Page 14 of Lady Isla and the Lord of Rogue (Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues #6)

Chapter Eight

It happened at the opera.

They went to the King’s Theatre to listen to an Italian opera: Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Algie had a box, even though he himself excused himself from the night’s performance, claiming he was too busy. This was despite Isla telling him that Catherine would be there.

For one moment it looked like he wavered, but then he gave a determined shake of his head. “Not tonight. I have some urgent business to finish. Besides,” he pulled a face, “Rossini is not to my taste.”

“Ah yes, you only listen to a single aria by Mozart and then leave afterwards.” Isla smirked.

If Catherine was disappointed because Algie didn’t join them, she did not let it show.

She was dressed in a beautiful night blue gown and she looked young and vivacious.

Isla was pleased with her own green silk dress, her copper red hair swept upwards and fastened with an ivory comb.

She sat between Catherine and Teddy, leaning eagerly over the balustrade of their box to follow the opera on stage.

Isla was entirely engrossed in the wonderful music.

Once or twice, she laughed out loud, her eyes wandering to Teddy, who was watching her more than the stage.

He looked splendid in his dark blue tailcoat and breeches.

His hand inched towards hers, closing around it in a firm grasp.

Isla froze. He held on just a moment longer, his gaze averted, yet a mischievous smile teased at the corners of his lips.

An answering smile tugged at hers. She let herself relax.

Though layers of fine gloves separated them, the moment felt strangely intimate, almost clandestine.

Here they were, holding hands in the midst of an opera, unseen and unnoticed by anyone but themselves.

It was improper, daring, and utterly thrilling.

Isla was reluctant to release him when the intermission came, and Catherine turned to them with sparkling eyes. “Wasn’t that wonderful? I vow, I have never seen a better performance.”

“It was splendid,” Teddy said. “Particularly the stage design and the props. I liked the fact that they used real clocks. I noticed that the longcase clock that stood in the back seemed to be working, even though the time wasn’t accurate. It was about five minutes behind.”

“I wonder whether, on the hour, it would start announcing it? In the middle of an aria?” Isla commented. “Alas, they moved it away for the next scene, so we shall never know.” Isla fanned herself. “My word, it is hot in here.”

Teddy immediately jumped to attention. “Let me acquire some refreshments, then. ”

Isla and Catherine continued chatting about the opera when Catherine interrupted herself and waved to a lady on the other side of the auditorium.

“There is Lady Cressy. She must have returned from Bath.” She looked at Isla with some hesitation.

“I would dearly like to go speak to her, but it would be cumbersome for her to make her way here. Would you mind if I went to her? You could join me, even.”

“I shall wait here, for if Teddy returns with the refreshments and finds us gone, he will be rather put out.”

“Then at least draw the curtains at the front of the box so that the entire theatre doesn’t become aware that you are on your own and that I am a terrible chaperone for having shamefully deserted you.

” She pulled the heavy scarlet curtains closed to shield Isla from curious stares.

Isla waved her away, and Catherine left, leaving Isla sitting alone in the box.

She sat down and pulled out her fan. It was intolerably stifling.

She heard the door behind her open and was glad that Teddy had finally returned with a glass of refreshing drink. “That was faster than expected.”

She was about to turn around when a voice, eerily familiar, hissed, “Do not turn around.” Isla froze. “Do not turn around,” the voice repeated, low and edged with ice.

She would recognise it anywhere. Hard as steel, sharp as a blade—the voice from the gambling club.

Lucian Night. In her opera box.

Her heart leapt into her throat, hammering wildly. Her fingers clenched around the edge of her chair as she forced herself to keep staring ahead at the closed curtain.

Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “This is a rather risky place for a rendezvous.” She attempted flippancy, but the breathlessness in her voice betrayed her.

“I did say I would contact you whenever and wherever I deemed fit. The moment is now.” She jolted at the nearness of his voice, which was far closer than she had expected.

Impossibly close. His presence pressed in around her, the heat of him at her back.

A shiver ghosted over her skin. She could hear him breathe.

All it would take was one quick turn, a single wild impulse, and she would see him.

She could yank the curtain aside and reveal him to the whole theatre?—

“Do not dare to think of it,” he whispered. “If you turn, you will lose more than you could possibly have bargained for.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “How did you know?—”

“Your brother is my warranty.” A threat. Clear and unmistakable.

“What do you mean?” Isla demanded, alarm sharpening her voice.

“Simply that. If you misbehave, your brother will feel the repercussions.”

Her grip tightened on the armrest. “Leave my brother out of this. This is between you and me. He need not know anything about this, nor should you use him as leverage.”

Lucian chuckled, a slow, mocking sound. “My dear,” he drawled, his voice turning oily, “things are never as simple as that. My reach extends far and wide, and your brother, well… How shall I put it?” He paused, as if savouring the moment.

“Arch-nemesis seems a fitting term. I have a score to settle with him, and thanks to you, I hold the advantage.”

A feeling of foreboding settled over Isla. “What do you mean?”

“Only that his own sister has willingly placed herself in my hands. A fascinating turn of events, wouldn’t you say?”

