Page 82 of A Devious Secret

Hawthorne removed some coins from his waistcoat pocket and placed them down next to Lavinia. “Thank you for your time.”

Lavinia stared down at the coins in astonishment. “What is this for?”

“Get yourself cleaned up and try to find respectable employment,” Hawthorne replied.

“No one will hire a prostitute, Mister,” Lavinia said dejectedly. “We are outcasts amongst even the most despised groups.”

Hawthorne shoved back his chair and rose. “If you choose to, you can come to Lord Montfort’s townhouse and there will be work for you. But it won’t be easy work.”

Lavinia’s eyes grew wide. “Are you Lord Montfort?”

“I am not, but do not come if you don’t want to make an honest wage,” Hawthorne said. “Come around to the servants’ entrance and I will let them know to be expecting you.”

“Why are you doing this for me?” Lavinia asked.

Hawthorne gave her a brief smile. “Because everyone deserves a second chance.”

The serving wench walked over to the table and said in a hushed voice, “Don’t forget to take that whore with you.”

The smile disappeared from Hawthorne’s face and he addressed the serving wench. “This woman is not to be disturbed while she is eating,” he ordered in a steely voice. “Do I make myself clear?”

“But, she is—”

Hawthorne cut her off. “You will allow her to stay or I will ask the magistrate to take a special interest in this tavern.”

The serving wench’s mouth snapped shut. “She may stay, but only until she finishes her meal,” she muttered.

“Very good.” Hawthorne tipped his head at Lavinia. “I do hope you will consider my offer most carefully.”

“I will, Mister,” Lavinia said.

Rising, Stephen followed Hawthorne out the door and asked, “How did you know the serving wench would let Lavinia stay by summoning the magistrate?”

“It wasn’t hard, considering I would bet every man in that tavern has something to hide,” Hawthorne said. "I doubt they would want a magistrate poking into their business.”

“It was smart.”

Hawthorne looked amused. “You sound surprised.”

“No, it was just unusual for you,” Stephen joked.

Gemma had never felt so alone before. She felt embarrassed, humiliated and angry. How dare Henry put her into this position! She needed to speak to Stephen to sort out the truth, and she hoped that Henry had been wrong. She was trying to be sensible about it all, but the doubt kept creeping back in. She hoped that she hadn’t been so lonely that she had fallen for a man that gambled- a vice that corrupted even the best of men.

How she missed Baldwin at this precise moment. He would know exactly what to say to get her out of this predicament, but he wasn’t here. And she didn’t dare admit her folly to her family. Good heavens, they would feel pity for her and that was the last thing that she wanted. No, she was alone in this, and she didn’t see another way out besides returning to Hawkinge in shame.

Her aunt’s voice broke her out of her musings. “Gemma,” she said. “Are you well?”

She brought her gaze up. “I am,” she replied.

“You have a terrible habit of woolgathering at the most inopportune times,” her aunt said lightly. “Lord and Lady Haddington were just announced.”

“Wonderful,” Gemma murmured.

Her aunt eyed her with concern. “Are you still suffering from the headache that has plagued you since Lord Hawkinge left?”

“I am,” she lied, “but with any luck, it will go away shortly.”

“Did Lord Hawkinge say something that upset you?” her aunt asked.