Jade Star - Catherine Coulter [92]
She became aware of the number of men staring at her. She raised her chin. There were catcalls and whistles and some lewd comments tossed her way, but she ignored them, staring straight ahead. She saw some women, gaily dressed, and knew they were prostitutes. She had nearly gained Portsmouth Square when she heard an astonished voice from behind her.
“Good God! Jules, is that you?”
She turned slowly, recognizing Brent Hammond’s voice.
“Hello, Brent,” she said. “How are you this fine day? No fog, but Michael tells me there’s not much during the winter. It’s getting dark so much earlier now, isn’t it? How is Byrony?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Brent said, eyeing her speculatively. Where was Thackery?
“I’m visiting Maggie.”
“Like hell you are!”
“Your language is foul, sir, and it’s really none of your business. It was nice seeing you. Now—”
“Stop, Jules! Does Saint know what you’re up to?”
“Up to?” Jules raised a supercilious brow. “I am a free person, Mr. Hammond. I am out walking and visiting, just as I suspect your former slaves can now do. Good day, sir.”
Brent ground his teeth. Then he smiled, his charming, seductive smile. “Very well. Do allow me to escort you to Maggie’s apartment. I’m certain she’s very anxious to see you, particularly here.”
Jules was nonplussed. Finally she nodded. Brent took her arm and led her through the alley to the back entrance of the Wild Star. When they reached the top of the stairs, he steered her to the left.
“A moment, Brent. Maggie is—”
“I imagine that Maggie is visiting Byrony,” Brent said smoothly. “Come along.”
Of course, Maggie wasn’t in the Hammonds’ apartment. Byrony was seated in front of a glowing fire, reading. She looked startled, then pleased, greeting Jules warmly and offering her a cup of tea.
After the amenities, Brent said to his wife, “I will come back in a little while, love. You and Jules can visit.”
“How lovely. Give us at least an hour, Brent.”
Jules was in a quandary. The major reason she’d wanted to visit Maggie was her husband’s taboo. But how could she tell the glowing Byrony Hammond that she didn’t want to stay? She gave Brent a crooked smile.
“Just so,” Brent said softly to her. “Later, ladies.”
He tracked Saint down in front of his house, Saint having just returned from the Brodericks’.
“How nice to see you, Saint,” Brent said blandly. “My, do you happen to know where your wife is?”
Saint waved a hand toward the house. He paused, seeing no lights in the windows. He frowned. “All right, Brent,” he said in a resigned voice. “Where is she? What has she done this time?”
“Why, she’s with my wife,” Brent said. He added, “Of course, when I just happened to see her, she was on her way to see Maggie. Thanks to my perfidy, she is with Byrony, her guns spiked, as it were.”
“Damn,” said Saint.
“Yes. I guess my next question is, where is Thackery? Your wife was quite alone, trying her best to ignore all the very interested men.”
“Jules very probably lied to him and told him she wasn’t going out of the house. Thackery will have a fit when he finds out.”
“And you, Saint?”
“I don’t like fits.”
“No, you don’t, do you? But marriage seems to have brought you as many confusions and complications as it brought me. I don’t know what’s going on, Saint, and you’re probably dying to tell me to go to hell—”
“Why?” Saint asked, sighing. “You did well by my wife, and I thank you. Lord knows, I can’t seem to handle her.”
Brent eyed his friend closely. “You might try thrashing her,” he said.
Saint laughed. “Yes,” he said, “yes, I just might. Well, I’m off to fetch my errant wife. Thanks again, Brent.”
Before he could leave, Thackery returned, a laughing Thomas with him.
“Hi, Saint,” Thomas said. “What’s going on? There aren’t any lights in the house.”
Thackery said very quietly, “Tell me where, Dr. Saint, and I’ll go fetch her.”
Perhaps it would be better, Saint thought, if Thackery got her. “She’s at the Hammonds’ apartment, above the Wild Star.”
Thackery nodded,