Free His Wicked Seduction by Lauren Smith Page B

that Lady Society has deemed you smitten and leaving your ways behind you. It gladdens my heart to see you return.” Her voice was low and rich, a sultry voice that reminded him of his nights here. Her pale blond hair and gray eyes, which always seemed half-closed, made her appear as though she’d just woken up from a night of devilish bed sport.
    “Madame Chanson, it is a pleasure to see you again. Do not believe everything you read. Lady Society is often wrong.” He smiled at her and she winked. She had no trouble recognizing him with the mask on, his height and the rare color of his hair was a giveaway to those that knew him.
    “You are in trouble with me, my lord.” She teased him with an affection born of years of friendship. “I do not like that you have been absent so long.”
    “Perhaps later you might exact your punishment on me.” He gave her his most rakish grin, one that made even the experienced Madame blush.
    “Perhaps I shall,” she replied. Madame Chanson never slept with the customers who came to her house, but she’d made an exception for Lucien. She’d all but begged him on more than one occasion, and he’d happily obliged.
    Once a rake, always a rake.
    “I heard that my brother has engaged a room this evening?”
    “Oh yes, of course. Shall I escort you to his chamber?”
    “Yes, thank you.”
    Lucien followed her down the corridor towards one of the finer rooms, one that had a terrace where a person could open the French windows to the gardens below. Lawrence must have paid a great deal for the privilege. Madame Chanson rapped lightly on the door.
    At the sound of Lawrence’s muffled reply to enter, she opened the door. Lawrence was seated on a loveseat feeding grapes to a buxom young woman. Both were wearing masks.
    “Brother,” Lawrence said.
    “Brother,” Lucien replied in amusement.
    The young woman straightened in Lawrence’s arms. “My lord.” The young woman greeted him with sly smile.
    Lawrence chuckled. “Feel free to join us.” He cupped the woman’s right breast with a smile and she gasped in mock shock. “There are plenty of grapes.”
    Lucien turned to Madame Chanson. “Do you have anyone new who might interest me?”
    She hesitated a moment. “Why yes…a young lady came here tonight, not half an hour earlier. A Lady of Quality, one might say. I offered her the services of my best men, but she wished for me to arrange a rendezvous with a man of equal social status. I told her there were several such gentlemen visiting the house, and if I could arrange it, she would spend the night with one of them. I did not mention names, but I did hint that you would be arriving soon. She seemed greatly interested when I described you. I know I should not have presumed to offer your company to her, my lord…”
    Intriguing. It wasn’t unheard of for married women to seek out pleasures when their own marriage beds grew cold. He had little interest in a jaded woman tonight. A young lady of quality though…one who was new to the atmosphere of the Garden was certainly of interest to him. “An innocent?”
    Madame Chanson nodded. “I believe so. She hides it well, but I see the innocence in her eyes. I know such women aren’t to your usual taste…”
    Ordinarily the Madame would have been right. Innocent women had never been of interest before, and there was always the risk of them reading too much into their first encounter. But the masks meant this woman knew what she was seeking, and that put his mind at ease. He wanted someone soft and sweet, someone who reminded him of what he was denied. He could close his eyes and see Horatia, feel her body beneath his…
    “I’m feeling adventurous, Madame. Please send her to me. Do not tell her my name.”
    “Of course.” Madame Chanson curtseyed and swept out the door in a swish of purple silk.
    Lawrence had resumed feeding grapes to his companion. Lucien removed his coat and waistcoat, flinging them over the nearest chair