A Proper Scandal (Ravensdale Family Book 2) (23 page)

“You’re so much trouble, Minnie.” His touch was tender, his voice the same. “But I don’t think I can stay away now that I’ve found you.”

For the first time, he bent down and kissed her on the lips, sweetly and tenderly, as if he cared.

P
eprin’s private train car was a royal blue palace of deep sapphire velvet against mahogany paneling and intricate Persian carpeting. It was like the first touch of silk after wearing cotton for years. So rich and luxurious.

Minnie chatted with the rest of the women of their party, half-listening to their idle foolishness about the latest fashions and gossip. Her attention was pinned to the swaying gold tassels of the lamp above Alex’s head. He peeked around his newspaper and winked. A girlish blush instantly rose to her cheeks. He hid behind the paper then while Minnie continued her conversation, mindful that he had now folded the paper and made a joke to the gentleman beside him. He exited the train car and left Minnie waiting.

Monsieur D’Ambreious sat opposite Minnie, eyeing her as he drank his brandy alongside Peprin. Both men sat there, wolves on their heels, waiting for her. When she’d first started dancing as a chorus girl, her flirtations with patrons meant dinners and furs, even marriage proposals. But as she earned a name for herself in le demimonde, men circled, waiting for one to leave, trying to outbid one patron with ridiculous gifts.

She made her excuses and slipped out into the crowded hallway. She adjusted the netting on her hat and walked right, feeling that if he were to go somewhere, it would be near the refreshment car. At least they could talk there without much suspicion.

She averted her eyes away from the other passersby as she made her way down the narrow hallway, the fields of southern France passing by outside. A door opened and she was pulled inside, a hand stifling her gasp of surprise.

“Mademoiselle,” a voice whispered in her ear. “It won’t do to have you scream.”

Minnie pushed her elbow into Alex’s chest and spun around to face him, dragging his face to hers for a hungry kiss. There was no point in wasting time.

“Unhand me, you scoundrel,” she whispered, feathering kisses upon his face.

He didn’t listen, only gathered her closer to avoid anyone discovering them. “I don’t know if I can do this, Min.”

“Of course you can. Pretend you hate me and we will survive Peprin’s party swimmingly.”

“But I don’t hate you,” he said, taking her earlobe between his teeth. “Quite the opposite, in fact.” He licked the curve of her ear. “I might even
like
you, troublemaker.”

She looked out in the hallway, fighting the way his husky voice shook its way into her body and demanded attention. “Behave yourself, Marwick.”

The low rumble of his laugh echoed around the carriage, drawing her own laugh. “You’ve never called me that before.”

“I’ve called you a great many things.”

“I’ve called you more.”

She kissed him again to silence their silly argument. There wasn’t time to waste on idle chatter when passengers walked by, just beyond the door.

“And if we endure and survive this party, what shall we do after?” he asked.

“Return to Paris, of course.” She pulled away, confused by the question.

“You wouldn’t return to London with me?” His teasing tone turned serious.

Return to London? To what end? “Let’s not talk about this now. I’m sure we have been se—”

“I want to talk about this now. We’re in a tight spot. Of our own accord.” He cupped her face, his eyes begging her for an answer she would never be able to give him. “I’ll ask you again, what are we playing at, Min?”

She gave a soft laugh, ringing with carelessness. What they had was nothing to warrant such a serious conversation. It was just some fun. That was all. A passing fancy. A fleeting passion. They were not the first to carry on such an affair.

“What if we are discovered?” he asked, undeterred by her indifference. “What if I get you with child? What will become of us if I’m not successful?”

She pulled at his lapels and pouted. “Pish posh, Alex. Do you have to ruin this?” He looked unaffected by her charms so she gave him a quick kiss. “We are being careful…in
all
ways,” she said, wishing to avoid telling him the lengths she was going to avoid having his child. “Have some faith. Enjoy what we have while we have it.”

His eyes widened at her last words, and she felt their weight as well—the reality that what they shared could end. And the realization that she might be averse to such an ending more than she had first thought.

“So modern,” he said, nipping her nose playfully with his gloved hand. “Are you keeping me as your lover?”

“What I lack in money, I make up for in other skills.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Enjoy your trip to the south of France, monsieur.” Minnie gave a saucy wink and pulled the netting back over her face, squeaking as Alex cupped her bottom and squeezed, roping her in for one more kiss.

“Until later, darling.”

Minnie exited the private carriage and adjusted her hat, completely unraveled. She was foolish to believe she could continue on with Alex as if it meant nothing. She was foolish, but she would keep trying, because she didn’t want to consider actually marrying the man.

Alex left next, walking the opposite way while she leaned against the narrow hall of the train car. It rocked gently from side to side, reminding her of that voyage from India, when the world was uncertain. But here she was, traveling besides gray, rocky mountains patched with evergreen and pools of jadeite water. She was on solid ground now, or so she told herself. As she tried to even her breathing and tried to control the flush from Alex’s kisses that painted itself on her pale cheeks, she might as well have been back on that ship, tossing among endless depths of ocean.

“Are you well, Evie?” Peprin said, surprising her as he approached.

The faulty reassurance trapped itself in her throat as her heart raced once more. Had he caught them? Did he suspect she was with Alex when she was supposed to be on Peprin’s arm? He had given her the world, pushed her into the spotlight, removed her from the filthy room at the
hôtel grisettes
she shared with Vivien and Chantal.

