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CHAPTER 1
THE DEVIL CHASED away the daylight as Constantine urged his horse to take hi debauchery He thundered down the lane, running away frouilt and toward the distantsun
His heart pounded as it always did when he rode, keeping time with his mount’s hooves upon the earthen road beneath the free that filled hiht he hoped to forget Constantine crested the rise and slowed his horse to a trot as the remote manor house loomed before him The place had no name but idely known for its elcoh on a hill?
He swung off his mount as two liveried footman hurried toward him, one intent on his horse, the other upon him “Your name, sir?”
Constantine experienced a pang of uncertainty, then brushed it aside “Lord Grayling”
The bewigged footman bowed deferentially “Welcome to the House, my lord If you’d be so kind as to come this way, Mrs Cohen will be only too happy to acco”
It wasn’t Mrs Cohen’s accoer courtesans in her employ Perhaps they could banish thewith his part in her death
Once inside, the footloves, and caped coat away, leaving hiantly appointed lower hall uniant So far the ruht after in London during her youth, but as age had lessened her appeal, she’d retired to the countryside to groom others for men’s pleasures He’d never end They said a ht price
Before he’d gone toopast the first blush of youth, but still lovely, appeared “Mrs Cohen?”
“My Lord Grayling What an unexpected surprise Welcome to the House”
Constantine ell prepared for this adventure He reached into his coat pocket and handed over the expected funds “A token of my appreciation”
The madam’s expression eased into extrelass of wine balanced upon a glea ride I trust your journey was uneventful”
“It was,” he assured her, unsurprised that she knew he’d traveled some distance to arrive here He wouldn’t be shocked to learn the woentleman of consequence within a fifty-mile radius of her establishment, as well as the state of their pocketbook and their love life She was in the business of providing a service where it was most needed
Constantine took the glass and sipped A ree filled his mouth and he nodded “Perfect”
The estured to an adjacent room “I think you will find exactly what you require in this direction Dark or pale, full-figured or slientleman’s pleasure”
Constantine nodded He was tired of spending his nights alone with only his guilt for co the life he had lost
At the threshold of the saloon—a room soaked in red velvet and supple li, half-undone gowns as they listened to the strains of Bach adequately played by another of their nuraced the roo women perched upon their laps
The scene was one he had viewed before his e but found little pleasure in now He wasn’t one for public spectacles Private pleasures were all he desired tonight It was si body and then losing himself in desire
He scanned the roo for a face and fory blonde sat alone and unoccupied for the aze and provided her nae”
A rare jewel Constantine doubted names held any accuracy in this place With any luck she’d be willing, pliant, and easy on the senses of a in his quest there
He strolled forward and li A prelude to intimacy to coliding toward hiloved hand, he kissed the back as if she were a dear friend