A cold, clammy hand clenched itself over Isla’s stomach. “You’d never,” she stammered.

He leaned over and whispered into her ear. “I could simply kidnap you, you know. Here and now.”

She felt how his warm breath brushed her ears, her neck and stirred her hair. She sucked in a sharp breath.

“Of course, I will take advantage of it. Otherwise, I wouldn’t live up to my name as the Lord of the Underworld.”

An ice-cold stab of fear flashed through Isla.

She’d been na?ve and foolish, and she’d made a terrible mistake.

Of course, she should have thought of this earlier.

Why hadn’t she? Had she honestly believed it would be possible to deal with Lucian Night as a real business partner?

Had she truly believed it would be as easy as that?

If anything ever happened to Algie, she would never forgive herself.

“I retract my request.” Her voice sounded wooden. “Forget the entire thing. Since we have no contract and since I never signed anything, I don’t owe you anything.”

“Ah, my dear, things are not as simple as that.” He’d leaned back a bit, and Isla was relieved not to have to feel his breath against her neck anymore.

“It is. I have decided I no longer need your help.”

“Very well,” he said smoothly. “What do you want me to tell your erstwhile lover, then?”

Isla would have whirled around then, if an iron hand hadn’t clamped itself on her shoulder to freeze her into her place.

“Do not turn around,” he hissed.

“Who do you mean?” Isla’s mouth had gone dry. “Surely, you don’t mean?—”

“Jem Fawe. We found him. It was rather easier than we’d thought it would be. But I gather since you have changed your mind about him, you no longer need my services. You’ll still have to pay for them, though.”

Isla’s pulse skittered. “Jem. You found Jem? Truly?”

“Ah. It appears the lady might have changed her mind again.” The sound of wood scraping on the floor indicated that he was pulling a chair closer behind her. She heard him sit.

“I gather we are to resume our arrangement?”

“I want to meet Jem.”

“Very well. But the conditions still stand.”

Isla jerked in her chair. She’d entirely forgotten about them. “Truly, you must have been joking. Surely you merely uttered those ridiculous demands to shock me,” she started hotly.

“Not entirely,” he replied lazily. “I was perfectly serious.”

Isla shook her head. “I never signed anything. ”

“It is no matter, since we don’t conduct business in the usual manner.”

“Wha-what do you mean?”

“Simply that: if you do not keep your side of the bargain, I shall have to resort to more stringent methods.” He leaned forward, and once more she felt his breath on her neck. “Applying some pressure on your brother.”

Isla bit on her lips. She’d got herself into a veritable pickle.

On the other hand: Jem! If he’d truly found Jem…

after all these years… She felt a hot knot of tears rise in her throat.

She swallowed it away, and when she could trust her voice again, replied: “Very well. But first I need to verify whether it is truly Jem you found. I don’t trust you.

You could take anyone and hire them and tell them to pass as Jem Fawe. ”

“After all this time, would you recognise him, truly?” His voice sounded curious.

Isla was certain she would. “Always.”

“Very well then, Lady Isla. Why don’t you see for yourself whether it is your man we have? At the Angel Inn tomorrow afternoon. Jem Fawe will be waiting for you there.”

She heard him stand. “If it is not him, our agreement is null and void. If, however, it is him…” He bent forward and his lips nearly touched her neck.

Her entire body broke out in goosebumps and every single hair on her body stood on end.

She heard a rushing in her ears. “I could take my first here and now.” His hot breath moved up and down her neck, his lips not quite touching her skin.

Isla froze to a salt statue, with only her chest heaving.

“But no.” He stood up, and she ne arly collapsed in relief. “Delayed pleasure is always the best.”

She heard footsteps, and the air rushed into the box as the door opened and closed.

She did not care. She jumped up, turned, stormed to the door, and was confronted with a crowd of people into which he must have melted like butter into soup.

It was impossible to tell who he was. More likely, he was long gone.

Dizziness took hold of her and she clutched the door for support.

“Isla!” Teddy arrived with a footman in tow who carried a silver tray with drinks. “Are you well? You look somewhat pale.”

“I—I am fine. I am just hot and thirsty.” She took the champagne glass that he held out thankfully, drank it all down in one gulp, and requested another glass. She would get drunk if she did that, but at the moment, she did not care.

“Dreadful crush,” Teddy said. “I was lucky to find this fellow to help with the drinks. To navigate a tray with glasses and bottles through this crowd is quite a feat.” He pressed a generous tip into his hand and sent him out of the box. “But where is Lady Redgrave?”

“She left to greet a friend. She’ll be back in a moment.” As soon as she’d said that, the door opened, and Catherine entered.

“Ah, drinks, just what I need.” She picked up a glass and drank it as thirstily as Isla had done. The gong that announced the second act sounded, requesting the audience to return to their seats .

“I must say, I am enjoying myself,” Catherine told Teddy, “and I am looking forward to this second act.”

But Isla’s concentration was gone, and she hardly took in anything that happened on stage.

Tomorrow.

The Angel Inn.

She would see Jem again.

After twenty years.