He leaned in, the spicy cologne of his that he nearly bathed in filling her lungs. She hadn’t a sip of champagne yet on the trip, but with the way her head spun now, she was well on her way to being drunk. “Your cheeks are the loveliest shade of pink,
ma colombe
. Almost as daring as that dress you wore to the opera. Are you keeping a secret from me?”

Minnie closed her eyes briefly, the image of Alex’s smile burning bright in her memory, of his lips on hers. Of their new habit of sneaking around Paris to steal time together, or more often a bed to share their love in. She meant it only moments ago when she confessed to him that it wasn’t serious, but now, when faced with the very wolf who could tear apart both of their worlds, the truth revealed itself and pressed heavy against her chest.

She’d held Peprin off so far with a few kisses and flirtation. That had been enough until now, now his eyes burned with conviction. She might be that alluring virgin to the rest of Paris, but Peprin could claim what was his whenever he wished. And now he’d find her ruined. Except that wasn’t the right word for what she shared with Alex.

“Of course not,” she said opening her eyes. Minnie reached for his vest, running her gloves over the polished brass buttons with a flirty smile.

He leaned forward as she tilted her head, unwilling to have his lips steal away the ghost of Alex’s just then. “My Evie, one day you’ll slow down and realize what you have to lose.” He pressed his lips against her cheek, tugging at her waist to kiss her in the hallway, just as Alex emerged from the end of the hallway. “You’re mine. Don’t think of straying for that Irish puppy of yours.”

*

The villa was a fine house, grander than Alex was used to staying in. He wouldn’t complain though, when there was a room solely for exercise, overlooking the ocean beyond the manicured lawn outside.

Alex struck the bag again, the impact rattling through his body. His arms were tired, exhausted even, but he punched again.

He heard someone else enter the room behind him, but he was too focused on the bag in front of him to care much. He pictured Peprin’s face in front him and took another punch, taking a deep drag of air as his body burned. He couldn’t remember when he had come down to the small room, but it had been a few hours at least.

It was impossible to sleep knowing Minnie was a few rooms down and she was forbidden to him. The men all thought she was some virginal temptress, a commodity among the male species for sure.

“You have quite the punch.”

Alex ignored the praise. It meant nothing coming from the man who spoke.

“I heard you were a terrible a fighter,” Peprin said.

He didn’t trust himself when he felt this way. Alex had worked to make his body exhausted, but Peprin was an exception. He would pummel him until he received the money, if necessary. That theater would be his. And once he had his theater, he would convince Minnie to return with him to London. Then he’d be a man of property and power, and would run Millay’s after Ainsworth retired. Alex would finally be a worthy husband to Minnie.

He whirled around and punched the bag again with such force his knuckles started to bleed. “My aim is good when needed.” He faced Peprin, folding his arms so he wouldn’t keep moving even when it felt like he must or he would fall apart. The older man was taller, fit for his age. He tossed Alex a towel and leaned back against the wall. “I know why you invited me, but thank you for the invitation nonetheless,” Alex said. He rubbed the towel over his body, biting back how badly he didn’t want it touching his skin in that instant.

“We can be gentlemen about it, at least one of us. There’s no need for a duel.”

His heart was racing as he said, “Ainsworth expects me back in London with his money soon.”

Peprin crossed his ankles and laughed. “And of all people, he’s sent you.”

Alex remained quiet, deciding it best to wait out an answer. He was stuck at this house for a week, so they could have this discussion another time. There was already enough tension in the air. “I can be very persuasive,” he said in English.

“They call you the Mad Paddy in London.” Peprin switched to English too.

The more Peprin spoke, the madder Alex became. He clenched his fists, his limbs finally heavy with exhaustion. He wanted to sleep, not deal with his boss’s problem. “They call me a lot of things,” Alex said. “If you know why I’m here, it’d be easier if we can settle on an agreement and move on.”

“No. You see, I know about you and your secrets. It’s my prerogative to know the weaknesses of those a work with. And to Julian Ainsworth, you’re a bomb waiting to explode.”

The ground shook beneath Alex. His hands went cold. “Don’t think Ainsworth didn’t tell me yours either.” He swallowed down the dread threatening to drown him. “I laid out your men, I’m not scared of what you can do to me. I’m here for his money. I’ll leave with it.”

“Ainsworth sent you because you are young. He knows you have nothing to lose. But I have something I can offer you that he can’t. I know you want a theater. I have the right connections that could make it stand out in London.”

This wasn’t going as expected. Ainsworth never used Alex for anything other than negotiations. He was good at making people change their minds. He laid out their options, which were never many, then convinced them to pick. But Peprin was a very powerful man in Paris who had lots of options. It only complicated matters, since the man had Minnie living in one of his houses, the featured entertainment at his pleasure palace. And Peprin’s so-called virginal temptress was, in fact, very much involved with Alex. Not virginal any longer. Ruined, because Alex was once again in her life. Though he wouldn’t consider her ruined at all—she was perfect. There was always something between them. And now it lay with the man sneering at him. He knew he held Alex’s world in his grubby hands.

Peprin pushed off the wall and walked closer to Alex. “Do you enjoy saving women, Marwick?”

He slapped the towel over his shoulder and sidestepped Peprin’s approach. He needed an exit. He need to get out. He had to find Minnie to be sure that she was safe. And he wanted sleep. And he wanted not to fall apart when the world needed so much of him. Minnie needed him.

“It’s not a crime.” He scratched his head, fighting back the urge to beat the man into giving him the money so one problem could be resolved. “We’ll talk later,” Alex said, walking out.

“She’s not for men like you, Marwick. And I have plans.” Peprin yelled from the room. “Touch her and I’ll see you locked away in Ireland again.”

*