The Price of Innocence (The Legacy Series) (24 page)

Robert wished to speak further, but the waiter arrived. He pulled his hand from hers and took his napkin and flipped it open to drape it upon his lap.

“It looks as if our food has arrived. Eat and then we’ll rest.”

* * *

Suzette opened her eyelids after hearing the squealing of the metal wheels on the track. She felt Robert’s hand upon her own, and she examined her position of having fallen asleep on his lap. A bit embarrassed, she sat up quickly.

“Sleep well?”

“Apparently,” she said, yawning. “I told you the wine would do me in, and I see it has.” She looked out the window and realized that they had pulled into the London rail station.

“It’s close to midnight. I hope that I can get you to a room quickly and make sure you are safe. Then you’ll have the remainder of the evening to rest.”

He stood up and slipped his arms through the sleeve of his waistcoat and picked up his hat and cane. After putting on his gloves, he helped Suzette to her feet and put his topcoat around her shoulders. “Here, wear this. The London night air can be a bit chilly.”

Robert opened the compartment door and escorted Suzette until they reached the end of the railcar and descended the stairs. Giles greeted them.

“The carriage is waiting, my lord.”

“Very well. See to it my trunks are returned to my townhouse. I will return later this evening after I take the Mademoiselle to a hotel.”

“As you wish.”

Giles retreated from their side, and Robert led Suzette to the waiting carriage. He gave instructions to the driver to take them to the Midland Grand Hotel. Suzette sat in the carriage looking out the window at the beautiful London streets lit with gas lamps. In spite of her inward jitters about the move, it felt exciting to be somewhere other than Paris.

The carriage pulled up to the hotel, and the footmen opened the door for Robert and Suzette. Robert led her over to a chair by the window.

“Wait for me here while I procure a room. It should only take me a minute.”

Discreetly, he arranged for a small suite of rooms under his name, paying for seven days in advance. When he had procured the keys, he returned to Suzette and escorted her to the suite.

“I’ve booked a small suite for your use for a week, Suzette, until I can find you more permanent housing.”

After entering the suite, Robert felt the need to leave. He was tired from the trip and overwhelmed at the thought of the days that lay ahead. After making sure that everything in the room was in order, Robert opened his wallet and pulled out a few pounds and handed them to Suzette.

“I’m sorry, but I need to leave and return to my townhouse. Take this money, and when you get hungry, feel free to get something to eat or call room service to bring food to the suite.”

He wrapped his arms around her body, pulled her close, and then bent down and kissed her lips. She responded softly, and Robert quickly pulled back, not wishing for it to go any further.

“Get some sleep, and I will return in the morning, I promise,” he said in sincerity. “I will return.”

“I trust you, Robert. I know you haven’t brought me this far to leave me now,” she confessed. One more time, Suzette wrapped her own arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

“Tomorrow then,” he said, exhausted.

Robert handed her money and the key to the suite and then headed out the door, closing it quietly behind him. He walked back to his carriage and instructed the driver to take him home. Tired and worried, he headed back for a much-needed rest, hoping for a clear head in the morning to sort out his muddled life.

Chapter Seventeen

  After the door closed, Suzette stood in the middle of the room motionless for a few minutes, fighting the fear of abandonment. She tried desperately to trust the man, who had just taken her to his country and walked out the door. She looked at the bills in her hand, folded them neatly, and tucked them into her purse.

The trip had taken its toll upon her, as well. In fact, the entire day had drained her of every ounce of energy. She swung her legs onto the bed and grabbed a nearby pillow, clinging to it between her arms. A slight chill caused her to reach for the corner of the blanket, and she pulled it over her shoulders. The last thing she remembered was closing her eyelids, until the next morning when she heard the sound of a soft knock at her door.

Momentary confusion finally gave way to the awareness of her surroundings. Again, the knock came, more persistent this time, and Suzette flung off the covers and rose to answer it. Concerned about who might be on the other side, she inquired first before unlocking the door.

“Who is it, please?”

“I am Madame Renard, a seamstress from a local shop.”

