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you wouldn’t have to wait long.”
    Jack saluted the grinning man before turning to followhis client up that huge staircase. The corridor above was decorated in the same style as the area below, but it was much, much quieter. Kathleen led him to a door not far from the top of the stairs.
    He was surprised when he followed her over the threshold into the room. He’d expected it to be posh, but this was beyond any bordello he’d ever seen. The room was large, decorated in more rich colors, and had a huge four-poster bed in the center of it. There was a private bath that he could see through an open door, with a tall, claw-foot tub. Low burning lamps cast a golden glow throughout the interior—very flattering light to be seen naked by. He had once taken Sadie to an inn with rooms this fancy. She’d thought she’d died and gone to heaven. He could still remember making love to her in that soft, soft bed.
    “Whiskey?” Kathleen inquired, holding up a bottle as he closed the door behind them.
    “Of course,” he replied with an easy smile, and crossed the carpet to the small sitting area near the window. He unbuttoned his coat and sat down on the rich crimson sofa.
    Kathleen joined him shortly, with the whiskey. They talked business for almost an hour. His and Trystan’s business had made several investments for her over the last four years, several of which had paid off in capital amounts. Added to the income she claimed from the brothel, she was well on her way to becoming an impressively wealthy woman.
    They drank as they talked, and after the business partwas done, Jack stayed on for another three drinks when the conversation turned to Ireland. Kathleen had grown up in a different part of the country, but it was nice to talk about home and not have to be too careful about what he said. She didn’t know his family. Didn’t know him. And after running into Sadie, there was something soothing about having an Irishwoman act as though she found him charming. It was an affectation that came easily to him, and part of his success in business.
    A charming scoundrel Sadie had often called him.
    His head swimming from too much whiskey, Jack checked his watch for the second time that evening.
    “I have to go.” He tucked the time piece back into his pocket. “It’s late.”
    A soft, white hand settled over his thigh. “You don’t have to leave just yet, do you, boy-o?”
    He smiled. “I think we’ve done enough business for one night.”
    “It doesn’t have to be business.” Green eyes sparkled, and the fingers on his thigh squeezed ever so invitingly. “It could be a lovely end to a lovely evening.”
    A flattered chuckle escaped him as Jack closed his hand over hers. “It could be.” He was tempted, so very tempted as he met that lovely gaze. “But it won’t.”
    She looked confused for a moment, but the pucker between her brows immediately smoothed again. “Of course. A gent like you must have a wife waiting for him.” She made it sound as though he were some kind of rare creature.
    “No,” he replied, more gruffly than he intended. “Shegave up waiting a long time ago. But I think I’m better off sleeping alone tonight, despite the offer of such beautiful company.”
    Obviously more curious than offended, she didn’t protest. She simply smiled and said, “Some other time, perhaps?”
    Jack returned the smile. “Perhaps.” But it was a lie. There were too many complications in sharing this woman’s bed, no matter if money was exchanged or not. She reminded him of home, of things he’d left behind and things he’d lost.
    She stood when he did and escorted him to the door. On his way to the stairs he saw his friend from downstairs sandwiched between two blond beauties, stumbling into an open room as one tried to remove his coat. The man, he noticed, didn’t look any happier than Jack felt.
    Outside, it had started to rain, and Jack climbed into the carriage he’d secured for his time in London,