Free The Scoundrel's Lover by Jess Michaels Page A

it didn’t. I may have no choice but to bring my maid and I would never want to put her in danger.”
    Marcus smiled slightly at that answer. “The servant quarters do sometimes get wild, but those who want to partake in the same kind of fun as their mistresses and masters must go to a different area. It is policed as carefully as upstairs is. No one comes to my club and is forced to do anything they don’t wish to do. So your Deirdre will be very safe, I assure you. Your only worry will be her wagging tongue.”
    Annabelle shook her head. “She would not betray me, I’m certain. But I’ll be sure we both have masks. Are there any other instructions I should know about?”
    “At the door, they will require a name, to check it against our membership roster,” Marcus said.
    Annabelle froze. She hadn’t thought about that fact, but of course it would be true. Part of how Marcus made his money was through the memberships and he couldn’t allow just anyone off the street inside, both for financial and safety concerns.
    “I would obviously prefer not to be on your books,” she whispered. “Though I could give you the fee if you tell me what it is.”
    “Three hundred pounds per annum for a basic membership,” he said softly. “Five hundred for the inclusion of the use of private rooms. A lifetime membership can be purchased for five thousand pounds.”
    She blinked. “That is more than many people’s income entirely.”
    He smiled, but there was little pleasure to the expression. “People are willing to pay for pleasure and privacy, Annabelle.”
    “I can get you three hundred pounds,” she began, but he held up a hand to stop her.
    “I wouldn’t ask you for a fee,” he said. “But I do have a request since you are not officially on our books.”
    Annabelle nearly sagged in relief. She had the money, of course, but to remove that much for her pin account would likely raise the eyebrows of the solicitor. He would report the activity to her mother and probably to Rafe.
    And she couldn’t imagine either one would be happy to know what she’d spent her funds on.
    “What is it, Marcus—” She broke off abruptly and brought her hand up to her mouth. Had she just called him by his given name? “I’m sorry, Mr. Rivers.”
    His eyes lit up and she saw his desire as plainly as could be. “Now I have two requests.”
    She squeezed her eyes shut. That hypnotic, seductive tone of his couldn’t bode well. “What are they?”
    “First, that you will call me Marcus, at least when we are alone.”
    Her lips parted. The intimacy of his first name was almost as great as the intimacy of the kiss they’d shared. And she’d already made it clear that she couldn’t ever repeat the kiss.
    But what could she do, deny him this simple request and jeopardize the boon he was allowing her? That seemed very foolish.
    “Very well, Marcus,” she whispered, hating herself for how much it moved her to say his name aloud again. “What is your second demand?”
    “Request,” he corrected her. “And the second one is that when you come to the foyer, give my man the name Jasmine. I’ll be sure that is on the list of allowed guests and it will protect your identity. It will also signal to my staff that you are to be brought directly to me.”
    “Do you mind if I ask you why you chose the name Jasmine?”
    He held her gaze steadily. “Because you smell of it.”
    She stood captive to both that simple statement and to the very complicated look on his face. This man wanted her. He wanted her very much. But she had been in a room with him before and not seen it, so why now?
    Unless she just hadn’t wanted to see before. After all, his intensity had always troubled her, making her think about him for days after any encounter between them.
    “You say your staff will bring me to you—why is that?” she asked, this time her voice no more than a dry croak.
    He leaned back in his chair. “So that I may protect you,