Suzette slowly opened the door and saw a short, stout woman with a sewing basket in hand and an outrageous hat upon her head.

“Good morning, Mademoiselle. Lord Holland has requested that I measure you for a wardrobe.”

“Oh, dear,” Suzette said, feeling a bit unkempt from having slept in her clothes. “Please, come in.”

She ran her fingers through her hair and pushed back strands behind her ears. Quickly, she attempted to smooth the wrinkles in her skirt, but it proved futile. After sleeping in her dress, it had left deep creases that only an iron could remove. Suzette walked to the middle of the sitting room and stood watching her visitor. The seamstress placed her basket down on a side table, grabbed a tape measure, and approached Suzette with a determined look upon her face.

“I wish to take your measurements, and then we can discuss styles and fabrics.”

Suzette was surprised to hear her accent. “You’re French?”

“Oui, Mademoiselle. I’m from a local haute couture. We do business here in London, as well as in Paris.”

She eyed Suzette up and down, looking over her form, size, and coloring. “You are quite petite, but I am sure we can provide you with fine gowns very quickly.”

The door swung open, and Robert stood in the entranceway alongside a young man holding bolts of fabric. “Not without my input, I’m afraid!”

“Robert!” Suzette squealed in relief when she saw his face. He gave her a wink and directed that the fabrics be placed on the settee. After giving the man and tip, he waited until he had left the room and closed the door behind him. He placed both his hands on his hips and smiled broadly at Suzette.

“Well, Madame Renard, measure her petite figure, and let’s get the young lady some clothes.”

The seamstress raised her eyebrows. “Oui, Monsieur, I would be more than happy to. However, I need the young lady to remove her dress, as I will be taking her measurements in her undergarments.” She glared at Robert and continued with a huff. “I hardly think your observance of such a task would be the respectable thing to do!”

Suzette looked at Robert’s astonished face over being scolded by the seamstress.

“I’m sure Lord Holland has no intentions, Madame, of watching me disrobe in his presence.” Suzette pointed to the dressing screen and made a suggestion.

“Would you mind, Robert, taking a walk out on the balcony while Madame Renard and I proceed behind the screen for measurements?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” he said, reluctantly. He opened the white French doors and walked out on the balcony. “I shall look at the scenery outside instead of inside, Madame Renard. Will that do?”

“Very well. I shall let you know when the Mademoiselle is decent and able to be in your presence.”

She grabbed Suzette by the arm, like a protective mother hen, and led her behind the dressing screen. Her eyes shot a disapproving look at the wrinkled gown. “Remove your dress, please.”

Suzette complied, and the next few minutes were spent with a tape measure around her waist, chest, and arms. This was the first time Suzette had been measured for dresses, as her father could not afford custom clothing from any dressmaking shop.

“There. I have all of your measurements written down. You may get dressed.”

Robert overheard they were through and immediately returned inside the room before Suzette completed dressing. The seamstress threw him a disapproving glare.

“Now, let’s get down to business,” he said, ignoring her scorn. “Suzette, hurry and come here. Give me your opinion, will you?”

Madame Renard opened her portfolio showing sketches of designer dresses. Suzette stood flabbergasted, not knowing which to choose. Robert, however, was not shy in the matter as certain styles caught his fancy. Suzette raised her eyebrows over the low necklines, but she decided not to interject her opinion over fashion. After all, he was presenting her with gifts she could never afford, and it would be rude to complain.

“Mademoiselle, tell me which fabrics and colors you like,” asked Madame Renard, hovering over the bolts.

Suzette gladly obliged and let her hand roam over the material while Robert chimed in on the colors he thought highlighted Suzette’s complexion and hair. Suzette felt like a pampered queen, only this time it wasn’t inside a brothel.

After what seemed like an eternity, the seamstress finished taking the order, and Robert inquired about delivery. “So, when can you have the dresses delivered?”

“Within a few days.”

“A few days are not good enough, I’m afraid.”

“I’m fine, Robert,” Suzette interjected, not wishing to cause problems. She could wait in the dress she wore; it just needed to be pressed. Robert returned a displeasing look in her direction, which gave her a start.

