Page 24 of Don’t Wake a Sleeping Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected)

T en days passed. Ada had never experienced such a combination of bliss and apprehension. She lived in sin with Alfred and didn’t care. Their days were filled with exciting house calls. Wherever Alfred went, the parents of sickly or injured children were grateful beyond measure. He had a way with the children—charming with the girls and roguish with the boys. From stitches to fevers, Alfred cared for every ailment as if it were the single most important problem at the moment.

After days filled with innocent laughter and sweet attention to Alfred’s young patients, they spend hot and sultry nights. Ada collapsed into his strong arms at night and woke beside him on the soft feather pillow in the morning.

Alfred returned to The Lyon’s Den every night but was still short of the amount he needed. The afternoon of the masquerade, Ada sat at Seth’s desk and used his paper and a fountain pen to add the sums in the ledger.

“What are you working on?” Alfred asked, coming into the small room and placing his hands on her back to look over her shoulders.

“I added everything up. The Nortons owe you fifteen pounds. The McAllisters five. If you subtract the supplies for the pharmacist, you’ll be at a profit of about nine seventy.”

Alfred picked her diary up. “You kept a record over the past ten days?”

She nodded, biting her cheek.

He smiled. “And your tell means you worry that I’ll be upset?”

She nodded again. “I kept a record of their names and addresses. You could send them invoices and gentle reminders.”

“It’s no use. If the children need further appointments, where will they go?” He riffled through the pages but wasn’t looking at anything.

“Maybe it would be a start. They could come here for follow-up appointments.

Alfred didn’t hear what she said. “Ada, this is not a normal diary, it’s a gambling ledger.”

“Of course, it is.”

He’d known that she wasn’t keeping a self-important diary like some ordinary girl, but he hadn’t expected the ledger recording years and years of victories. She stood and Alfred put his hand on her waist.

“I had already drawn tables, so I sectioned these pages off for your practice.”

She trailed her finger down a page of fresh writing. “If we keep a careful record, you’ll soon know exactly how much—”

“Ada, have I told you recently that you are brilliant?”

She smiled timidly and made eye contact for a split second. Then she turned to the back of the diary. “I wrote the addresses down here, so you can cross-reference the initials of the children with the parents’ addresses.”

She batted her gorgeous long lashes and Alfred felt an erection twitching in his breeches.

“There’s plenty of room here and…” She turned the page. “Here.”

Alfred snapped the book shut. Her eyes darted to his. “How long till you have to go to The Lyon’s Den?” He put his arms around her, and she turned to face him.

Ada shrugged and her eyes fell to his mouth. She was a quick learner indeed. He pulled her closer and grabbed her taut bottom. She gasped with a scandalous grin and cupped his face.

“I was going to help with your bookkeeping,” she whispered into his mouth.

“My brother is the financier in the family. You have your hands full today.”

He led her hands to his middle. Their lips touched and the familiar fire broke out inside him.

“Your invoices are like your homework. It has to be done,” she said as her fingers slid past his waistband.

“Hmmm,” he nuzzled her neck, and she tilted her head back. “My homework’s already much more fun with you.”

She sighed. His lips moved down to the edge of her gown. A delicious mewling escaped her throat. Alfred lifted her onto the desk. She spread her legs and he nestled between her thighs. With his hands behind her back, he supported her as she arched toward him to give him access to her perky breasts. In the afternoon light, her eyes encouraged him with silent permission as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He buried his face in the soft hair cascading over her feminine curves. She held on to his back and pressed her hips toward him, an aching plea for more. Their eyes locked and he plunged his tongue into her willing mouth, interlocking every part of his body with hers.

“Not again!” The front door swung shut and Seth walked in.

Alfred pinched his eyes shut as Ada hopped off the desk, pulling her dress into a more presentable position. She wrapped her arms around Alfred and dropped her head on his chest, giggling silently.

“Hello there!” Alfred croaked, irritated at the interruption.

“Go to your bedroom, please !” Seth said. He’d turned his back and leaned against the door frame.

“All right, all right.” Ada pulled away from Alfred. “It’s time to get ready for the ball anyway.”