His Mistress (8 page)

T
he rich red carpet under Tobias’ feet muffled his footsteps as he made his way up the main staircase of the
La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres
. Beneath his hand, the dark mahogany banister gleamed in the soft glow of gaslight. When he reached the second floor landing, Tobias followed the corridor to the balcony overlooking the Obedience Chamber. Like the Lyceum, the Marlborough Set’s favorite theater, the gallery allowed full view of the stage below.

But the theatrical spectacle Tobias could see in the chamber below was a much different type of play than one might find at the Lyceum. Most members of the Set would find the performance on the stage below more than shocking. Like Culverstone, a great many of them would find it a revolting pastime. Some would even deem the entire spectacle perverse and unlawful. The thought of the earl made Tobias grit his teeth. Despite being repulsed by the manner in which Tobias took his pleasure, Culverstone hadn’t hesitated to blackmail Tobias into marrying Jane.

The balcony that wrapped around two sides of the Obedience Chamber was nearly full, and Tobias stood on the top landing searching for a glimpse of one woman. When he didn’t see her, Tobias uttered a soft oath and sought out a seat in a remote section of the gallery.

Tobias stretched his legs out in front of him and tried to focus on the play below, but his thoughts kept turning back to her.
Mystère
. It had taken him two nights just to learn her name from Angélique. And the past six nights had been some of the most uncomfortable he’d experienced in a long time.

She’d captured his attention from the first minute he’d seen her in the gallery. Dark brown hair swept back in a cluster of curls at the back of her head had revealed a classical profile. An invisible cloak of strength and softness had enveloped her. Powerful and sensual, her sultry, seductive aura had drifted its way through the space separating them. The intense potency of it had knotted his muscles with a dark lust he was unaccustomed too.

His work in the East End had taught him how to read people well, but
Mystère
had lived up to her name. There was a touch of something bordering on innocence that was in direct opposition to the confidence and feminine strength she projected. She’d captivated him enough to seek her out. It was something he never did in the club. Rather he relied on Angélique to make arrangements for a suitable Lady he could serve for a night’s pleasure.

Even though
Mystère
had done nothing to encourage him, Tobias had been certain he’d captured her attention. But she’d been as elusive as her name each time he’d offered to submit to her will. The frustration her refusals had stirred in him had annoyed him. It was a sign the woman intrigued him more than he liked. He should have known to accept her refusal and walk away.

Instead, he’d agreed to her command that he save his seed for her. He’d thought obeying her instructions would be an effortless task to accomplish. It had been anything
but
easy. Not once since her command had he allowed his hand to alleviate his suffering, and he was definitely suffering. Every time he thought about the woman, his cock jumped to attention and demanded a release.

What the devil was wrong with him? He’d submitted to other Ladies before, and none of them had twisted him in knots like
Mystère
. The silent confession only raised his level of irritation. Arms folded across his chest, Tobias glared at the participants in the theater below. The soft rustle of satin caught his ear and he turned his head to see Angélique moving toward him. He immediately rose to greet her.

“Tobias,” she said with a smile as she kissed him on both cheeks. “I’m surprised to see you,
mon cher
. You are becoming a regular visitor.”

“Why?” Determined not to admit his nightly visits were because of a woman and one woman only, he arched his eyebrows at her as they sat down. Angélique eyed him carefully then smiled.

“I shall not tease you, old friend.” The Frenchwoman patted his arm. “But I am glad you are here tonight. I have several strong suspects in the matter of the traitor we must find. I believe they might be of use to you in your search.”

“You have their real names?” he asked quietly with a nod.

“Yes, but I am not willing to share them here.”

“Of course,” he said. “Why don’t I call on you tomorrow? Would eleven o’clock be a good time?”

“
Oui
, I have no engagements in the morning, and I wish to find this
bâtard
as soon as possible. Whoever has done this terrible thing has harmed you, and jeopardized the reputations of other members as well as my livelihood.” The fierce anger on Angélique’s face abruptly changed to a look of fear. “If I were to lose
La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres
, I don’t know how I would be able to provide for Margaux.”

“I doubt it will come to that. But if the worst were to happen, there is another solution,” Tobias murmured.

“
Non
, I will not tell Caleb anything,” Angélique snapped. “I will not be indebted to him for any reason, but most especially not when it comes to Margaux. I will not risk him taking her from me.”

“I’ve known Caleb for a long time, and I’m certain he wouldn’t take Margaux from you.”

“I refuse to take that chance,” she said with an emphatic note in her voice.

Tobias nodded his head. It was an argument he’d had with Angélique before. She wasn’t about to change her mind. The woman was as stubborn as Caleb. He’d never met two people more hardheaded. Silence settled between them for a moment, before Angélique tilted her head toward him.

“You seem distracted, tonight,
mon ami
.” The Frenchwoman eyed him with curiosity, and Tobias turned his attention to the chamber below.

“Do I?” The response was a casual rejection of her comment.

“Perhaps you are hoping a certain Lady will visit the club tonight.”

Amusement filled the Frenchwoman’s voice. For not the first time, he regretted having asked Angélique about
Mystère
. When he didn’t look at her, Angélique laughed again then patted his arm. “I shall not tease you any longer, Tobias. Instead, I shall leave you to enjoy the play.”

“I shall call on you tomorrow at eleven o’clock then,” he said with a large measure of relief surging its way through him as he rose to his feet.

“
Tres bon
,
mon cher
,” Angélique said in an affectionate tone of voice as she stood and Tobias bent to kiss her hand. About to turn away from him, she suddenly stopped. “Oh, forgive me, Tobias, but I failed to mention I’ve heard a rumor that Lady
Mystère
will be here this evening. I thought it would please you to know.”

