A Rose for Laura by Callie Hutton

15

Four days later Laura was still working on the ledgers at the Rose Room. Amelia had safety delivered a little boy after almost a day and a half of labor. Hunt, Dante and Keniel had each visited at separate times to offer encouragement to Driscoll during the ordeal. Keniel told her the poor man looked like hell.

The brothers had also decided Driscoll needed at least a week to recover from his trauma, so Laura was asked to continue with the job she had started. She enjoyed the work and did not miss the social events she would have attended in its place.

"I think it's time for our bookkeeper to take a break." Keniel strolled into the office close to midnight. "And I have someone I want you to meet."

Laura stood, placing her hands at her lower back and leaning backwards to stretch her muscles. At a slight groan, she glanced at Keniel to see his mouth slightly open and his eyes riveted on her breasts.

She straightened and cursed the heat that rose from her middle to her face. "Who do you want me to meet?" Hopefully her voice hadn't sounded as scratchy to Keniel as it had to her.

He appeared to shake himself out of a trance. "Mr. Chad Murray has finally made an appearance. He'd been visiting his estate to take care of an emergency for which his steward needed his guidance."

"Excellent!" She would finally meet the man who would be the landlord for the orphanage. She'd been disappointed when Mr. Murray had not appeared at the club for days after she'd decided the townhouse he owned would be perfect for her babies. Keniel had even sent a note to his home and had only learned the man had left London.

The sponsorship with Hunt had been finalized while she awaited word from Mr. Murray, happy to note that Hunt's contribution alone made the new residence possible.

They left the office and made their way to the dining room. "I'm sure you will be happy to have the orphans out of your house," Laura said.

Keniel glanced at her with a smile. "Truthfully, yes. I've lived alone since my mother died, and even before that it was only the two of us. I am ready for some peace and quiet so I can become familiar with my new home." He stepped back to allow her to enter the room first.

A very tall man, dressed in the height of fashion, stood as they passed through the doorway to the dining room. His dark hair was slicked back, and his deep blue penetrating eyes would be intimidating were it not for the genuine smile on his face. "Ah, you must be Miss Benson." He held out his hand and moved forward. Laura took it, and he offered a slight bow. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Thank you, Mr. Murray, but the pleasure is mine if you are willing to lease your townhouse to my orphans."

"Why don’t we all sit." Keniel looked back and forth between Laura and Mr. Murray. "Would you care for tea, coffee, or a sandwich?" He gestured to the sideboard, loaded with food and beverages.

Mr. Murray pointed at a glass sitting in front of him on the table. "I'll stick with my brandy, thank you."

"I'll fix my tea," Laura said and moved the short distance to the sideboard. "Keniel?"

"Coffee for me, please."

She busied fixing the drinks for them, anxious to speak with Mr. Murray.

Once they were sitting at the table with the chosen beverages in front of them, Mr. Murray said, "Miss Benson, I have spoken with Mr. Singh and I am happy to lease my townhouse to you. In the event you were happy with what you had seen in your visit there, I brought a lease with me that my solicitor drew up. As you are using it to house orphans, we have cut the amount of rent."

Laura beamed. "Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Murray. That is quite nice of you."

"Ah, but it is nothing compared to what you are doing. I'm glad to be able to assist in any way that I can." He handed the folded document to her. "I suggest you have your solicitor look it over. If all meets with your approval, you may sign it and send it back to me."

Since she had no solicitor for the orphanage, she looked up at Keniel. "Do you have someone to look it over?"

He nodded. "Yes. I can bring it to the man who handles our business here at the club."

Laura passed the lease over and Keniel tucked it into his pocket. "When will we be able to move into the townhouse, Mr. Murray?"

He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. "From what Keniel told me, the orphans are currently residing in his house."

"Yes, they are, and I am sure Mr. Singh would love to have his home back to himself."

"Indeed." Mr. Murray hesitated for a moment. "Unless you wish to purchase the furniture already in the house, I will need time to have it all moved out. I will also have a thorough cleaning performed before you move the children in."

Not wishing to put a hold on the move, she said, "I'm afraid our budget does not permit the purchase of the furniture. Can you give me an idea of how long it will take to have it all moved out, and the cleaning finished?"

Her future landlord thought for a minute. "If you give me three days—let's say Friday—I think I can have it all worked out. I am in contact with an auction house I've used before who I am sure would be interested in purchasing most of the things and will take them immediately. The rest can be easily moved to my estate in Hertfordshire." He tapped his lips with a fingertip. "One full day for cleaning. Yes, I think we can look at Friday."

Even though Keniel had been most gracious with the use of his house, she was quite anxious to get the little ones moved out and permit him his privacy. "I will notify the committee members and the caretakers that they can look forward to moving on Friday."

Keniel looked across the table at Laura. "I should be able to again find the time to move everything for you."

Laura breathed a sigh of relief. Whether it was because he couldn't wait for the orphans to be gone, or he genuinely wanted to help, nevertheless she was grateful to have Keniel's assistance again.

"How soon can your solicitor look at the lease?" Laura asked.

Keniel shrugged. "Tomorrow."

Things were moving so fast. It was hard to believe the little ones would have a nicer place to live, in a better neighborhood. "Mr. Murray, I am sure there is nothing odd about your lease, so despite not having the final approval from Mr. Singh's solicitor, I can say without a doubt that I will be signing that lease tomorrow."

He slapped his thighs and stood. "Very good, Miss Benson. I shall speak with the auction house tomorrow and have them make arrangements to remove the items they want and will secure the services of a moving company to remove the remainder of the items and ship them to my estate." He stuck out his hand once again. "The cleaning will be done Thursday, and I will send the keys to you that afternoon."

