Free Microsoft Word - Burning Lamp - Quick_ Amanda by noel Page B

about Luttrell and the way he thinks than I do.”

    “No.”

    She drew herself up. “Therefore, in exchange for working the lamp I ask that you help me devise
    a new technique for conducting effective brothel raids.”

    “What you are asking, Mrs. Pyne, is that I assist you in devising a strategy that will surely get
    you killed. The answer is no.”

    “Give the matter some thought, sir,” she urged.

    “I may be bound for hell, madam, but at least when I arrive at the gates I will not have that
    particular sin on my conscience.”

    He turned and walked toward the door, the lamp gripped in one hand. He did not look back.

    “Mr. Winters,” she said quickly. “Think for a moment. You said, yourself, that you need me.”

    “I found one dreamlight reader. I will find another.”

    “Hah. You are bluffing.”

    “What makes you so certain of that?”

    “I spent over a decade in the American West. Gambling is a popular pastime in that part of the
    world. I recognize a bluff when I see one. Even if you could locate another dreamlight reader I
    doubt very much you’ll find one who is as powerful as I am.”

    “I’ll just have to take my chances.”

    He went out into the hall.

    The odds were staggeringly against him. She knew that, even if he did not. If he was right about
    what was happening to his senses, he might very well go mad and perhaps even die.

    “Oh, bloody hell,” she muttered. “Very well, sir, you win. I will work your lamp for you.”

    He stopped and turned around. “And the price, Mrs. Pyne?”

    She twitched up her skirts and started toward the door. “I thought I made it clear. I do not need
    your money.”

    His jaw was rigid. “Damn it, Mrs. Pyne—”

    She went past him into the hall and headed toward the stairs. “I will not charge you a fee for my
    services, Mr. Winters. Instead you will have to consider yourself in my debt from now until I
    think of some other favor to ask of you.” She gave him her iciest smile over her shoulder. “Of
    course, you will likely decline to grant that one, too. For my own good, of course.”

    He followed her. “I will do anything you ask of me so long as it will not put you in harm’s way.”

    “If repaying the favor to me hinges on your approval of whatever it is I choose to ask of you, I
    suspect you will be in my debt for a very long time. Possibly until it snows in that rather warm
    destination you mentioned a moment ago.”

    “I will find a way to repay you, Mrs. Pyne,” he vowed.

    “Don’t bother. I shall take far more satisfaction in knowing that a notorious crime lord is in my
    debt.”

    “Damnation, Mrs. Pyne. Has anyone ever told you that you are stubborn, difficult, reckless and
    altogether lacking in sound judgment?”

    “Certainly, sir. Those are the very qualities that enabled me to make my fortune in America.”

    “I can believe that,” he said with great depth of feeling.

    She reached the front hall and opened the door for him with a flourish.

    “Before you hurl any more insults,” she said, “you would do well to bear in mind that those are
    also the same character traits that have convinced me to work your damned lamp. Certainly only
    a stubborn, reckless, difficult woman lacking in sound judgment would have allowed a
    prominent member of the criminal class over the threshold of her home.”

    He paused on the front step and looked back at her. The flash of sensual heat combined with the
    dangerous irritation in his eyes sent a thrill through her. She caught her breath.

    “You make an excellent point, Mrs. Pyne,” he said, sounding very thoughtful. “I will do my best
    to remember it in our future dealings.”

    “Good day, Mr. Winters.”

    She closed the door with considerably more force than was necessary.

    6

    “DARE I ASK IF THE MEETING IN THE MUSEUM WENT WELL?” Mr. Pierce inquired in
    his whiskey-and-cigar voice.

    “It could best be described as interesting ,” Adelaide said. “Mr.