If You Give a Rake a Ruby by Shana Galen Read Free Book Online

way those two men you beat the hell out of in the alley were scary?”
    â€œI was fourteen or fifteen when I met him.” She stood and dusted off her gown. “That’s the impression I carry.”
    â€œFair enough.”
    â€œGood. Can we leave now?”
    â€œYes.”
    She started for the door and was pleased when he followed. She could not wait to go home and go to sleep. Perhaps she’d take a warm bath first.
    â€œLet’s find this Gabriel.”
    Fallon blew out a breath and felt her shoulders slump. “I knew you were going to say that.”
    He hailed a hackney cab once they reached St. James again and climbed in after her. “Now where?” she demanded. “Surely you don’t propose we search every gambling hell in the city for him.”
    He actually seemed to consider the idea.
    â€œ Fitzhugh ,” she warned.
    â€œCoachman, take us to Monmouth Street.”
    Fallon’s jaw dropped. “ Seven Dials ? I’m not going to Seven Dials. Do you want to get us killed?”
    â€œâ€™Ave to agree with the lady, guv,” the jarvey added. “Monmouth is a wee bit unsavory this ’our of the night.”
    â€œI’ll pay you double,” Fitzhugh stated and pressed the coins into the man’s hand.
    The jarvey released the brake. “Monmouth Street!” he called.
    â€œNo!” Fallon had half a mind to jump from the vehicle, but that was a venture almost as dangerous as Seven Dials. “I’ll pay you triple to turn back!” she called to the coachman, but either he didn’t hear or he had decided money in the hand was worth more than promises.
    Fallon blew out a breath. “What on earth is in Seven Dials? Other than pickpockets, cutthroats, and gin?”
    â€œThe Merry Widow.”
    Fallon gripped the edge of the seat to keep from falling. “A brothel? I don’t know what sort of arrangement you think we have—”
    Fitzhugh held up a hand. “A business arrangement.” He leaned across the coach and looked her in the eye. “Trust me, Fallon, if I wanted you, I wouldn’t have to take you to an accommodation house. I could have you right here and right now.”
    Angry words of denial rose to her lips, but somehow she couldn’t utter them. He was ridiculous. She wouldn’t allow him to so much as touch her.
    Would she?
    His dark eyes seemed to challenge her, and she shivered. Perhaps it would be best not to test his assertions. She looked away—anything to avoid those eyes. “What is at The Merry Widow?”
    â€œAn old friend. If she doesn’t know where this Gabriel is, no one does.”
    Fallon had a thousand questions, but she clamped her mouth shut and refrained from asking. He was a spy. Such men probably had unlikely acquaintances in every city. And she supposed if this woman helped them find Gabriel then she couldn’t complain. Fallon wanted out of this partnership, and the sooner the better.
    The coach passed the sundial at the junction of the seven streets that made up the area of Seven Dials, and Fallon pulled the hood of her mantle around her face and burrowed into the soft material. She could take care of herself, but that didn’t mean she looked for trouble. It was a short jaunt down Monmouth and then the hackney slowed and stopped in front of a dilapidated building. Fallon wondered if a building existed in Seven Dials that didn’t look as though it had been lifted by some giant hand, spun around, and dropped back down again.
    â€œâ€™Ere ye are, guv. Quick as can be.”
    Fitzhugh climbed out of the coach and held out his hand for Fallon. She pushed it away and climbed out on her own, ignoring the amused look in his eyes. She wasn’t going to allow him to pick and choose times to play the gentleman, and she wouldn’t be fooled. He might be the son of an earl—she looked up at the lurid sign proclaiming The Merry Widow with a