Laura grasped his hand. "Thank you so much, Mr. Murray. You will see that we are wonderful tenants."

"Now I shall return to the fun part of my evening." With those words he picked up his drink, nodded at them both, and strode from the room.

Laura almost squealed with delight. "It's done! We have a better, bigger house, in a nicer neighborhood and we can afford it."

Keniel grinned at her. "Even more so since Murray has reduced the rent."

Becoming serious, she studied him for a minute. "There is no way I can thank you enough for buying that first house and offering to help me. Because of you we have new sponsors and a lovely home for the orphans."

Slowly, he reached out and touched her gently on her cheek. "Seeing you this happy is thanks enough for me."

Laura closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. Soft, warm, caring. This man had made such a difference in her life. A thought shot through her mind. Once the babies were removed from his house, there would be no reason for her to see him again.

Of course, she would see him while she worked here, but eventually Driscoll would feel the need to return to his job. She took a shuddering sigh at the thought of their friendship coming to an end.

"What's wrong, Laura?"

She straightened. "Nothing." After a slight hesitation she added, "Once the babies are moved into the new house, and Driscoll returns to work, I guess we won't need to see each other again."

* * *

We won't need to see each other again.

The phrase repeated in his mind, each word another stab to his heart. Laura had become so much a part of his life in such a short time, that he couldn't imagine not seeing her, speaking with her, enjoying her company. Watching her laugh, seeing her bristle when he attempted to tell her what to do.

"There may not be a 'need' to see each other, but we don't have to end our friendship, either." He studied her carefully. "Unless, that is what you want."

She took a step toward him, closing the short distance. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Without hesitation, she leaned in and placed her mouth on his.

That was all the encouragement he needed. He tugged her into the circle of his arms, and the kiss went from something soft and gentle to urgent and exploratory. He took her lips with demanding mastery and currents of desire—for this woman, and only her—swept through him.

Mine.

No, he would not say goodbye.

He pulled away and murmured her name as he planted kisses on her chin, shoulders, neck and face. Remembering where they were, he reluctantly moved back and gripped her shoulders. "I assume you don't wish to end our friendship?"

Laura placed her shaky hands on his chest. "Is that what we have, Keniel? A friendship?"

A dangerous question. Her beautiful eyes were wide as she moved them back and forth, studying his face. Was this a friendship? Could it be more? With the world of difference between them, how would it even be possible for it to be more? If they so much as dared to identify 'it'.

He took her warm, soft hands in his. "I have no idea what we have, puttus, but if you are willing to explore it, I am ever at your service."

She tilted her head and smiled. "Does that mean yes?"

He stepped away, needing to get his body under control since he had to return to the gaming floor post haste. "It means whatever we want it to mean."

She huffed. "That doesn't answer my question, does it?"

He kissed her on the end of her nose. "I will call upon you tomorrow afternoon to bring the lease for your signature."

"Very well," she said with a sigh. "I will be waiting."

"For now, let me walk you back to the office."

Once Laura was back at her desk, Keniel returned to his duties, his mind a whirl of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Far too close, but the thought of severing their relationship—whatever it was—brought such pain it was unbearable.

Men of his class and heritage had no right to hope for anything more than friendship with a woman of Laura's world. Even a friendship could be frowned upon by many of the people she associated with.

But my brothers don't seem to see anything wrong.

He chuckled. His brothers were raised by their white father who'd had an affair with Keniel's brown mother. There was no doubt the brothers would be of a mind to accept his interest in Laura. But there was a world beyond The Rose Room and people beyond the Rose family.

Additionally, from what Laura had told him, her father had done business with and enjoyed friendships with many men from various parts of the exotic world. They'd dined at his table and were presented to his daughter. If it made no difference to him and Laura, and her family and his, why shouldn't he explore what could be between them?

By this time he had a full-blown headache and just wanted the night to end.

Over the next couple of hours, he forced himself to think of other things, to unfurl the knots into which he'd tied himself.

Dante strolled across the floor right before closing time and slapped him on the shoulder. "What's been occupying that empty mind of yours, brother? You seem to be miles away tonight."

"Nothing in particular," he lied.

"Hmm. I saw you bring Murray upstairs earlier. Isn't he the one Laura is leasing a new townhouse from?"

"Yes. She is certain it would make a suitable house for the orphans. He was nice enough to lower the rent when he learned what she planned to use the house for."

"That was well done of him."

"I agree. I have the lease in my pocket and I'm going to have our solicitor look at it tomorrow to make sure everything is as it should be. Right now, if all goes well, it appears we can move them all out of my house and into the new place on Friday."

"A great relief for you, I am sure."

"You have no idea. They haven't really been a problem, but I didn't have time to settle in myself when it became necessary to move them in. My housekeeper did hire additional maids while we have been overrun with babies, and that helped."

Dante pulled out his timepiece. "Looks like it's closing time. Let's move them out. I have a warm wife in my bed waiting for me."

The next fifteen or so minutes were spent ushering out those who didn't want to leave—they claimed to be on a winning streak—and those who needed help finding their carriages since they'd enjoyed more than they should have of the fine liquors the Rose Room provided.

As the last patron left and the doors were locked for the night, Keniel tugged back and forth on his ascot as he made his way upstairs to the office. He stood in the doorway for a moment, resting his shoulder against the wall, staring at Laura, her head lying on her crossed arms on the desk, her eyes closed. Sound asleep with books and papers scattered all over the space.

His heart lurched.

Ah, what am I to do about you?