The Copper and the Madam by Karyn Gerrard Read Free Book Online

the
grave.”
    Rea raised her glass. “To the happy
couple.”
    They each took a sip then returned to eating
the salad.
    “I am pleased for Desmond, truly. You
mentioned before she is older than him?”
    “Yes, by at least ten or twelve years,” she
replied.
    Rory shrugged. “A more mature, steady hand
could be what he needs. Someone old enough to appreciate him and
love him completely.”
    Rea laughed. “That is what Desmond said, in
not so many words.”
    He sipped his wine. “I suppose it will be
something I should consider soon. Marriage, that is.”
    Her heart crashed to her toes. The thought of
Rory married to a strange woman almost brought up the food she had
consumed. She lifted her napkin to her mouth and coughed into it to
fight back the nausea.
    “You have someone in mind?” she managed to
croak behind her napkin.
    “No, but I am not getting any younger,” he
replied.
    “What is your age?”
    “Thirty-two.”
    She coughed again, God, she’d thought he was
older somehow. Two years younger than her. What had Desmond said, age is just a number ?
    “And you, Rhiannon?”
    Should she lie? Thirty-four could be
considered ancient according to society. She was, as they said,
“firmly on the shelf.”
    She laid her napkin on her lap. “Two years
older than you.”
    Rory shrugged and continued eating.
    When they had finished, Jacob appeared to
take the plates away, then returned a few moments later with the
soup.
    “Cian O’Connor, do you know him?” Rory asked
between spoonfuls.
    “Yes, a copper, like you. Detective. I know
of him.”
    Cian had been an occasional customer, but she
would not tell Rory that, or anything of the detective’s
proclivities.
    “He spent all afternoon checking on Southen.
No one has seen the man in London. Doesn’t mean he isn’t here
somewhere, holed up. Cian also found out about his country seat. He
has an estate outside of Sutton-on-Sea in Lincolnshire. It is a
couple of hours by train. I thought to go there tomorrow and poke
around. Mind you, I did not let the inspector know this. I want to
be sure before making a report. I managed to take long overdue
personal time.”
    Rea lowered her spoon. “Kerrigan, I want to
go with you.”
    He halted his eating and arched an eyebrow in
question. “Why?”
    Why indeed? Rea wasn’t exactly sure. Perhaps
Gordon deserved her attention in this matter.
    “I owe Gordon. Besides, if you have a woman
with you, the inquiries would take on a less officious slant. I
think it wise you not let on you’re a copper, don’t you agree?”
    He nodded. “Aye, true enough. I will be
staying overnight.”
    Rea picked up her spoon, dipped it in the
bowl, and sipped quietly. “I am sure there is an inn of some sort
there. We can reserve two rooms.”
    Rory’s eyes twinkled. “Two rooms? Who are we
to be, brother and sister, then? We will have to fabricate a story.
Perhaps you should be my wife, and then we would need only one
room.” He winked, chuckled, and ate more of his soup.
    A roll of crackling heat moved through her.
Wife. One room. One bed. She should call his bluff. And then what?
Have him rebuff her should she wish more than a hug? Far better off
staying here, hiding as usual. Desmond embracing life and Gordon’s
being cut short brought many things into perspective. In all these
years, no man had appealed to her, only Rory Kerrigan. At last,
here lay a chance to see if she was capable of feeling anything at
all.
    “Very well, Kerrigan, One room. I’ll play
your wife.”
     
    Rory could not believe his ears. He teased,
never thought she would take him up on the preposterous scenario.
Rhiannon did have a point. Traveling with a “wife,” he might be
able to find out more than if he identified himself as a
copper.
    She sipped at her soup. Rhiannon, as usual,
shuttered her emotions. However, the last few days he had observed
a depth of feeling he’d never seen in her before. She cared for the
people working for her and all those