Page 26 of The Gilded Heiress

I pushed on the latch and went into the hall, my borrowed shoes pinching my toes as I hurried to Ambrose’s door. When I twisted

the knob, the door didn’t budge. I tried again—but only met resistance. What the hell?

“What’s the delay?” Ambrose said behind me. “Go inside already.”

“I’m trying.” I slapped my palm on the wood a few times. “Josie, the door is locked.”

“I know,” she called from the other side. “That’s because I locked it.”

I rested my forehead on the rough wood, closing my eyes as frustration stole through me. “Any reason you locked the door?”

“I heard you two arguing down the hall. I know it’s about me.”

Like he was settling in for a show, Ambrose leaned against the wall, arms folded, his grin wide.

I focused on the closed door. “Ambrose and I go way back. I just needed to have a private word with him.”

“About me,” she said.

“Ambrose doesn’t have a great reputation with ladies, Josie. I needed to ensure your safety.”

My friend shoved my shoulder, his face stormy. Fuck you , he mouthed.

I glared at him, then returned my attention to the door. “Let us in. Please.”

She was quiet for several seconds. Finally, she said, “No. My gut is telling me something is off with you two. I’d rather be alone for a little while.”

Goddamn it.

Though I was angry, I couldn’t let on with her. I kept my voice light and reasonable. “Josie, I’ll explain everything when

you let us in.”

“I’d rather not. When you talk, I get distracted by your face. I like having the door between us.”

“I don’t want to have this conversation in the hall.”

“I told you, I want to be alone for a while. Go away, Leo.”

Shit. I stabbed my fingers in my hair and pulled on the strands. This was a disaster. “Josie, please—”

“I mean it. The two of you can go and argue elsewhere.”

I knew better than to push now. Tonight had been bad enough; I didn’t need her even more suspicious about me. Maybe a little

time and distance would help her regain her perspective over our association. “Sure, take some time for yourself. We’ll see

you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!” Ambrose hissed. “That’s my goddamn apartment!”

I grabbed his collar and began dragging him down the hall. “Shut up and come along, Ambrose Lee .”

Head pounding, I stomped down the stairs. Why had Ambrose returned to New York? Why hadn’t he kept his mouth shut? Why wouldn’t

Josie let me explain?

Why, why, why?

“Slow down,” Ambrose grumbled behind me.

“Fuck off.”

“Aw, there is no need to be sore at me, Leo. You’d have done the exact same in my shoes.”

Whirling on the last step, I narrowed my eyes at him. “The hell I would. I wouldn’t ask so many questions and give anyone

reason to doubt you.”

“How was I to know that would happen?”

“It’s as obvious as the large nose on your face.”

“My friend, you brought a girl here, to my apartment, and you’re clearly up to something—”

“Keep your voice down,” I snarled.

This was pointless. Turning, I continued down the steps and out onto the stoop. Where was I going to go? A saloon?

I started north.

“I see what’s going on.” Ambrose had caught up and was now at my side. “I see it clear as day. You have feelings for this

girl. You like her.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“No, you do. You are head over heels for her.”

“I’m five seconds away from punching you, Ambrose.”

“Leo, we’ve been friends forever and a day, which is how I know two things. One, you can’t punch worth a damn. And two, you

are smitten with this girl.”

“I told you, I’m her manager. It’s a professional relationship.”

“I don’t believe a word of that. I saw the way you looked at her. She has you tied up in itty-bitty knots. Not to mention

the second she told you to leave, you practically sprinted out of the building.”

We passed a saloon, so I dragged him toward the door. “Come along. You’re going to buy me a drink while we figure out where

we are sleeping tonight.”

“While I cannot speak for you, I intend to sleep on my sofa.”

“The hell you are. You’re not sleeping in that apartment alone with Josie.”

“Once more, dear sir,” he said in his deepest drawl. “I must reiterate that it is my apartment.”

“Which you lent to me, you ass. And if it weren’t for your mouth, we’d still be inside it.”

We went in and claimed one of the empty tables. After we ordered, I rubbed my eyes tiredly. “Your timing couldn’t have been

worse, Ambrose.”

“I disagree. It seems that I arrived just in time. You never did your best work alone. Remember the scheme we pulled in Philadelphia? The—”

I cut him off with a slash of my hand. “This is not helpful. I’m not reminiscing with you tonight.”

He held up his palms and leaned back in his chair. “Fine. Tell me, then. What is your plan with Josie? Because I know it’s

more than it seems.”

That was the thing about confidence artists: we could smell a scheme from a mile away. Also, we were constantly searching

for new ways to swindle people, and the way we learned was by talking to other confidence men. We were like a small group

of zealots, passing on secrets, except it wasn’t about scripture or salvation. Our holy grail was the almighty dollar.

At least if I told him, he’d leave me alone.

But I also wasn’t stupid.

There was no reason to give him the truth right now. While we never interfered with another’s scheme, I couldn’t risk Ambrose’s

big mouth. The three of us in a tiny apartment meant conversations could be overheard. God forbid Ambrose said something about

the Pendeltons that Josie picked up on.

I’d come clean after Josie was safely secure in the Pendeltons’ mansion and I had that reward check.