“Nonsense,” he spoke quickly. “See to it the dresses are made immediately, and I shall pay you a premium.”

“As you wish, Lord Holland.” Madame Renard curtsied before leaving the room. “I’ll send my messenger to pick up the fabric samples later today.”

After the door closed, Robert turned to Suzette and brought her into his arms. “Don’t second-guess me, my dear. We are in England now. This is my country, and I’m well known in London. People do as I request with no argument.”

“All right,” she meekly answered. He exuded an air of power in his homeland, and she began to wonder if his dealings with her would change now that he had returned.

“Besides, I only wish you the best. You’re too pretty to waste away.”

“And you are too kind to me, Robert. I cannot repay you for such benevolence.”

“Don’t worry about it, please.” He picked up her hand and kissed it. “Now go freshen up. I’ll take you to breakfast, and then we’ll go shopping.” He looked at her feet and grimaced. “Let’s purchase some shoes that fit, a few more undergarments, purses, hats, a parasol, and any other accessories every lady in London requires!”

Suzette giggled.

* * *

Dresses, shoes, hats, gloves, nightgowns, cloaks, jewelry, perfumes, and anything that Suzette could possibly need, Robert purchased that afternoon. He treated her like a queen, and Suzette basked in the attention and his gifts.

Robert had made a promise to care for her, so showering her with presents was easy to justify. He purchased everything out of his heart to rescue a woman who had nothing and made sure she had everything.

Suzette, however, found words inadequate to express her gratitude, and she gave to him that evening out of the only tangible way she knew how. He did not protest when she initiated another heated moment between the two of them. They spent the night in her hotel bed wrapped in each other’s arms. Robert and Suzette slipped into a familiar intimacy that each immensely enjoyed.

By the end of the week, her shyness in lending him her body had entirely vanished. As an ardent and tender lover, Robert taught her the intimate ways of a man and woman. To his delight, Suzette was an attentive pupil. If their relationship continued as such, Robert knew he’d never set foot in a brothel again as long as Suzette shared his bed.

Each day when he visited her at the hotel, he would arrive with a small bouquet of lilies in hand that always made her smile. He would remind her, “You will find happiness.” It seemed as if now, she truly believed his words.

As far as Robert was concerned, he had difficult decisions ahead regarding any permanent future with Suzette. He recognized her growing affection, but felt cautious not to express too much of his fondness in words. There were times she took his breath away, and her presence in his life brought him immense joy.

Robert spent time away from Suzette to speak with area landlords, as he looked for a modest, but safe place for her to live. To keep her indefinitely at the hotel was out of the question. The situation already looked questionable to the hotel staff, and he did not wish to breed seeds of gossip in London about an affair. He succeeded already in building a bit of a reputation abroad, and the local news needed nothing to print to make its way back to Surrey and into his father’s hands.

Finally, toward the end of the week, Robert came across an adequate, fully-furnished country cottage located on the outskirts of London. He made arrangements and hired a live-in housekeeper to act as a cook and maid for Suzette. She would need no other staff to care for her, and he was satisfied that he had adequately provided for her needs in every possible way. He had successfully delivered her from destitution and placed her in a comfortable lifestyle.

When it was time to move her to her new quarters, he arrived early in the morning with two footmen and trunks.

“They are here to pack up your things, my dear,” he announced.

Suzette looked surprised over the unannounced move, and he offered his hand. “Come with me. Your clothes and accessories will be delivered this afternoon. I have a carriage waiting.”

“Is it time to leave the hotel, Robert?”

“Yes! I’m happy to say that I’ve found you a permanent dwelling.”

He held out his arm to her, and Suzette wrapped hers around his, as he escorted her from the hotel. Robert decided to sit across from Suzette, so that he could observe the expression upon her face when they arrived. As the carriage traveled down the London streets, he enjoyed watching her face aglow with anticipation.

“I do like London,” she interjected, as she looked out the window eyeing the city she had not yet become acquainted with.