Chapter Nine

“Rosamunde, come into my study.”

Her father’s command reached her with ease as she took slow steps across the first floor on her way to the sitting room. She pivoted and changed direction to his domain.

The door sat cracked, and even though he’d summoned her, she still knocked.

“Enter.”

The warmth from his fire immediately sank into her bones. It was warmer in here than in the sitting room.

No wonder he spends so much time in here.

One of the maids picked up a tray and with a small bob walked to the door and slipped out. Interesting how her cap sat wrong and the back of her dress was mussed.

Ignoring that, she focused on her father. He’d aged a lot since announcing she was basically being sold into marriage, but her heart had since hardened to the man she used to dote upon.

“Yes, Father?”

He waved her to a seat and she settled with ease, posture straight and ankles hooked. At least I can pretend to be the daughter he wants.

“You know you’re helping out the family with this marriage, and that’s your role.”

She blinked but didn’t speak. Watching Bryn and Falcon, she’d realized that both men utilized the tactic, that it got people to speak things they may not have wanted to admit.

“Your sisters, even though they are older, deserve one more Season.”

While I don’t deserve anything.

“I mean, you’ve had one and let’s face it, Rosamunde, you didn’t get any bites.”

Neither did they but I don’t hear you complaining about them.

He shifted in his chair, discomfort obvious. Again, she didn’t care. The man she’d called father was being so callous to her and her future to sell her off to a man she didn’t know and hadn’t met.

“It will be best for everyone. I know you and your mother butt heads,” a small patronizing smile turned up his lips, “so you getting out of the house and having one of your own will be good. And you’ll get to live in Italy. I know how much you want to travel.”

Words pounded at her lips but she sealed her mouth tighter, not wanting to let anything out. She would not break.

He waited. More shifting on his chair, the squeak filling the room. “Do you have anything to say?”

A single shake of her head.

“That’s all then.”

Willing her strength to remain, Rosamunde pushed up from the chair and made her way to the door.

“Little Bit?”

Tears burned her eyes at his childhood nickname for her. Refusing to let them fall, she turned back to face her father.

“This is for the best, you’ll see.”

And no longer could she keep it inside.

“Best for everyone in this house other than me. Don’t try to sugarcoat this, Father. You’re selling me. Harmony and Henrietta are older, have had multiple Seasons, and yet they’re all right to have another, while after having one, I’m being sold. We know why, because you couldn’t keep your hands off the help and got a maid with child, which was me. This is your way of appeasing your infidelity to your wife, by getting me out of sight and mind.”

He frowned, and in the past she would have stopped, not wanting to anger him. Now she didn’t care.

“Don’t pretend it’s anything other than that. I heard you two arguing about it, I’m well aware how much of a disappointment I am.”

She walked out, ignoring his cry for her to return. Brushing through the gathered siblings who doubtless had heard her and come to investigate, she headed for the door, barely slowing to swing on her cloak.

* * * *

Within an hour, she climbed from the rented hack that had brought her back down by the docks. She didn’t know if Keely was at the children’s home today, but maybe she could help out at the home.

The weather remained as nasty as it had been the first time she’d met Bryn. A small smile teased her lips as she thought about that meeting. Not that long ago, and yet it felt like a lifetime ago.

Lifting her skirts, she made her way through the accumulated snow and slush. A few people worked with shovels, making paths for people to walk with greater ease. Luckily for her the walkway to her destination had a well-worn path through it and she only slipped three times.

She knocked on the door and looked around her as the wind picked up once more. The door opened and she found herself facing a woman she didn’t recognize.

“Yes, miss?”

“I was wondering if Miss St. Martin was here today?”

Her expression softened a tiny bit. “Not yet. Are you here to help her?”

“Yes. I apologize, I thought we were to be here at this time.”

The woman smiled. “Come on in, honey. We don’t want a little thing like you getting cold or freezing.”

Little thing? She swallowed her snort, not wanting to be disrespectful.

“Thank you.”

“Please forgive the coolness in this part. We want their rooms to be warm.”

“It’s fine.”

