The Secrets of a Courtesan by Nicola Cornick Read Free Book Online Page A

who
    smiled back straight into her eyes. “But should we ever fall out I will let you know, Mr.
    Sampson.”
    Sampson laughed. “I live for that day,” he said.
    Eve smiled. She had never been much of an actress, she was all too well aware that she had too
    fiery and opinionated a disposition to hide her true feelings well, but since Rowarth wished her
    to offer herself—since she had to do so to save herself from Hawkesbury’s so-called justice—she
    would fulfill her role with all the fervor she could.
    And hate herself for it later, no doubt. But she could not allow herself to think about that now.
    Sampson was still holding her hand and she let it rest there, tightening her fingers with the
    slightest of pressure.
    “I was hoping,” she murmured, “that I might have a few moments with you in private later, Mr.
    Sampson. There is a matter I would very much like to discuss with you—a business matter to our
    mutual benefit.”
    Sampson’s eyes almost popped out of his head with a combination of lust and excitement,
    curiosity and, Eve was interested to note, wariness.
    “You intrigue me, Mrs. Nightingale,” he said. “I will rejoin you as soon as I can arrange it.” He
    kissed her hand again, running his lips over her knuckles in an odiously familiar manner that
    made Eve want to wipe her hand on her gown.
    “Your servant, madam,” Sampson said, moving off to greet some of his other guests and giving
    her one very long, backward look.
    Rowarth took Eve’s hand in a grip so tight she almost flinched.
    “He seems to like you,” Rowarth said, his voice hard and low.
    “Of course he does,” Eve said sharply. “There is plenty of me on display to like.” She glared at
    him. “You would also have observed that he was surprised to see me. He was not expecting me
    to be here tonight. I told you that I barely know him.”
    Rowarth’s gaze narrowed on her. “I accept that,” he said slowly.
    “Oh, you do, do you?” Eve snapped. “Not that it makes any difference to you. Well, stay close to
    me, Rowarth, while I trap him for you. You want me to whore myself tonight,” she added, seeing
    him recoil and glad that her bitter words had touched him, “so I will do. I was your harlot so will
    do whatever you wish.”
    She was unprepared for Rowarth’s response. He caught her arm and pulled her behind the cover
    of an enormous statue of Apollo. His expression was tight and furious and made her quake
    inside. “Never refer to yourself like that again, Eve,” he said. “Never! Do you hear me?”
    Eve was utterly shaken. For a long moment their gazes held, tense and stormy, and then Rowarth
    swore under his breath and his arms went about her and his mouth came down on hers with
    absolute mastery, forcing her lips apart, his tongue tangling with hers and plundering her without
    restraint. Eve was lost from the first moment, her emotions adrift, the sensuality flaring between
    them in a scalding tide. She forgot where they were, almost forgot everything, in the maelstrom
    of sensation and desire that swept her away.
    “Getting into the swing of things rather well, Rowarth.”
    An amused male voice had them falling apart, panting, and Eve looked up to see a tall man with
    brown hair and the wickedest hazel eyes she had ever seen smiling at her and making her an
    elegant bow.
    “A pleasure to meet you again, Mrs. Nightingale,” he said, “though I do apologize for
    interrupting you at such an impossibly awkward moment. You may remember that we met a few
    times in London. Miles Vickery, entirely at your service.” He gave Eve a look of comprehensive
    admiration that brought a blush to her cheeks. “I wish that Hawkesbury had chosen me for this
    assignment rather than bringing Rowarth in specially,” he drawled, “but then I suppose he does
    have the prior claim.”
    Rowarth did not seem amused. “Vickery—” he began, with so much possessive threat in his
    voice that Miles backed off, raising his hands