Our drinks arrived and I took a long sip of lager, then carefully set my glass on the table. “If I tell you, will you promise

to keep quiet and stop agitating? I need her to trust me.”

Eyes glittering with interest, he put his hand on his heart. “I do so solemnly swear, Your Honor.”

“You were right. I’m squiring her around town to look for work in exchange for a hefty fee.”

Ambrose’s glass hit the table with a thump. “I knew it!”

“It’s good, right? The best part? She can really sing. The girl is very talented.”

“Then you should be rolling in the bucks.”

Every confidence man’s dream. “Not quite. She has an agent now—Melvin Birdman. He sent us to the opera tonight to set tongues wagging among the high society types.”

Ambrose swallowed a mouthful of beer. “You will be paying to have my evening suit cleaned, by the way.”

“I had no choice but to borrow it. There wasn’t time to get one of my own.”

“So, back to this manager swindle. Sounds like you’ll have to split the profits with this Birdman character.”

I swallowed more beer, then licked my lips. “Yes, but Birdman wants to turn her into a star. She’s going to make buckets full

of money.”

“With you taking a cut, of course.”

“Yep. Though I won’t do this forever. As soon as she signs her first big check, I’m cashing out and heading back to Boston.”

“I like this.” Ambrose smoothed his mustache with his fingers thoughtfully. “It’s low risk. Coppers won’t care, and there’s

likely hundreds of singers and actresses out there hoping for a big break. You’re not doing anything grossly immoral or illegal,

merely playing into their ignorance.”

“Exactly,” I said, though I didn’t like that Ambrose would consider Josie ignorant.

“How many other times have you run this scheme?”

“Never. Josie is the first.”

The light in Ambrose’s eyes dimmed, his smile falling. “I don’t understand. You’re not making any money yet and this is the

first time you’ve tried it. How do you know it’ll work?”

“Talked to other guys in Boston.”

“Who?”

We knew most of the same people, so I had to lie. “No one you’d know. Guy passing through town.”

“Ah.” He lifted his glass in a toast. “I wish you much success, friend.”

“Thank you.” I touched my glass to his. “Tell me about Saratoga.”

“Not much to tell. My cart tipped over one afternoon and spilled most of the damn elixir all over the place. I only sold about a quarter of what I had.”

“That’s bad luck. What was in it?”

“Wine laced with a little bit of cocaine. The ladies are especially fond of it.”

“I bet.”

Ambrose took a long drink from his glass, studying me the whole time. When he finished he asked, “Sooo... Josie. Are you

telling me nothing romantic is going on between you and this girl?”

Flashes of the park and the opera went through my mind.

What if I wish to take advantage of you?

Perhaps I’ll be the one to corrupt you, tomcat.

It’s nice having a tomcat around for moments like this.

Ambrose rapped his knuckles on the wooden table. “Hello? Leo? Are you planning to answer?”

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “We’ve agreed to keep our relationship professional.”

“Oh, I see. This means that there has been discussion regarding propriety. Interesting.”

“It’s nothing sordid. She calls me a tomcat. She thinks I’m out chasing pussy half the time.”

“And aren’t you?”

“Fuck off,” I said, shoving the table a bit in his direction. “I don’t have the time or money for that. And don’t act like

you’re a choirboy.”

“I know I’m a scoundrel. Never claimed otherwise.” Ambrose pulled out his gold pocket watch and checked the time. “You know,

there is a little house not far from here where the girls—”

“No,” I said quickly. His lips twisted in apparent amusement and I realized my mistake. “It’s not because I have feelings

for her, Ambrose. I can’t afford it.”

“What if it’s my treat?”

I stared at him, willing myself to say yes. Willing the knot of dread to leave my chest. I should want to bed another woman tonight. After all, I hadn’t been with one since I ran from O’Toole back in Boston. Shouldn’t I have the itch to find release with a partner?

Say yes. There are thousands of women in this city. Say yes.

Why wouldn’t the words leave my lips?

Because I could still remember.

I could still remember what it was like to kiss Josie, those little noises she made when I sank my teeth in her skin. The

hitch in her breath when I pulled her closer. I haven’t forgotten the sweet smell of her soap or the taste of her mouth.

My thoughts were a tangled mess when it came to this woman. I wanted to protect her and ravish her and use her all at the

same time. My cock twitched whenever she brushed against me, which turned any carriage ride into pure torture. And worst of

all, I was staying with her in that tiny apartment, listening to her, surrounded by her. I never wanted to leave her side.

Yet I couldn’t soften toward Josie. I had to see this Pendelton scheme through. There was no alternative and I’d come too

far already.

The seventh rule of being a confidence man: never change for a woman.

I opened my mouth to agree to a night of debauchery... then promptly closed it.

Shit. My shoulders sank and I heaved out a sigh. Some tomcat.

“Oh, my goodness,” Ambrose drawled, his voice threaded with false sympathy. “It’s as I thought. Smitten.”

“Fuck off,” I repeated, finishing my drink. The hops and the barley weren’t enough to wash the taste of disappointment out

of my mouth. “Buy me another beer and let’s talk about something else.”