mama. We thought were are simply here to observe.”

  “No, no,” replied the woman. “No more observation. Berangere and Amy are not here because Amy was stupid enough to get herself pregnant and Berangere had to tend to her. This is not going to get in line of my work. I need you out there.”

  “I’m afraid, Mama,” started Lucy. “…that Emma is boiling up and she feels terribly sick. I don’t mind doing what I have to do. Once she gets better, she can begin, but you don’t want her puking all over your visitors do you?”

  Madame Brisbois looked at Emma with deep regret visible on her face. “Emma is not meant to leave this place yet anyway. She can stay but she will be locked up as always.” Then she faced Lucy. “You are such a brave young lady,” she said. “Now sit. I shall dress you up myself once I get back.”

  Lucy watched as the woman left before facing Emma. “She’s locking you up again, why?”

  Emma shrugged. “I have no idea,” she replied. “She once asked me two nights ago about where I come from and I told her the same thing I have always told her. I don’t think she is convinced.”

  Lucy sighed. “More reason why we need to be careful.”

  * * *

  Julian Winthitorpe, the Duke of Havenwood

  Julian slammed the bottom of the empty bottle against the table and belched noisily on purpose at Williams, who was laughing excitedly opposite him.

  “You are a pig, Julian Winthitorpe,” said his friend.

  Julian laughed. He was really having fun more than he had expected.

  “It has been a while since I had so much fun,” he said, leaning back on his seat. “Why did it take me so long to come with you to France?” he asked and William shrugged. “All those times you often came to France, inviting me and I was always busy, I never knew how much I was missing out.”

  William smiled. “Now you know. I always come here anytime I feel like I need to run away from family pressure and business demands in London.”

  Julian nodded. “This is really good,” he said and was about to say one more thing when out of the corner of his eyes, he caught a lady in a long blue gown. Her beautiful long jet black hair had a middle parting and reached to her waist.

  Attached to a side of her hair, was a red ribbon which seemed to make her eyes pop. She was not beautiful in a conventional way. To Julian, she was simply haunting. She looked purely innocent as she followed the fat woman around.

  “Who is she?” Julian aske
d his friend who he realized was also watching her.

  “She must be new,” said William. “For I have never seen her before.”

  “Is she one of the harlots that work here?”

  William nodded. “Apparently.”

  “What do I need to do to get her?”

  William smiled. “Well, you better get in line,” he said, pointing towards the men in the room. As a matter of fact, all the men in the room seemed to be watching her and as Julian could deduce, it was making the girl uncomfortable.

  “William, get me that lady. I don’t mind what it will cost.”

  His friend smiled and stood up. “Lucky for you, I am in the good graces of Madame Brisbois,” he said. “I shall be right back.”

  Julian waited impatiently and watched as William walked to the fat woman who seemed excited to see him. He whispered something into her ear and then pointed towards Julian. All this while, the girl was seated oblivious to all that was going on.

  Finally, the woman nodded and then William came back to meet Julian.

  “Well, what did she say?” Julian asked.

  “Just as I thought. She said she would cost a lot but I told her she could trust me. I shall pay as a welcoming gift to Paris. The lady will be waiting for you in the room which a waiter will soon take you to.”

  Julian smiled. “Thank you so much, William,” he said.

  “You are welcome, I am just excited that you are at least a bit interested in a woman.”

  Julian laughed. “What did you take me for, a fag?”

  “My Lord,” said a voice behind them.

  Both Julian and William turned around and behind them stood a man in a uniform. “Please come with me. Your room awaits you.”

  * * *

  Miss Lucy Howard

  Lucy waited in the room nervously. Her heart was beating fast and her nerves were beginning to fail her. How would her first time be like? She had heard that first times were always painful, but how painful would it be?

  She sat down on a chair close to the bed but then she stood up, beginning to pace. The man had yet to come in to the room. For what it was worth, she hoped he would be at least better-looking than all the men she had been seeing in the gambling hell.

  She had seen several, fat, old, charcoal-painted teeth, thin and rough looking men. She knew her luck would fall on one of these.

  Madame Brisbois had given her no clue in regards to what should be expected. She was only told to follow a waiter and the waiter had led her to that room.

  She went back to the seat and sat. What exactly was she supposed to do when he comes in? Would she need to say a ‘hello’ or start unbuttoning her dress? She inhaled and rubbed her sweaty palms.

  Just then she heard movements just in front of the door and she felt her heart seize. The movement continued for a while and then finally the door was opened and a man stepped in. On seeing him, Lucy found herself relaxing a bit for he was far better than she had imagined. Far better.

