The Courtesan's Book of Secrets

Hurrying down the quiet hallway, she descended the stairs to the main lobby, passing only one or two other people and a footman carrying a note upstairs.

Outside, she watched from the top of the portico as the last hackney pulled away from the kerb. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be long before another appeared.

A breeze blew through the open row of tall columns. Cornelia wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she’d thought to bring a shawl, but she’d expected the evening to be warmer. She could go back inside, enjoy the comfort of her box but she decided to wait. She wasn’t in the mood for any more play-acting tonight.

‘Good evening, Comtesse.’

Cornelia whirled around at the sound of Lord Edgemont’s voice. Anger filled her as he approached, his movements slow and easy like a snake, but with enough hint of danger to make her shiver. She flicked a glance over his shoulder at the empty foyer, the chance someone might happen on them offering her slim protection.

She dropped her arms, ready to face him. He looked as sure of himself tonight as he had on the wharf in Calais when he’d approached her with his bargain and started this ridiculous game. If she hadn’t been so desperate to escape France, and seen the opportunity to harm him in the offer, she wouldn’t have accepted his proposal.

‘Lord Edgemont, what a pleasure it is to see you again.’

His eyes glinted at the thought of his power over her. Little did he know, she now held the upper hand. ‘And how are you coming on our little matter?’

‘I’ve succeeded.’ She touched her necklace, noting with triumph the way it drew his attention to her chest. ‘You have no idea how easy it was for me to purchase the book.’

He arched one surprised eyebrow. ‘You’ve always been resourceful. It’s what I admire most about you.’

‘Is admiration what you feel? I always thought it was something more base.’

‘And to think, you could have chosen me over Lord Densmore, with a comfortable little town house in Mayfair and all your needs provided for.’

‘Thankfully, your losing hand of cards spared me from such an illustrious fate.’

He crossed his arms in front of his thick chest. ‘Enough pleasantries. If you have the register, why haven’t you delivered it to me?’

‘All in good time.’ She wasn’t about to give him what he wanted, only what he deserved. ‘You see, I’ve decided to make a small alteration to our agreement.’

His slick smile dropped. ‘There’ll be no alterations.’

Rafe’s warning rang in her ears as the shadows around them seemed to darken before she steadied herself. This was like any gamble and now was no time to lose her nerve. ‘Your father’s name is in the register, more than once. If I show it to Lord Twickenham, it will be the end of the illustrious Barony of Edgemont.’

His expression sharpened into an edge which cut through her. ‘Are you threatening me?’

She met his hard stance, despite the cold fear creeping up her spine. ‘It was kind of you to pay my passage back to England.’

‘In exchange for the register.’ He jerked his thumb to his chest. ‘My register.’

‘The one you weren’t man enough to acquire on your own.’

His hand lashed out and grabbed her wrist, and he pulled her away from the entrance and into the shadow of one tall column. ‘You will give it to me.’

‘Never. You thought you could manipulate me like you used to manipulate my father but you were wrong.’ She twisted her arm, but he held fast, crushing the edge of her bracelet into her wrist. ‘You have nothing over me while I have the ability to destroy you.’

‘Do you really think I’ll let you get away with this?’

‘You don’t have a choice.’

‘Oh, I do.’ His lips pulled back in a sneer. ‘You see, everyone has their weakness. Don’t think I won’t find yours.’

‘I’ll destroy you before you can.’

‘You ungrateful little whore.’ He shoved her back against the stone column, pressing his body hard against hers. The two of them were nearly matched in height, but his shoulders were wide and his neck thick, the veins bulging out with his anger. ‘You will give me the register.’

‘Let go of me.’ She pushed hard against him, but he didn’t budge. Her wrist and chest stung and the rough stone of the column scratched at her exposed shoulders.

A shadow rose up behind him and the flash of a blade appeared at Edgemont’s throat.

‘Do as the lady says,’ Rafe demanded.

Edgemont stiffened before his hand on her wrist eased. Cornelia wrenched free and slid out from between him and the pillar.

‘That’s no way to treat a Comtesse. Now, apologise,’ Rafe growled.

‘She can dress herself in all the diamonds and titles she wants, but she’s still not worth the blunt her father used to gamble with,’ Edgemont spat.

Rafe jerked the knife up higher under Edgemont’s jaw and the man winced. A small drop of blood formed above the blade, then slid down the smooth surface to stain his cravat. ‘Your apology. Now.’

Edgemont hesitated and Cornelia doubted he’d speak.

‘My apologies, Comtesse,’ he muttered, to her surprise.

‘Now, that’s more like it.’ He shoved Edgemont aside and came to stand beside her, sheathing the knife in his boot.

She reached up to take his arm, her fingertips grazing the wool jacket before she pulled back. She wasn’t about to cling to him like some Gothic heroine. Instead she stepped closer, drawing from his steady presence to replace the courage rattled out of her by Edgemont’s outburst.

‘I should have known where there is one of you, there is the other.’ Edgemont touched his throat and grimaced at the blood on his fingers. ‘You always possessed an unusual soft spot for this little whore. She must possess quite a tongue to keep you so enamoured.’

Rafe rushed at Edgemont, grabbing him by the lapels and shoving him hard against the wall. Surprise and height gave Rafe the advantage over Edgemont’s sturdiness and he tugged the Baron up by his coat to face him. ‘Say one more word to the lady and I’ll call you out.’

‘You wouldn’t dare,’ Edgemont spat, his wide hands puling at Rafe’s.

‘Would you like to bet on it?’

Edgemont’s lips curled to reveal his crooked front teeth, but he stayed silent. A long moment passed, the quiet broken by the jangle of equipage as a hackney pulled up to the kerb.

Finally, Edgemont’s hands relaxed and dropped to his sides, signalling his surrender.

Rafe released Edgemont. The Baron straightened his coat, then fixed them both with a look of venom before skulking back into the theatre.

Cornelia rubbed her aching wrist, the darkness not deep enough to hide her trembling hands.

‘Are you all right?’

She faced Rafe, ashamed of her fear and weakness. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’

‘Good. Then let’s get you home.’ He took her by the arm and drew her towards the hack, but she pulled back.