Read Online Forbidden by Nicola Cornick - Free Book Online

respectable to frequent a bawdy house,” Margery
said, “but you found me in one.”
    “So I did,” Henry said. Amusement glinted in his eyes. “What an
unusual woman you are, Miss Mallon.”
    He opened the door to usher her inside. The air was so thick
with the smell of pipe smoke it almost made Margery choke. Her eyes watered, and
the smell of strong ale and warm bodies caught in her throat.
    The taproom was packed with men and a few women. Total silence
fell as they walked in. Margery saw the amusement deepen in Henry’s eyes. His
lips twitched into a smile. “I’ve had warmer welcomes behind the French lines,”
he murmured.
    “They think you might be from Bow Street,” Margery said.
    Henry looked offended. “They think I’m a Runner when I dress as
well as this?”
    Margery giggled. She took his hand and led him through to an
inner parlor flickering with golden candlelight. There was a rickety wooden
table in the corner by the fire. Henry held a chair for her before taking the
one opposite.
    “So you were a soldier,” Margery said, resting her elbows on
the table and studying him thoughtfully. He looked entirely relaxed as though
the unfriendly atmosphere of the Grapes had completely failed to intimidate him.
“No wonder you’re not afraid,” she said slowly.
    Henry raised a dark brow. “Were you trying to scare me by
bringing me here?”
    “Not scare you, precisely,” Margery said. She dropped her gaze
and traced a circle on the top of the table with her fingertip. She had to admit
that she had been testing him. She was curious; he gave away so little of
himself. There was something watchful and closed about him, as though he held
himself under the tightest control. A little shiver edged down her spine.
    “My brothers drink here,” Margery said.
    “Ah. You wish to introduce me to your family.” Henry sat back
in his chair, stretching out his long legs. “Our acquaintance proceeds quickly,
Miss Mallon.”
    Margery laughed. “No, indeed. You need have no fear of that. I
am simply being careful.”
    “Very wise,” Henry said. “In case I fail to act as a gentleman
should.” He was smiling but there was something challenging in his eyes that
made Margery’s stomach curl and the heat rise through her blood. She tore her
gaze away from his. At this rate she would not be able to eat a mouthful.
    “I am relying on you to behave properly,” she said.
    Henry gave her an ironic bow. “Not a cast-iron way of ensuring
success,” he drawled.
    “Do your best,” Margery said tartly and saw him grin.
    “So, your brothers are criminals.” He slid his hand over hers
where it rested on the table. His touch was warm and sent quivers of awareness
trembling through her. “How stimulating.”
    “Are you sure you are not a Runner?” Margery asked sweetly. She
drew her hand gently from under his, not because she wanted to but because she
knew she had to, if she was going to stick to the straight and narrow.
    “Of course they are not criminals,” she said. Then honesty
prompted her to qualify the statement. “That is, Jed is certainly not a
criminal. He is a pot man at the Bear Hotel in Wantage. Billy runs his own
business buying and selling cloth.” She ignored the other, less respectable
things she knew Billy bought and sold. “And Jem…” She paused. “Well, I have to
admit that Jem does sail a little close to the wind.”
    Henry was laughing at her but she did not mind. There was
warmth and admiration in his eyes that made her feel very happy inside.
    “I like that you defend them,” he murmured. “You see the best
in everyone.”
    The Grapes’s three maidservants now converged upon them,
squabbling for the privilege of serving them. Margery knew exactly why the girls
were competing for Henry’s attention. It seemed that he rated even more highly
than Jem, for he was not only good-looking but he looked rich, as well. All
three girls were eyeing him with fascinated speculation and more than