  He wasn’t just handsome, he was compelling. His eyes were hazel with a bit of green attached to a face that was too chiseled to be called a classically handsome. He was lean but taller than any man she had ever seen before, and his hair which was chestnut brown was packed at the back.

  They stared at each other for a while before she got her senses back and did the only thing she could think of, she curtsied.

  * * *

  Julian Winthitorpe, the Duke of Havenwood

  He was surprised seeing her curtsy and he removed his hat.

  “Please, have a seat,” he said to her and she did. For a while things were awkward between them but he hung his hat and moved towards the bed. He had only climbed on the bed when the lady stood up and walked towards him.

  He kept on studying her as she sat next to him, all the while she was looking at the floor, unable to meet his gaze.

  He didn’t know what he was supposed to do as it was his first time but he could understand that he needed to get his shirt removed first. So he began to unbutton his shirt.

  “Allow me,” said the lady, turning towards him and with shaky fingers began to pull at the buttons of his coat. Without thinking, he held her hands and could feel how shaky they actually were. She kept her gaze down. “I apologize, my lord,” she said. “It is my first time.”

  When he heard this, he smiled. He was also nervous and didn’t think to correct her about his title. “You need not be afraid. It is my first time too,” he said and this time, she looked at him. Her eyes were the bluest pair of eyes he had ever seen, they glinted with a hue of silvery pattern and an overwhelming sadness.

  “I must ask you. Why do you look so sad? Do you not want to do this?” he asked, unable to stop himself.

  The lady looked down and a tear dropped. He couldn’t understand what was happening but he leaned back. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

  “I do not wish to be here, my lord. I am not a harlot, but I am here because I need the money. So you don’t have to be sorry for me. I will do what is expected of me so as to get the money I need,” she said. Saying this, she stood up and began to loosen the hooks of her gown.

  “Please stop,” said Julian, standing up and walking up to her while buttoning up his coat. “You don’t have to do this.”

  “But I have to, I am sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable…I…”

  “No,” he insisted, smiling. “We can talk through the night if you do not mind. I could use the company and you can tell me everything that is troubling you. I promise you, I will make it worth your while.”

  * * *

  Miss Lucy Howard

  She couldn’t believe her ears when she heard this. What kind of a man was this? No man has ever been this nice to her. Not even Mr. Brisbois who had tried to sleep with her on the first day Madame Brisbois brought her home. He had said he wanted to ‘test the product’ first. Of course, Madame Brisbois had interrupted his advances and they went into a huge fight that night.

  “Thank you so much,” she said.

  “Now, why don’t you sit and tell me all about you?” he said as he sat on the bed. “First, tell me your name.”

  “Lucy,” she said, smiling shyly. “Born in Livianna, in France,” she said, unwilling to disclose private information to him. “I never knew my parents and grew up being tossed from one place to another until I ended up here, under Madame Brisbois’s care. Now, she expects me to work here to pay her back for having taken care of me all these years.”

  “I am indeed sorry for all your travails, Lucy. For what it’s worth, I have had a bad share of life as well.”

  “You, my lord? What could possibly trouble you?”

  He smiled. “You honestly think that the rich have everything working out for them?”

  Lucy nodded. “Yes, I think so, My Lord. When there is money, I believe there is a solution to everything.

  Chapter 4

  Julian Winthitorpe, the Duke of Havenwood

  When he heard this, he burst into laughter and she did the same.

  “How far away you are from the truth,” he said.

  “So, what trouble could you possibly be facing, My Lord?” she asked. He could see she was beginning to relax in his presence. Calling him by his proper name didn’t seem like a big issue for him.

  “Family, marriage issues, past memory and guilt. How about that?”

  She thought for a while. “Well, family issue. Marriage issues… You do not wish to marry?”

  “No, not yet but mother is always ringing it into my ears and, I am tired of hearing it. I had to come to France with my friend to have some time off.”

  She frowned. “But why don’t you want to get married?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe because I haven’t yet found the one,” he teased and winked at her.

  Lucy laughed. He loved the way she laughed, it made her eyes sparkle. “So you believe in the one?”

  He shook his head. “Not really,” said he. “That was just a joke. Actually, becau
se of something terrible I did in the past, I do not wish to marry now.”

  She frowned. “What terrible thing could you have possibly done, My Lord? You do not look like a bad person to me.”

  He sighed. “Trust me; I am a bad person. I did something while I was younger and it led to something worse which I have to carry around for the rest of my life. Mother acts like everything is settled. She wouldn’t talk about it and has resorted into pushing me into marriage. She thinks that when I am married, my grandchildren shall serve as a solace for her. I shall be happy but I do not feel like I deserve to be happy.”

  Lucy was looked at him with all curiosity. “But, what did you do? Did you tell your parents? I am certain that they will forgive you.”