Page 39 of A Whisper Of Desire (The Disgraced Lords #4)

No sooner had the carriage door banged shut behind them, than Marisa unfolded the note Clarence had handed her.

I have talked with my brother. We would both like to leave the club and come with you and His Grace. Help us.

Her heart thumped painfully in her chest. Clarence didn’t know what he was really asking. He had no idea that she was a woman.

What if the boys didn’t want a different life? Clarence might think they would be Maitland’s boys for his bed. She was offering honest work, hoping they’d leave the whoring behind them. Could they leave it behind them?

She sat in the carriage, indecision turning her legs to stone.

She could get out of the carriage and go into the club. Angelo would be busy with the Libertine Scholars. She would never get a more perfect opportunity to rescue the boys.

Blast. She’d promised Maitland she’d stay in the carriage. However, surely he would not mind if she were going inside to rescue the boys, knowing Maitland was engaging Angelo’s time.

Before she could change her mind, she made her way into the club. There was only one guard on the front door and he recognized her, stepping aside to let her enter.

Marisa made herself stand tall as she sauntered into the drawing room, near the gaming room. She spotted Clarence over in the corner of the room, sitting on the lap of a gentleman.

When he saw her across the room, he whispered something in the man’s ear and rose from his lap. He nodded toward the stairwell. She casually turned and moved to where he’d indicated.

Clarence met her at the bottom of the stairs.

“What are you doing here? I thought you’d left. You were hurt.”

“It was only a slight bump. His Grace returned to the club with a friend. They wish to talk with Angelo. I thought this would be the perfect time to collect you both. While Angelo is entertaining His Grace.”

Clarence didn’t look that reassured. “Tonight is not good. They will miss us immediately if we leave. I’m fully booked tonight, and Simon?—”

“I’m leaving with Simon, now, tonight. I won’t leave him here a minute longer.”

Clarence looked over his shoulder. “Fine. Get Simon, he’s up in his room, waiting for . . .” Clarence shrugged. “Just get him out. I’ll follow when I see you have him in the carriage. It will be less suspicious that way.”

“What room is he in?”

“The last door at the far end of the third floor. Take him down the back stairs. Go out through the kitchen and down the side alley.”

He turned to go back to the man sending him “come here” looks from across the room. She grabbed his arm. “How will I find you?”

He gave a sad smile. “I will try and slip away in the early morning.”

She wanted to scream “No, come with us tonight,” but she knew it would be a waste of breath. “Do you know where His Grace lives?”

“No. But I shall find his townhouse. Just get Simon out of here, Your Grace.” At her intake of breath, he added, “I heard Angelo at the door. I’m grateful you came back. You want to help Simon. For that I thank you.”

She grabbed his arm. “I want to help both of you. Please, come with me.”

The arm she held trembled under her fingers. “Thank you. But I am past helping. This is the life I have known since I was five.” He put his hand over hers where it gripped his arm, and peeled off her fingers.

“Don’t you dare say it’s too late. It’s never too late.”

She saw the man across the room begin to rise from his chair.

“Go.” He indicated upstairs. “I have a client and he will not let me go quietly.” With that, Clarence turned from her and intercepted the man before he could reach her.

Time was running out. She quickly made her way upstairs and entered Simon’s room. He was standing, staring out of the window. He didn’t even acknowledge her when she entered, he merely sighed and made his way to the bed. He began loosening his trousers.

“I’m not here for that. I’m your brother’s friend. I’m here to take you away from this life.”

He looked at her then and his eyes flared with hope. “Clarence said you might come back for us tonight. He said you were a real lady.”

Speaking in her normal voice, she said to him, “I’m the Duchess of Lyttleton and I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.” She’d moved closer to the bed as she talked, and she offered the child her hand.

Simon’s eyes filled with tears. “Are you real?”

“Take my hand and see.” She smiled at him.

A sob choked out of his mouth. “I’m too scared in case you’re not real.”

Tears filled her eyes and she didn’t care if it frightened Simon, she merely reacted, engulfing him in her embrace and hugging him tightly. “I’m real and I’ve got you, I’ll keep you safe, but we have to hurry.”

