Roo nodded and returned to the door, where Karli was bidding guests good night. “There you are,” she said with a dark look. “Where have you been?”
“With Luis.” He came to stand beside her, bade good night to another departing guest, and then said to Karli, “He wants his own quarters, so I gave him leave to find a place away from Duncan.”
“That I can understand,” said Karli.
Roo sighed. He knew she and Duncan had never gotten along on the few occasions he had come to the house. There was something about him that simply put her off, and the harder Duncan tried to win her over with his charming nonsense, the more distasteful she found his company. She had tried to keep her dislike to herself, but Roo saw it, and after he asked her about it, she had admitted as much.
A little while later, Luis and Duncan came to the door, and while Luis bid Karli good night, Duncan leaned over and whispered into his cousin’s ear, “I would really like to stay a while longer, Roo.”
Roo said, “I’d sleep better if you checked out the shop and made sure everything was in order.”
Duncan’s features clouded. “I’m sure you would.”
Roo took him by the elbow and steered him a few steps away. “I’ve also told Luis to move out of your house.”
This caught Duncan completely off guard. “What?” he said.
“Well,” said Roo in a conspiratorial tone, “you’re rising in the world along with me, and . . .” Letting his gaze wander to where Sylvia and the daughters of several other wealthy men stood in conversation with a number of young men, he added, “And I thought you might do with a little more privacy for your . . . entertaining. I told Luis to find himself new quarters.”
Duncan didn’t know what to make of this for a moment, but then he smiled and said, “Thank you, cousin. Most generous of you.”
Roo hurried Duncan back to the door, where he bade Karli good night. A little while later, Dash came and said, “I’m going to escort Miss Estherbrook back to her father’s house.”
Roo nodded and attempted to look uninterested. He turned to find Karli’s eyes fixed upon him. Smiling, he said, “This is going on longer than I wanted. Why don’t you check up on Abigail while I shoo out the last of the guests? I’ll be up in a while.”
Karli looked unconvinced, but she nodded, lifted the hem of her dress, and walked to the stairway and quickly climbed to the second floor.
Roo made a brisk tour of the room, politely making it clear to those still there that the party was drawing to a close. He found Jerome Masterson asleep in a large chair in a small room off the main parlor, his arms wrapped around a now empty bottle of very expensive Keshian brandy. Lifting his partner by the arm, Roo carried him to the main salon, where he saw his bookkeeper deep in conversation with another young man. He motioned for Jason to come over and gave Masterson’s care over to him, instructing him to see his partner got home safely.
As he reached the door, the last of the guests were leaving, including Sylvia and Dash. As the last visitor departed, Dash’s hired carriage pulled up to the door. Sylvia turned to bid Roo good night and feigned a stumble, falling against him. He caught her and felt her body hard against his. She whispered, “My goodness! I must have had too much wine.” Her face was mere inches from his as she looked into his eyes and said, “What must you think of me?”
Then, as if by impulse, she kissed his cheek and whispered, “Please come soon.” Stepping back, she turned and said, “Thank you again, Rupert. And again forgive my . . . clumsiness.”
She moved quickly down the steps and entered the carriage as Dash held the door open for her. He glanced back at his employer, then climbed in after her, and the carriage headed off down the street.
Roo watched until it disappeared and then returned to the door. He walked inside and found the three hired servants waiting. He thanked them for their good work, paid them with a bonus, and sent them on their way. He knew Mary would already be asleep, as would Rendel, for they would both be up at dawn the next day. He pulled off his coat and tossed it on the end of the banister, too tired to hang it in the wardrobe his wife had purchased for his clothing.
His mind was afire with images of Sylvia Estherbrook and he could not be rid of her feel, her scent in his nostrils, her warmth, and her lips upon his cheek. His body ached for her as he entered the darkened bedroom he shared with Karli. He glanced over and found Abigail asleep in her crib and was relieved. If the baby had been in bed with his wife he would have retired to one of the guest rooms rather than risk awakening her.
He quickly undressed and got under the covers. In the darkness, he heard Karli say, “Did everyone finally go?”
Still slightly intoxicated, he laughed. “No, I left a few of them in the garden; I’ll set them loose in the morning.”
Karli sighed. “Was the party a success?”
He rolled over and said, “You were there; what did you think?”