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course, had other
    ideas, and being far more chivalrous than his employer, proffered
    Jane a helping hand.
    Minshom didn’t speak to either of them on the journey. He
    was too busy wondering what his reception at the pleasure house
    would be like. Would he be barred because of his involvement
    with Helene’s daughter and her lover? He wasn’t sure. Madame
    SIMPLY INSATIABLE / 45
    was, after all, a superb businesswoman and he hadn’t hurt
    Marguerite Lockwood. In truth, he’d reluctantly come to admire
    her over the past weeks. But she was involved with Anthony
    Sokorvsky, and he had more than enough grievances against
    Minshom to spare.
    Ah, Anthony. Part of the thrill of fucking Sokorvsky was that
    even in extremis, he had always tried to resist Minshom, to prove
    that he could deny his sexual impulses even when his body said
    differently. And perhaps, seeing as he had obviously found sexual
    comfort with a woman, he had been correct to resist. He’d
    insisted that he had the right to choose his own sexual destiny, to
    walk away from Minshom, to make him a laughingstock...
    The carriage stopped and Minshom stared coldly at Robert
    and Jane. Tonight would be different. He would show Jane that
    he really had no soul or compassion left in him. He would show
    everyone.
    Jane licked her lips as she was ushered up the wide white steps
    and into the brothel. Wedged between Minshom and Robert, she
    could see very little except intriguing glimpses of well-polished
    marble and wood floors and scarlet silk wallpaper. The house and
    its surroundings certainly weren’t quite as she had pictured them.
    The neighborhood looked far too upper class to contain a bawdy
    house.
    «We’ll go in to the receiving room and wait for Madame.»
    Minshom sounded irritated, but then he so often did when he
    was near her. Despite his insistence that he didn’t care about her
    anymore, he still reacted to her presence. She’d felt him respond
    to her earlier, enjoyed the way his heated gaze had lingered on
    her exposed breasts. For one thrilling moment she’d thought he
    was going to grab her and take her to the ground.
    Jane lowered her hood and went to warm her hands in front
    of the fire. Men’s breeches gave her a freedom of movement she
    hadn’t experienced before. Maybe she should take a pair home
    and wear them to ride astride or climb onto the roof or any of
    46 / Kate Pearce

    those other thousands of tedious jobs that became impossible in
    a skirt and petticoats.
    «Good evening, Lord Minshom.»
    Jane turned around to find one of the most beautiful women
    she had ever seen coming through the doorway. The vision was
    blonde, petite and had a husky French accent that only added to
    her allure.
    «Good evening, Madame Helene.» Minshom bowed but didn’t
    make an effort to kiss the goddess’s hand. «I wish to bring a
    guest into your house this evening.»
    Madame inclined her head. «Which of these gentlemen is it?»
    «I believe you’ve met Robert before.» Minshom waved a
    casual hand in Jane’s direction. «It’s this one.»
    Madame’s delicate blue gaze fastened on Jane and her eyes
    widened. «‘This’ isn’t a man.»
    «No.»
    «I don’t think I’ve ever seen you bring a woman into my
    establishment before, my lord.» Madame paused and directed her
    next question at Jane. «Are you sure you want to do this?»
    Minshom frowned. «Madame, that is scarcely any of your
    business...»
    Jane moved in front of her husband and dropped an awkward
    curtsey in her breeches. «I’m sure, thank you.»
    An amused smile hovered on the paragon’s lips. Jane realized
    she was being scrutinized very carefully and that close-up,
    Madame was not quite as young as she looked.
    «Do you know Lord Minshom well?»
    «Very well.» Jane said. «We’ve been married for ten years.»
    «You are his wife?» Madame pressed two fingers to her mouth
    as if to stifle a laugh. «Forgive me; it never occurred to me that a
    man such as Lord Minshom