Page 74 of Restored

Kit laughed. “I had to tell you something,” he said. “And most gentleman like the idea of a wholesome farm lad who comes to the city in search of debauchery.”

Guiltily, Henry realised he was one of them.

“Why not just tell the truth?” he asked.

Kit met his eyes, and his own were gentle. “I couldn’t have you feeling sorry for me, could I? Better that you think I ran to London town with stars in my eyes, looking for a handsome prince all of my own.”

“Would I have felt sorry for you?” Henry asked softly.

Kit sighed. “How do I know?”

“Tell me then—about when you were a child.”

Kit made an impatient noise. “Does all that history matter now? It was years ago. Now, I own this house, my own business. Many people born into my circumstances would have ended up little better than beggars. I was lucky.”

“In what way were you lucky?” Henry asked, curious.

Kit’s smile widened, but his green gaze was oddly bleak. “I was born beautiful.”

Henry’s heart ached for him.

“How old were you when you first… worked?”

“Again, I was lucky,” Kit said. “I had my mother till I was almost fifteen, and she provided for me. Then, when she died, she made Mabel promise to look out for me. So, Mabel kept me till I was sixteen, before I had to earn.”

“Sixteen?” Henry said hoarsely.

“Mabel was canny,” Kit went on. “She started having me serve in the Golden Lily, dressed provocatively. Got me known amongst her customers, then started up a bidding war.” He laughed drily.

Henry closed his eyes. He was beginning to feel queasy.

Kit’s hand landed on his knee, and he opened his eyes, meeting Kit’s concerned gaze.

“Don’t feel bad,” Kit said almost angrily. “By the time I met you I’d had my virginity auctioned to the highest bidder and completed my first three contracts. I can assure you, by the time you and I met, I kneweverythingthere was to know about my trade.”

That didn’t make Henry feel better.

“What about after me?” Henry asked hoarsely.

Kit looked away. “You already know about that.”

“Not really,” Henry said. “I know you took up with Skelton, and that he hurt you.”

Kit leaned back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. “I’m not sure I see the point of this, Henry.”

“Is it true that, after what happened with us, some people thought you’d done something untrustworthy?”

Kit’s head jerked up. “Who told you that?”

“Is it true?” Henry asked again.

Kit stared at him for several long moments, then he sighed. “Some people assumed you’d thrown me over early because of something I’d done. And then, when I wouldn’t let Mabel come after you, that just seemed to convince them more. Mabel and I argued over it—I told you about how I was determined to pay her off. The trouble was, I couldn’t get a new protector after you left. So when Skelton made me an offer, I accepted. It was stupid, but it was only meant to be for six months. I didn't realise he would be so violent.”

The sudden rage that surged in Henry at hearing that shocked him. He was not a man who was quick to anger, but the thought of Lionel Skelton laying violent hands on Kit was unbearable. “You stayed the six months?”

Kit shook his head. “Three and a half. The violence began after a few weeks, but it was only when I said I was going to leave that he really hurt me.”

“What happened?” Henry asked faintly.