Dark Duke by Sabrina York

beg.”
    “You do so.” She added another character, a woman who looked
suspiciously like her, disheveled and tousled. Her lips hovered just over that
weeping member.
    It was a drawing worthy of one of Lord Hedon’s books.
    A prospect he’d thought of before, and discarded,
resurfaced. Dare he?
    He would love to turn her talent to darker purposes—to his darker purposes, although how he could accomplish this without revealing his
identity was a thorny issue. He would think on that later.
    “Kaitlin?”
    “Yes, Edward?”
    “What would you say if I told you I was not joking? That you
could make a lot of money very quickly by drawing pictures just like this?”
    She stilled. “A lot of money?”
    “A lot.”
    “How much?”
    “Seventy guineas per sketch.” More than he’d paid Mabry, but
she was better.
    She gasped. “Seventy?”
    He nodded.
    “Seventy is a year’s keep.”
    He chortled. “If one lives modestly, perhaps.” There had
been a day, not too long ago, when he’d spent seventy guineas a week
on…companionship. It was a particular brand of companionship, but still.
    He had little need for that now. Not with Kaitlin in his
arms. His brash, wanton innocent.
    “I can’t see how that is possible.”
    “You know the book I gave you?”
    She flushed. “Of course.”
    “Lord Hedon is looking for a new illustrator.”
    “What happened to the old one?”
    “He was an idiot.”
    “Oh?”
    “Thrown from a carriage.”
    “Oh my.”
    “At any rate, I am sure Lord Hedon would love your work.”
    “Really, Edward. How can you know that?”
    How could he? How could he indeed? He kissed her brow.
“Trust me. He would. Would you be interested in that kind of work?”
    “For seventy guineas? How could I say no? Oh, I would be
able to repay— Oh. Yes, Edward. Heavens yes.”
    “Then shall I set an interview with Lord Hedon?”
    “I shall do up some sketches straightaway. Shall I draw
Asha’s story, or something else?
    “Asha’s story?” He chuckled. “It is already illustrated.”
    She snorted. “Yes, but as I was reading it, I realized there
were so many places they should have added a plate. It was rather annoying.”
    He could only imagine. “Clever girl. Yes. Draw those—but add
some of your own creation too. If you don’t mind.”
    “I don’t mind.” She disentangled herself and began hunting
for her frock.
    “Where are you going?”
    “Surely you don’t expect me to work with you looking over my
shoulder?”
    She laughed at his pout.
    And, in the end, she did. Work with him looking over her
shoulder. And whispering naughty suggestions in her ear.
    It wasn’t long before they were otherwise engaged
altogether.
    * * * * *
    Her appointment with Lord Hedon was scheduled at the
publisher’s office. The author valued his privacy, Edward explained, and would
prefer not to meet at his home. Kaitlin tried very hard not to shake as the
carriage rolled through the city. She clutched her sketches to her chest.
    Oh, please , she thought, let him like them .
    The amount of money she could make would pay off Callum’s
debt to the McCloud and free her from fear. It would also keep her quite
nicely, should the work continue. She could afford some rooms in a decent part
of town, food and clothes. Everything she needed.
    She would miss living with Violet, but she would marry some
day and Kaitlin could hardly tag along. And, of course, she would miss Edward.
But surely he would tire of her soon.
    It was much better to be able to take care of herself. The
prospect of making a living by the dint of her own hand, and doing something
she enjoyed, was exciting.
    Of course, as Lord Hedon’s illustrator, she would be
completely ruined, but she could see advantages to that as well.
    Oh please let him like them.
    She wished Edward could have come with her, but he’d had
another appointment. He’d kissed her and wished her luck and made her promise
to tell him all about it that evening at dinner.
    The