The Trouble With Sin by Victoria Vane

Author:Victoria Vane [Vane, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vane Publishing LLC
Published: 2014-01-16T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Covent Garden, Westminster – six months later

With a voluptuous, raven-haired beauty draped on either arm, Simon entered the crowded taproom of the Shakespear's Head. He exchanged pleasantries with several acquaintances before catching the eye of the establishment's headwaiter.

"Ah, my darlings!" he exclaimed. "There is just the gent I promised you to find."

Jack Harris came forward at once, greeting Simon with a broad smile while his glittering gaze appraised the two young women. "Well, well, Mister Singleton. What have we here?"

"Jack, my friend, these delightful daughters of Erin are Brigid and Bronaugh O'Malley, just arrived from the fine city of Dublin.” Simon completed the introduction, "Ladies, I make known to you Jack Harris, a gentleman who could be highly instrumental in your successful establishment in our fine metropolis.”

"A pleasure, sar," the twins replied almost in unison and bobbed a giggling curtsey.

Harris swept a return bow. "I am doubly enchanted, ladies."

"Rightly so." Simon laughed. "And you are also much indebted to me."

"Is that right?" Harris raised a brow.

"'Tis, indeed! 'Twas quite a coup stealing these two Hibernian nymphs from under Charlotte Hayes' nose."

"I commend you, Singleton. Mrs. Hayes is not a woman to be trifled with. However did you accomplish such a feat?"

"It was a stroke of blind luck, actually. I happened through Charing Cross just as the Chester-wagons arrived from the north. Knowing her practice of impressing innocent maids into her den of iniquity, I swooped in as swiftly as any peregrine to snatch this most perfect pair of doves out of her grasp. Bold as brass, I embraced my dearest Irish cousins, whom I had come especially to meet."

"With a most un-cousinly kiss!" Brigid tittered.

Simon winked. "I assure you, our blood connection is the thinnest."

Harris gifted the sisters with his most disarming smile. "I welcome you to London, Miss Brigid and Miss Bronaugh. Might I buy you ladies a tankard?" Signaling the drawer, he led them to a corner table, where shortly a trio of frothy mugs swiftly appeared. "I presume you came south seeking employment?"

"Aye, sar," Bronaugh replied. "Thar be nothin' fer an honest lass in Dooblin."

Harris' smile hardened. "Honest lasses, are ye? So ye desire nothing better than to empty some nobleman's chamber pot?"

The sisters exchanged a wide-eyed look. Brigid then protested, "Mayhap not quite so honest, sar."

"Nay," Bronaugh chimed in. "But a Dooblin doxy chances a beatin' with every trick and is looky if she turns enou' coin to buy her meat. 'Tis why we come ta Loondon."

"Then you are not averse to keeping company with some of the fine gentlemen who habit this upstanding establishment?" Harris swept an arm to encompass the crowded tavern.

Simon raised his tankard. "Here buskin'd Beaus in rich lac'd Cloathes. Like Lords and Squires do bluster; Bards, quacks and cits, knaves, fools and wits, an odd, surprising cluster"

"That was lovely, Simon," Brigid gushed. "Be ye a poet?"

"I do my poor best. Which recalls me to my original purpose in coming here." Simon retrieved a bundle of bound pages from the capacious pockets of his frock coat.

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