He was ridiculously handsome. He looked just like a drawing of Poseidon she’d once seen in a book, except that the Greek god had been covered only by some strategically placed seafoam and Mr. Corbyn was fully clothed, thank goodness. But the features were the same. Perpetually windswept hair, piercing blue eyes, angled cheekbones, a slightly downturned nose, and an expression of fierce defiance. It was a very compelling face. Hannah had been so moved by the drawing that she’d kept that book hidden under her bed to look at from time to time when no one else was around.
Oh goodness, how embarrassing. Why did I think of that now?
If she kept staring this way, she would waste the rest of theevening. She had more important things to do than be dazzled by this man. Better to just force one foot in front of the other and put herself at his table before she could talk herself out of it.
She was doing this. Ruination was still possible.
Two
Silas had made it through a dozen rounds of vingt-et-un without serious incident, unless one counted the flirtatious redhead who kept leaning forward to expose half her chest every time she asked him for a card. Miss Berry, she’d said her name was. It was obviously intentional.
Why won’t she stop that?
If it had been a woman of lower birth, he would have understood the signal. A roll in the hay might be welcome, possibly for a price. But this woman was several steps above Silas on the social ladder, judging by her expensive silks and the pearl-encrusted pendant that hung from her neck. There was no chance that she planned to invite him back to her home when the night was done.
What was this, then, a sport? He’d attracted that sort of leering curiosity from upper-class ladies on occasion, and it never ended well.
Silas kept his attention on his deal, even to the point of appearing rude. It was better than inviting trouble.
He’d already turned up the second cards when a newcomerappeared at the corner of his vision, inching forward so hesitantly it took him a minute to notice her.
“This round’s just started, miss,” he said. “Shall I deal you in on the next hand?”
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft and smooth, like honey. Silas glanced up and realized that he’d seen her before.
“You’re Eli Williams’s sister, aren’t you?”
“Oh.” The young lady gave a little squeak. “Yes. I’m Miss Hannah Williams. I’m surprised you remember me.”
“Of course I do. You’re the spitting image of him.”
Miss Williams hadn’t said two words to Silas at the house before she fled, but it would have been hard not to notice the resemblance between the siblings. They were both tall and lanky, with the same dark-brown hair and eyes. She even had her brother’s pointed nose. It wasn’t exactly a pretty face on a woman, but she might have been called handsome.
The look she gave him just then could’ve curdled milk. Too late, Silas realized she might not have appreciated being compared to a gentleman.
“Damn it,” he blurted without thinking. “Sorry. Uh…I didn’t mean it as an insult. He’s, um, very delicate-looking.”
An obvious lie. Why was he still talking? Not two hours into his evening and he’d already offended a lady. Not just any lady, but Williams’s sister. If Silas lost this job on the first night, he would never forgive himself.
“It’s fine. Really.” Miss Williams offered him a limp smile. It was obviously not fine.
“Can we return to the bidding, please?” Miss Berry interrupted, flashing a smile at Miss Williams that looked to be mostly canines. “I’ll stand.”
“I’m sorry,” the young lady said, appearing to shrink into herself beneath the other woman’s scorn. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“Nothing to apologize for,” Silas assured her, before turning back to the players to take their bids. Miss Berry looked put out by his words, but he wasn’t going to let her bully Miss Williams, who hadn’t done anything wrong. If anything, it was his fault for making chitchat. Weren’t the help supposed to be invisible? And he was help now, not anyone who mattered to these people.
Best remember it.
Miss Berry lost her hand with a pout, and Silas added Miss Williams to the deal on the next round.
When the bid reached her, she announced in a breathless voice, “I’ll raisetwo hundredpounds,” immediately glancing to either side to see how her bid was received.
What the hell is she doing?
Did Miss Williams have something wrong with her? She hadn’t struck him as a risk-taking sort, based on how she’d shrunk from Miss Berry’s annoyance a moment ago.
“Sorry, miss,” Silas replied. “We don’t allow bids over ten on a single hand.”
