The Copper and the Madam Read Online Free PDF Page A

Metropolitan Police, he made a good
candidate for matrimony with a well-bred young lady. He’d kept his
sordid background secret, lied to all and sundry that his parents
had died and he came to London to live with an old maiden aunt who
had since passed. People accepted his fabrication, as he was well
spoken and intelligent. Why he confessed all to Rhiannon…?
    Rhiannon moved into his thoughts as he
climbed the stone steps to the front entrance of The Blind Cupid.
No, a madam would not be considered a good match by the department.
There could be nothing between them. Yet, when his lips touched
hers, he’d been unable to stop the desirous moan from leaving his
throat.
    One of her bullyboys nodded to Rory and
opened the door. Jacob escorted him to the same private dining room
they occupied last night for supper and announced his arrival.
Stepping back, he closed the door, leaving Rory alone with
Rhiannon.
    The scents of cooked bacon, fresh coffee, and
pastries emanated from a feast laid out on sideboard. Bleedin’
hell, his stomach rumbled at the delicious scents. Dressed in a
dark red morning gown and white wool shawl, Rhiannon waved toward
the food.
    “Help yourself, Kerrigan.”
    “Smells inviting. I will if you join me,
Rhiannon. You need to eat. Come on, darlin’, sit. I’ll wait on
you.”
    Rhiannon pulled the shawl closer about her
shoulders and sat in the nearer chair. Rory swallowed hard. Her
ample breasts were on full display for once; usually she wore gowns
buttoned up to her neck. His heated gaze roved over the milky white
mounds. Sweet Jaysus, to hell with breakfast, he wanted to feast on
her tits. His cock roared to life, so to hide the bulge in his
trousers he began to heap piles of food on a plate. With his free
hand, he buttoned his long coat before he faced her.
    “Eat all of this, Rhiannon.” He set the plate
before her.
    She sighed then reached for the coffee pot
and poured them each a cup. Gathering his own foodstuffs, he sat.
Dark circles, visible even under her makeup, proved she hadn’t
slept well. Last night he had not informed her of the details of
the murder. When she identified Gordon at the morgue, he’d been
covered up to the neck with the canvas sheet. He had to be thorough
and officious, no matter how upsetting the facts were.
    Rhiannon picked up her fork and nibbled some
of the shirred eggs along with a piece of ham. Silverware clattered
on the ironstone plates as they ate.
    “I need to know if anyone has caused any
trouble at The Blind Cupid, made any threats against you or your
people.”
    Rhiannon shrugged. “Not lately.”
    “But there have been incidents.”
    She sipped her coffee. “Yes, there have. I
have tightened up the list of my clientele. I am very thorough. I
do not let just anyone wandering in off the cobbles use my
services.”
    Rory bit into a piece of toast. “Tell me of
these incidents. I don’t care how long ago they occurred.”
    She frowned. “Why, Kerrigan?”
    “Because, not only was Gordon’s throat slit
in a brutal manner, but his tackle mutilated and the name Rea carved into his side.”
    Rhiannon dropped the coffee cup, and it
smashed on the thick-planked floor. Jacob entered the room without
knocking, his fists clenched.
    “It’s all right, Jacob. I was clumsy.” She
knelt, grabbed a cloth, and mopped up the mess.
    She sat, took a deep breath then narrated a
number of incidents through the years. Most were mild and hardly
warranted a murder as a response. A few of the happenings were a
little more serious in nature. No wonder she kept her muscle-bound
bullyboys nearby.
    “Repeat the woman’s name again?”
    “You mean, Lila Jenner?”
    “I’ll be damned. About five years ago I did a
background and reference check on her for Lord Stonecliff.”
    Rhiannon shook her head. “You know the Beast
of Stonecliff?”
    “Well now, darlin’, the unfortunate man was
scarred in the Boer War. He does not deserve such a name. I
assisted the baron with a