“Ta ta,” the man called.“It was lovely meeting you, Miss Forester.”
She stiffened, and Lord Dunmore’s fists clenched.A soft chuckling was cut off with the sharp click of the double doors.Livy lengthened her stride and caught up to Lord Dunmore’s side.She discreetly glanced at him, startled when she found he was already looking at her.
“How did he know?”
Lord Dunmore’s jaw tightened.“I have a feeling after I put in my request, he had his minions following me until it led to you.Nothing gets by him.”He blew out an exasperated sigh.“My apologies, Miss Forester.No one was supposed to know you were here.But Mr.Drake… He’s trustworthy.I promise you that.No one will find out you’ve been here.”
She looked ahead, biting on her cheek.They turned a corner and headed down a new hall.This one had many more doors in it.She was surprised by Lord Dunmore’s apology.By the care for her reputation.It was…intriguing.
“Where exactly is here?”she asked quietly.
He halted before a door, pushed it open, and waved her in before him.“The Devil’s Eye.”
Her brow furrowed as she spun in a circle in the new room they’d just entered.A bedroom, just as elegantly adorned as the hall—though this one appeared a bit macabre with all its dark burgundies, reds, and blacks.
“This is my private room here.The Devil’s Eyeis a…gaming hell, I suppose you could say.It serves many more purposes than that.But that’s all you need to know for tonight.”
There were two more doors on the left wall.By the size of the room and its opulence, her guess would be dressing and bathing chambers.Her eyes fell on the mammoth piece of furniture in the center of the room.The bed had to be as large as her bedchamber back home at Maplehurst Manor.What on earth could someone need such a large bed for?
Lord Dunmore’s rich chuckle danced down her spine.“I needed to ensure I had a bed large enough to fit all my partners.”
She twirled back to face him, eyes wide.Apparently, she’d asked that out loud.“All your partners?”
“The more, the merrier.”He flashed a grin at her, but then it fell.“Except for with you.”He stepped forward and dropped his voice.“I want you all to myself, little mouse.”
Her brows snapped together.“I’m not a little mouse.”How insulting.“You—you skulking stoat!”
A choked laugh escaped him.“Apt you chose an animal who preys on mice, love.”
She jutted her chin out.“Do I need to re-familiarize you with my right hook, my lord?”
Those rich green irises danced back at her.“You never cease to surprise me.I have a feeling you are going to love tonight.Your garments are in the dressing room.Shall we get you into them?”
She blinked.Shallweget her into them?
A knock sounded on the door.
“No?”Lord Dunmore lifted a brow and let out a beleaguered sigh.“I suppose I’ll have to let the maid have all the fun.Well, try not to have too much fun with her.Unless I’m allowed to watch.”
Livy gawked at him.Pardon?
His sardonic smile flashed and then he turned toward the door.“A moment!”
He walked up to Livy, and she studied him curiously.This man was difficult to read.He pushed and then pulled back.It was like he knew the line that would make her uncomfortable, danced over it and then hurried back.He stopped a hairsbreadth in front of her, green gaze locked on her.So.Unbelievably.Green.
Soft kid-leather dusted over her cheek, and she jumped.She hadn’t even seen him lift his hand.His fingers trailed down, and she steeled herself.Heavens, she was being a ninny again.Why did he have to have such pretty eyes?Why couldn’t they be dull and brown, like manure?Nobody loved gazing at manure.
“We have to hide this pretty face of yours before anyone else sees.Can’t have anyone finding out the angelic Miss Forester frequents gaming hells.”
He abruptly spun and strode to one of the doors on the far wall and then disappeared inside.She blew out a breath, her skin tingling where his knuckles had just been.He reappeared a moment later, something gold dangling from his hand, glittering in the candlelight.She squinted.A mask?She nodded.Made sense.
“You approve?”
“Of protecting my identity for whatever you have planned?Of course.Seems extremely sensible.”
He flashed a quick grin.Her breath caught, froze and crystalized, in her chest.A different grin.One that almost seemed real.His grins always promised danger.But that one had been dangerous for an altogether different reason.
He carefully settled the mask over her face, taking his time to line it up over the bridge of her nose, fingers lingering as he tied the ribbons behind her head, drifting through her hair, trailing over her scalp.His touch scalded even as she saw it for what it was.A clear attempt at seduction.
