Once an Heiress by Elizabeth Boyce Page B

groaned. When she’d received an invitation this morning to join Naomi and Aunt Janine for shopping, it had seemed like a pleasant outing. Now they were trapped inside the stuffy, dim shop while the sunny day passed them by.
    Nearby, two gentlemen conversed quietly while they examined the shop’s wares. One of them laughed. “Well, what do you know? There’s Thorburn.”
    A tingle shot up Lily’s spine. She peeked at the men. They were looking out the window at the parade of people going up and down Bond Street.
    “Didn’t know he saw the sun these days,” said the other. “Seems to slink in the shadows more often than not.”
    “If he’s avoiding the shadows,” mused the first, “it must be because he’s indebted to them now, too.” They laughed and returned to their shopping.
    Lily strolled to the front window, feigning interest in a brass figurine of the Buddha. She peered into the crowd going by the shop, searching for Thorburn.
    “There he is.” Naomi materialized at her side. “At the jeweler’s across the street.”
    He stood in the doorway, shaking hands with a man in a dark suit. The loupe spectacles shoved up on the man’s forehead gave him away as the proprietor of that shop.
    “What is he doing?” Lily mused aloud. “A man in such dire straights has no business buying jewelry!” This was it, then; proof of his irresponsible behavior.
    “Maybe he’s selling something,” Naomi suggested.
    Bollocks.
That would be a reasonable thing for a man in his position to do.
    Thorburn donned his hat and started down the walk.
    Naomi’s hand clamped around her elbow. “What are you doing?”
    Lily blinked. She hadn’t realized her feet were already carrying her to the door. “Following him,” she admitted. “You people keep telling me he’s no good. I want to see it for myself.”
    Naomi gaped, appalled. “You can’t do that,” she hissed.
    Lily shrugged. “Why not?”
    “It’s as bad as eavesdropping!”
    Lily adopted a tone of hauteur. “It’s a public street. I can walk down it if I please.”
    Naomi folded her arms under her bosom, her reticule dangling from her wrist. “What about Aunt Janine? She won’t approve.”
    Lily craned her neck. Thorburn was almost out of sight. “She doesn’t have to. I’m going.”
    “Wait!” Naomi yelped. She hurried to their footman patiently waiting in a chair in the corner. “We’re — ah — stepping out for air.”
    Lily was already outside by the time Naomi caught up with her. She scanned the crowd, searching for her quarry as she walked. She spotted him strolling at a sedate pace down the other side of the street, his lean form a head taller than most of the people around him. He glided through the throng, his broad shoulders creating a bit of space behind him as he passed.
    She sighed miserably. “Why hasn’t he come to call?”
    “You don’t
want
him to call,” Naomi reminded her. “His outrageous debts and wild reputation make him a terrible match for any woman, title or no.”
    “But, look,” Lily argued. Thorburn tipped his hat at a passing acquaintance. “He isn’t doing anything questionable whatsoever.” Her cheeks burned when she recalled the extremely questionable kiss they’d shared, but he
had
apologized for that. “I’m beginning to think he’s been misjudged. You, of all people, should understand.”
    Naomi stopped dead in her tracks, pulling on her companion’s arm to bring her to a halt. “Lily, no,” she said in a flat tone. “I know how vicious gossip can be, how a rumor can become regarded as truth whether or not it is. But Thorburn truly
is
a rake. Everyone knows how badly he’s in debt, because he owes money to most everyone. His reputation with women — ”
    Lily’s temper flared. “Is he a despoiler of virgins, as well?” she fired. “Eats babies at satanic orgies, perhaps?”
    Naomi rolled her eyes hugely. “Oh, really now, Lily, be reasonable.”
    “I
am
being reasonable!”
    Lily