Powder of Love (I) Read Online Free PDF

shouldn’t enter the territory of men and business.
    She smiled, hoping to coax him out of his dismay. “Yes, but my companion is not well, and I didn’t want to ask you to visit a house of contagion.”
    “Oh dear, Miss…errm…” He, like most people, had forgotten Miss Renshaw’s name.
    “She will be fine.” Rosalie adjusted the embroidered band of her right glove. Later on she’d tell Miss Renshaw her lie about contagion. That ought to improve the lady’s spirits. Miss Renshaw seemed obsessively worried the world would find out about her folly.
    Mr. Dorsey nodded vigorously. “Happy to hear it. Good, good. But tell me what I can do for you today.”
    “I recall that Mr. Gideon Reed said he was stopping at a hotel, but I can’t remember which one.”
    “Fifth Avenue. Mr. Clermont is there also. I did wonder if they were friends.”
    She didn’t bother to tell him they didn’t seem to stay apart from one another—not even for a few minutes.
    Mr. D.’s wide-eyed alarm made him look even more like a pug dog than usual. “I should have warned you earlier, ma’am. I have heard some rumors about Mr. Clermont that worry me a great deal. I am not at all certain he’s a respectable character.”
    “I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true of everyone who coveted Cousin Johnny’s objects. Thank you for letting me know.” She rose to her feet. That settled it, then. She had no interest in allowing a couple of scoundrels to take possession of the powder. Still, she had nowhere else to turn for information.
    “This is about the vial?” he asked. “You have decided what to do?”
    “Not yet.”
    “Let me know what you decide. I shan’t rest easy until I know you’ve rid yourself of the substance.”
    That makes two of us , she didn’t say aloud.
    * * *
    The day was clear and lovely, far too beautiful to spend in the city on business.
    Certainly too nice a day to visit a pair of disreputable rakes. Yet she directed Hawes to the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
    Outside the 23rd Street entrance, a crowd had gathered.
    She squeezed through the milling groups of well-dressed New Yorkers, found a bellboy, and sent a message. Waiting for a reply, she stood in the hotel’s crowded ladies’ parlor, wishing she’d worn some sort of veil. Too many people she knew were here, and the crowds were growing thicker. She fell into conversation with a well-to-do matron and soon learned the reason for the unusual number of visitors.
    The Republican candidate for president was visiting the city and staying at this very hotel, Mrs. Wallack informed her. “But I didn’t know you were interested in politics.”
    “Naturally. Isn’t everyone?” She caught sight of a tall, dark-haired gentleman in the doorway. Mr. Reed?
    She watched him, and her unruly mind wondered if he grasped his partners in sexual congress the way Hawes had Miss Renshaw. Those large, warm hands pulling her against his body. Naked flesh.
    The man turned, and she saw it wasn’t Mr. Reed.
    That was enough to stop the unwelcome thoughts immediately. She felt her face turn hot.
    Fuming at herself for the vulgar turn of her imagination and at the reprobates for making her wait, she smiled at Mrs. Wallack. “Do tell me,” she said. “What will you say when you’re introduced to Mr. Garfield?”

Chapter Three

    Clermont was at his second favorite hobby, reading aloud from his diary of his previous day’s “adventures,” when someone knocked at the suite’s door.
    Reed jumped to his feet, relieved. Listening to this stuff was one of his least favorite chores, but it helped keep Clermont calm and more malleable.
    When the bellboy announced a lady awaited them, Clermont pulled the cigar from his mouth. “Wonderful. I’ll be ready in—”
    Reed interrupted the bright-eyed Clermont. “Escort her to the ladies’ parlor, please.” Reed handed the boy a random American coin. “I’ll meet her there in a few minutes.”
    He closed the door and glared at