Powder of Love (I) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Clermont, who lay on the bed, his handwritten pages in one hand, the fat cigar between the fingers of the other.
    “We agreed you will not entertain here,” he said.
    “I can’t help it if the ladies come after me.” Clermont took a big puff of the cigar, and ash spilled onto his chest. “You’ll just pay the staff a little extra, and I can at last employ my staff in more pleasant surroundings.”
    “No, Clermont. The rules aren’t going to change just because we’re not in London.” Reed picked up the list of ships heading back to England and waved it in his usual unspoken threat of handing in his notice.
    Clermont swung his legs off the bed. “Laddie, I am sad we aren’t getting along lately.”
    “You’re sad that the more responsible members of your family will probably send the law after you if I scarper.”
    “Not at all, but I know they’ll ship someone even less fit and able than my old friend Reed.”
    “God bless the man your family sends. He’ll need God on his side.” Reed pulled out a watch and slumped down into a chair. “Is the female downstairs a professional? Because they warned me again at the front desk—this is a respectable establishment. If any more ladies of the night show up asking for you—”
    “I tell you, I hadn’t made any plans. Now I might. I’ll nip down and take a good look at her.” He rubbed his hands together.
    “No. I’ll nip down and send her on her way. You push the limits of my patience.”
    Clermont still wore that vapid smile that meant he wasn’t thinking about anything other than plowing into whichever female waited for him downstairs.
    Reed tried again. “You said you wanted to go to the Lotus House tonight. Save your strength for that.”
    Clermont flopped back down and stubbed out the cigar on the bedside table. “Very well.”
    Reed examined the man lounging on the bed. He’d learned Clermont’s mannerisms well enough to know when the man planned to escape his keeper, and this wasn’t one of those times. Apparently the reminder of the Lotus House had worked.
    One of the older siblings in a large family, Reed knew how to manage small children, and Clermont’s personality rather resembled a toddler’s. One could take away his toys far more easily if one dangled the promise of another treat in front of him. Keep him busy, and he’d stay out of trouble. What a pity Clermont wasn’t a small child instead of a strong, reasonably good-looking, too-wealthy, unbridled idiot.
    Reed picked up his wallet and hat. If necessary, he’d escort the woman from the premises, perhaps pay her cab fare—or even more. He had grown weary of Clermont and most of his ladies, but occasionally the female who’d hunted down the rich Englishman was desperate and hungry.
    God knew he wasn’t a puritanical soul—or hadn’t been until he’d held this job for several weeks—but it gave Reed positive pleasure to give such a woman a hefty sum from Clermont’s purse as he informed her she needn’t use her body to earn her living for at least a few days.
    He avoided the creaking elevator and used the stairs all the way to the first floor. The bellboy asked him to wait in a semiprivate lounge while he fetched the lady.
    “Who is this lady?”
    “Dunno.” The bellboy pushed away the strap to his cap and absently scratched at a red mark on his chin. “Didn’t give a name. I swear it, Cap’n. Said it was personal business.”
    Confirmation that she was up to no good.
    Reed settled himself in a chair and waited. The last one who’d shown up at the hotel had tried to seduce him, and despite months of celibacy, he’d said no without much regret.
    There was only one female who’d appealed to him lately. She’d drawn him with her full, expressive mouth, the delicious curves of her figure, but he’d grown too accustomed to that sort of appeal—Clermont would only visit sexually arousing women. The difference was he’d also decided he liked her. He’d had a chance