Unlike many of the orphanages she was aware of, this one wasn’t filthy. At least not that she could see. Not that she had seen a lot, but she did try to help where and when she could.

“As you may or may not know, we have the girls learning domestic duties and the boys are learning trades. Of course, Lady Heartstone feels that it’s important for the boys to learn to cook and sew as well as for the girls to learn some of the trades.”

“It’s true. Some of these boys may not marry and it’s always smart to be able to fix some food yourself and fix clothing.”

She shook her head. “You sound a lot like Lady Heartstone. No wonder you are friends with her.”

“She’s one of my best friends.”

“You brought those two boys by before, right? Jacob and Ralph.”

Rosamunde’s heart turned over at their mention. With a nod, she tugged on her cloak. “How are they settling in?”

“Not bad considering they keep expecting the worst.” She opened a door and they stepped into…organized chaos.

The room was spacious, given the bodies and the fires in hearths on either side of the space. The area had been sectioned off and children were working on things in each place. Adults, men and women, oversaw it all.

“Generally we have the boys in one room and the girls in another but with the cold, it’s better to do this and have the heat in one place.”

Skimming the room, she couldn’t stop the smile that she got from seeing the boys she’d brought here off in a smaller group.

“Now, I’m not sure what education you have, but if you don’t mind walking around and assisting where you can, I’ll let Lady Heartstone know you’re here when she arrives.”

“Thank you.” She took two steps before the woman’s hand landed on her arm, halting her.

“Don’t forget that while they look happy in here, they are still street urchins and will steal from you if the opportunity presents. Mind your items.” She walked away.

Not that I have anything to steal.

She made her way slowly through the room, looking at what people were doing.

Rosamunde jumped in and did what she could to help. The children were reserved but polite. When Keely came in, it was apparent she was well loved and respected. By both the staff and the kids.

Time flew and before she could believe it, the hour for her to head home had come upon her. Saying her farewells, Rosamunde put her cloak back on and walked to the door. Snow and wind immediately bit into her exposed skin.

With a whimper, she made her way down the few steps and onto the path, which had since been covered over. Slipping and sliding, she got to the street and peered up and down it, hoping for a hack.

“It’s like you want me to take you over my knee, lioness.”

The statement reached her before the man who belonged to that deep voice did. He powered out of the shadows and up to her, fury evident in every line of his face. Broad shoulders were stiff as he glared at her in the lone light.

If this had come from anyone else, she would have been worried they would strike her. But Bryn’s anger was only on her behalf, and she didn’t for one second think he would put his hands on her.

And definitely not in the way I’d like him to.

“What the hell are you doing down here again ?”

He was going to spank her. Literally. Turn her over his knees and smack his hand on her plump ass until it went from pink to red.

What the hell was she thinking to not only return to this area of town but to be venturing outside alone at night?

The two guys he’d been with slunk into the light as well. Her eyes flickered over them and he noticed a hint of fear that flashed before vanishing. Good, because he’d never let anything harm her but she should fear him. Especially if she was determined to ignore his command she not come down here. Alone.

“Who’s the lovely lass, Bryn?” Remington Marlow.

“Aye, she’s a bonny one.” Piers Weaver.

She held out her hand. “Rosamunde Fletcher.”

Remington reached for her hand first and Bryn bit back the growl trying to rumble free. His friend was a well-known ladies’ man. Both of them were. Remington was dark-haired where Piers was light. Both boxed with him and spent many hours seeking out gratification.

“A true pleasure, love.” Remington bent over her hand and brushed a kiss over the back of her glove.

“You should spend the evening with us,” Piers said as he took his turn kissing her hand.

“I’m on my way home, but thank you. I definitely have no wish to impose.”

Bryn knocked Piers’ hand away from her and tucked her up against his side. “I’ll see her home and meet you there.”

They each gave a sly shrug. “If you think that’s best. I feel that would be a great night for her to be with us.” Remington touched his hand to his heart.

Rosamunde stepped away from him. “I’ll see myself home. Like I said, I have no wish to interfere on your night of”—she grinned at his soon-to-be-dead friends—“debauchery?”