When he glared at her, she didn’t bother to hide her amusement. Her eyes twinkling with mischief, she leaned forward to peck his cheek. As Angélique walked away, her soft laughter floated over her shoulder and into his ears. With a growl of annoyance, Tobias flung himself back into his chair. Damn the woman. She found his predicament amusing, and it was anything but.

In fact, his life had suddenly become a rope of knots the most skilled Lady might tie him up with. Tobias rubbed his forehead in a gesture of resignation. The fact that he was here in hopes of seeing
Mystère
again troubled him. Although he wasn’t officially engaged to Jane, a part of him was uncomfortable even being at
La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres
.

While the two of them had agreed to lead separate lives after they were married, as Jane’s husband, her safety and well-being was still his concern. That made it all the more imperative he find the bastard who’d given him up to Culverstone. The thought of Jane discovering one of his secrets, or her being exposed to scandal, made him wince.

Despite the situation forced on them, he cared what Jane thought of him. He could care less about Culverstone’s demands, but Tobias wanted to shield Jane as much as he could. Tobias didn’t want her to be scorned by her friends because of him. Worse, he didn’t want to consider what would happen if she learned how dark his needs were. He muttered an oath as he remembered the primal reaction his fiancée had aroused in him.

Still, the few private moments he experienced in Jane’s company had been pleasant ones. She expressed a clear interest in his work, and her questions had revealed an intelligent awareness of the plight of those living in the East End. It was obvious from her comments that she was unlike other members of the peerage who, in the latest trend called slumming, visited the more destitute quarters of the city simply out of curiosity. Jane’s concerns for the poor were genuine, and he found himself liking her more with each passing hour he spent in her company.

The soft rustle of silk and the murmur of voices made him glance toward the sound. He stiffened as he watched
Mystère
take a front row seat in the balcony. It didn’t surprise him to see several men surrounding her, but his violent need to rend each of her suitors limb from limb did. Tobias quickly suppressed the fury tightening every one of his muscles. In doing so, he managed to stifle the urge to join the woman’s entourage. Hell would freeze over before he became a beggar at her feet.

“
Fuck
,” he muttered as he returned his gaze to the stage below. “You need to cut your losses and go home, Lynsted.”

For at least five minutes, Tobias did his utmost best to ignore the woman and her admirers. Finally, lust won out, and he turned his head slightly to observe her in as casual a manner as possible. Like the first night they’d met,
Mystère
was dressed more for an evening out in polite society than an evening of pleasure at
La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres
. Her sedate gown was the color of red wine, and it clung to her curves as though she’d been sewn into the dress. The dark burgundy mask she wore was simplistic with a thin border of black ribbon trimming its edge. A small pearl earring dangled from a beautifully sculpted ear. An ear he wanted to nibble on.

In the candlelight, the diamond comb in her hair reflected the faintest color of chestnut in the tresses tumbling down over shoulders that were the color of a ripening peach. His stomach twisted at the thought of his hands sliding through her hair before he explored the curve of her shoulders. The image disappeared the instant a man he recognized as one of the wealthier, more influential members of
La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres
approached
Mystère
and her small group of admirers.

Edward Dewhurst, Viscount of Ashcroft was a social climber who didn’t move in Tobias’ social circle. Tobias snorted softly at his observation. He didn’t move in any social circle. The only friends Tobias had outside of his work were the men he’d grown up with in John Fordyce’s house. Ashcroft on the other hand hovered on the fringes of the Marlborough Set’s intimate circle.

Tobias had little use for the man. More than a year ago, he and Ashcroft had almost come to blows when the man had been on the verge of assaulting one of Angélique’s Ladies. Tobias also didn’t trust a man who sought out and savored the darkest of sins within the club. He didn’t give a damn that Ashcroft enjoyed a certain level of pain whenever he submitted to a Lady.

But sometimes the man preferred to play the role of master, and he’d seen more than one woman in the club shy away from him when he entered a room. The man necessitated watching. Especially now, when it appeared the viscount seemed to be forcing himself on
Mystère
.

“Please, my Lady. I wish only to serve you.” Ashcroft’s voice was almost a whine, and
Mystère
shook her head without looking at him.

“You may be of service by leaving,” she said quietly as she leaned forward to watch the scene below. At her rejection, the submissive jerked his head up to look directly at her. A long moment passed before Ashcroft reluctantly lowered his gaze in deference to her even though
Mystère
had yet to bother looking in the man’s direction.

“I will do whatever you wish, my Lady,” the man said vehemently. “But don’t send me away.”

“You try my patience, Edward,” she said in withering tone as she kept her gaze on the chamber the balcony overlooked. “Leave.
Now
.”

Although she appeared completely in control of the situation, Tobias noted how her hands gripped the balcony railing. Her outward appearance was one of calm serenity, but for the first time he realized
Mystère
might not be as experienced as he’d thought. A novice? Surely not. Angélique trained all the Ladies in
La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres
, and his old friend was very protective of her protégées.

Tobias was certain the Frenchwoman would never allow one of her pupils to venture out on their own before they were ready. Even the most experienced Lady would find Ashcroft difficult to handle. Tobias’ mouth tightened with displeasure as the submissive continued to press his suit.

“But you don’t understand, my Lady.” There was the distinct sound of angry frustration in Ashcroft’s voice as he grabbed her by the arm. “I am ready to accept any punishment or pleasure you inflict on me.”