Page 49 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

Chapter Eleven

While throwing snowballs at Keir’s head was surprisingly entertaining, there was work to do.

Sybil was grateful for it, as it might afford her an afternoon to not embarrass herself in front of the ton. Although, given her record, she was not particularly hopeful.

Spinster House took in mostly debutantes and widows and heiresses, but there was another house in Covent Garden that took in maids and prostitutes and fishwives and watercress sellers. They shared information between them and occasionally traded hideaways for those who needed the extra security of an entirely unfamiliar neighborhood. Between them was the Golden Griffin bookshop, which facilitated communication.

It was also known for its vast collections of works written by women. As well as the naughtier tomes, which lent it a certain kind of reputation that mostly resulted in rotten vegetables thrown at the window.

That was until the proprietress, Miss Kitty Caldecott, had married the Devil. Devil, also known as the Earl of Birmingham, owned a gaming hell and half the debts of the most powerful people in London. No one dared cross him. He was as feared as Priya.

They did not get along.

But Kitty was an honorary member of the Spinster Society, despite a rocky beginning. She also kept late hours for the purpose of offering help to those who might not be comfortable venturing into Mayfair to seek out the Spinsters directly.

The bookshop ceiling was a moody blue and accented with gilded griffins, from one so large it nearly spanned the length to another so small you had to know where it was to find it at all. It was a safe place, just like Spinster House.

When the brass bell attached to the front door rang, Kitty emerged from the back room, carrying a stack of books. Her red hair was a riot of curls escaping their pins. “Sybil, have you read through those books I sent you already?”

“I was confined to my chambers for two days.”

“Ghastly.”

“Exceedingly. And they are all still after me to rest, rest, rest.”

“Monsters.”

“My thoughts exactly. So I thank you for those novels. They were not at all morally improving.”

Kitty grinned. “Good.”

“But this time, I am afraid I am here on Spinster business.”

“Ah. Tea?”

“Yes, please. You have the best tea. Don’t tell Priya I said so.”

“When I found a favorite one, Devil bought a crate for the shop and two for the house.”

“A wise man.”

Kitty snorted.

“Clever, then,” Sybil amended with a grin. He was also ruthless and unforgiving. A thump sounded from above, rattling the chandelier. She glanced up. “Should I be worried?”

“We are turning the second floor into a proper lending library. With more than one chair.” The shop was not large. The library was even smaller. “And by we, I mean that Devil sent men with hammers and drawings for me to approve.”

“Very clever, indeed.”

“If I don’t let him do these things, he buys me jewelry,” Kitty grumbled as if she had just said he sent her dead fish. “He bought diamond buckles for my shoes. And he almost bought me a jeweled hairbrush.” She grimaced. “Ridiculous.”

“Never mind clever, the man is brilliant.” Sybil sat down while Kitty brought over a plate of gingerbread and marzipan shaped like hedgehogs. Kitty’s sister had spent some time at Spinster House with her pet hedgehog Galahad. Sybil missed them both. “You would have fought him over the shop improvements, which was what he actually wanted to give you, so he distracted you with other things.”

“He’s Machiavellian,” Kitty agreed. “And he’s so handsome, too. It’s quite disgusting.”

“Truly diabolical. I can see that you are suffering.”

Kitty popped a hunk of gingerbread into her mouth, her eyes twinkling. Marriage to a notorious man suited her. “So, what can I do for you?”