Piers plucked her away from him and tucked her against him while Remington closed in on the other side, effectively blocking her from Bryn’s sight. And Bryn didn’t like that at all.

Not in the slightest.

“Debauchery? You wound us, milady. We are naught but upstanding members of society.”

Her laughter warmed him at the same time as it chilled something inside him. He wanted to be the one to make her laugh like that. Not his friends.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. I’m not supposed to develop feelings for her.

Mental chat aside, he focused back on the trio he wanted to rip apart and insert himself in the middle of.

“My mistake, my good sirs.”

“Now,” Remington insisted. “You have to make it up to us by joining us for the evening meal.”

“I shouldn’t,” she protested.

“We disagree. You most definitely should.” Piers. “Tell her, Bryn.”

She leaned back around Piers and locked her gaze on his. Seconds later, he knew he’d not been quick enough to school his expression, for her joy faded.

“I have obligations I must attend.” She vanished between them once more. “But, it has been a pleasure meeting the two of you.”

“Here’s hoping we get to see more of you, milady.”

Bryn bared his teeth as the rumble escaped him. Bryn moved so he could see all three of their faces in the low lighting.

Rosamunde didn’t look at him. “That would be nice, but I’m sure you have much more important things than spending time with me.”

They both refused instantly. “We will escort you to your carriage.” Piers made the statement.

“I don’t have one, I was going to hire a hack.”

Fury bubbled inside him. This woman was going to be the death of him. Not only was she down by the docks at night, now, but she didn’t even have her family’s carriage waiting for her.

Yeah, don’t look at me, baby, you know how furious I am with you.

“We’ll escort you to that then,” Piers said without missing a beat. “Just the three of us, we’ll leave the grump behind.”

The guys maneuvered her around him and the trio proceeded up the street. Of course he wasn’t letting that go. She didn’t know them and it was foolish for her to go off with them. Yet, I’m glad she trusts the people I trust.

Both of them knew what he was doing with her, and how she’d asked him to set her up to experience fucking and love before she got saddled with a man she didn’t know. He’d harbored thoughts of Piers or Remington for about two seconds.

Not that his friends wouldn’t treat her right, for they loved women. All women. But because he was discovering he was jealous as fuck at the mere thought of one of them being allowed to peel her clothing away from her body and enjoy her curves. To sample her taste and introduce her to the incredible world of pleasure.

Gritting his teeth, he whipped around and strode off after them. He caught up to them as Remington waved down a hack for her.

“Rosamunde.”

She angled back to him, not releasing her hold on Piers’ arm. “Good night, my lord.”

Yeah, that wasn’t good enough for him. He didn’t ask, just pulled her away from Piers and brought her closer to him.

“This isn’t how that’s going to end, lioness.”

“I’m trying to stay out of your way. I saw the look on your face when your friends invited me out. I get it. Helping me in private is one thing.”

God, she was gutting him, and it was entirely his own damn fault.

“I have to go.”

“You’re not going alone.”

She lifted her chin and he saw a reemergence of the spark he loved so much inside her. “Yes, I am. It’s hardly proper for me to ride in a hack with two men not in my family and who have never been introduced to my father.”

“It’s not going to be two. It will be one.”

Her brow furrowed.

“Me,” he growled. “I’m taking you home.”

Her smile held a wealth of sadness but it didn’t falter. “Thank you for the offer, my lord, but I’ll be fine. I’ll see you in the morning at the academy .”

With grace, she slipped from his grasp and moved by the guys to the waiting hack. Piers helped her in and Remington closed the door before speaking with the driver. The man nodded and popped up in the seat. A mere flick of the reins and she was being driven down the street and away from him.

Bryce’s friends stepped up beside him.

“I’m in.”

They said it at the same time, and he frowned before looking to each of them. “What are you talking about?”

Remington smirked. “Helping you help her. I am more than willing to volunteer myself to teach and guide her into the world of pleasure.”

“And me. I would be honored to spend a night, or a fortnight, between her thighs.”

He was going to kill them both.