He nodded and took her hand, leading her down the back stairs. If they came across anyone, Marisa would pretend she was a client. Luckily, they saw no one and soon they were out into the chilly evening air. She hurried the boy to the carriage.

To her dismay, the men were still not back.

She pulled a blanket from under the seat and wrapped Simon in it. “Stay here. His Grace will be back shortly. He is a kind man and he’ll help both you and your brother. I’m going back for Clarence.”

“Clarence won’t come.” The little boy snuggled down on the squab, pulling his blanket round him.

“He blames himself for this life we lead, but it’s not his fault.

” He closed his eyes. “I’m so tired. I’m always too scared to sleep because I have terrible dreams and when I wake up I’m still in the club. ”

“You can sleep here. You’re safe. No one can get to you here. I won’t let them.”

He closed his eyes and was asleep before she had finished talking.

She looked out of the carriage window and realized she couldn’t walk back in the front door. The guard hadn’t seen her come out. She made her way back through the side alley and into the club.

She’d made it through to the first-floor landing when a hand appeared out of the dark and grabbed her arm, dragging her into a room. “Your husband has just departed. Why are you sneaking round my back stairs?”

Angelo!

She pulled her arm free and turned to face him as he closed the door behind him. Unfortunately, that put him between her and her only means of escape.

“I wondered what was keeping my husband so long.”

“I hope you are not here liberating my property.”

Glaring back wordlessly seemed the sensible tack to take.

He moved toward her almost at a glide. His handsome features were a mask of friendliness, but she understood the ruthless man beneath his angelic beauty.

He whored out children.

“His Grace will get you back when he returns my property.”

“How did you know?”

“I saw Clarence slip you a note. What other reason would he have for doing so? I’ve just checked Simon’s room. He would normally be there, as he’s in great demand.”

“You monster. He’s a child.”

“Some of us are born lucky in this life, while the majority of us live in the gutter. Simon was near dead when I took the boys in. I fed him, clothed him, and put a warm roof over his head. Nothing in this life comes for free. How else is he to pay me?”

“Not everything is about money.”

“Says someone who has never had to beg for food in her life.”

Her face heated at the truth of his words.

“I’ve had a disagreeable night. My luck just changed. Finding you on my stairs has perhaps redeemed my losses. I wonder what His Grace is prepared to give up to get you back.”

He gave a snakelike smile and she couldn’t help it. She lashed out, catching his chin with her fist. The pain was worth it when she saw his head snap back, and Angelo teetered backward.

He let out a string of obscenities, and she braced for his attack. It did not come. He merely said, “Your husband will have to pay for that. I wonder if he’s ever sucked a man’s cock before.”

“You’re disgusting.”

He merely laughed and turned to leave the room. “I shall lock the door so you do not wander off with any more of my property.”

As he stepped through the door, a gun went off and Angelo crumpled to the ground. Marisa saw blood seeping onto the wooden floor.

She stood frozen to the spot, thinking that Maitland had arrived to save her, but after another minute of staring at the blood seeping out in an ever-increasing circle, no one came.

Suddenly, she kicked herself into action and made for the door and escape. As she drew near she realized Angelo was still alive. While every nerve in her being wanted to simply step over him and leave him to bleed to death, she couldn’t do it.

The trousers made things easier because she could kneel, avoiding the blood. She pulled off her cravat and pushed down on his stomach wound. “Keep still.”

He tried to speak, his breath a gargle in his throat. “Fleur . . .”

“Don’t talk. I have to fetch help. Keep your hand on this if you can.”

He gripped her hand where it lay on his wound. She leaned closer to him. “Fleur de Lily . . .” A hacking gurgle filled the corridor. She watched as his eyes grew round with fear and then an arm was around her neck and a cloth was being pushed into her face.

She struggled, almost succeeding in twisting out of his grasp when her limbs weakened and would not obey her commands to fight back. The stench permeating from the cloth saw her head swim with dizziness. The pungent substance made her panic, she couldn’t breathe, and blackness tinged her vision.

The last thing she remembered was seeing the light leave Angelo’s eyes just before everything went dark.