“Good.” He stepped closer and she realized in that moment how small the room was. It hadn’t seemed so small before, but he filled it with not just his body, but his presence.
She had no idea what he might do or say and she found herself leaning in, just as she had in Donville. She found herself wanting him like she had that night when she’d convinced herself it was just the location and the moment. It wasn’t. It was him, it turned out.
But before things could progress, there was a knock at the door and then it opened, revealing Campbell Ripley, the owner of the boxing club and one of Esme’s dearest friends.
“Ah,” he said, glancing at Delacourt with his brow wrinkling. “I didn’t realize you had a guest, Hellion.”
Delacourt’s gaze flitted to him and there was a sudden tightness to his mouth before he said, “I was just congratulating the champion. But that done, I’ll leave you two. Good day, I do hope we’ll see each other again.”
She inclined her head and he strode out past Ripley with another quick side glance. When he was gone, Ripley fully entered and shut the door behind him. “Was he bothering you?”
She shook her head. “No. Is he the type to worry about?”
“Delacourt? No. I just didn’t expect to find him here.”
She paced off and removed her mask again, turning it over and over in her hands. “Men like that go wherever they please. I know that better than most.”
Ripley was watching her. She could feel it, but he merely said, “I’m sure that’s true, Esme. Jane has your blunt. I think you’ll bemost pleased. You were wonderful, by the way. All they can talk about is your skill.”
She faced him with a smile, pushing away thoughts of Delacourt. “And Betty? She’s well after the knockout?”
He nodded. “She is. More sore from the loss than the punch. She already took her blunt and left. If you want to follow, I can take you out the back so none of them out there will bother you.”
She slid the mask back on once more. “Lead the way.”
She followed him, making small talk as they weaved out into the back alley where her carriage and Jane were already waiting. But even as she spoke to her old friend, she couldn’t help but think about Delacourt. He said he hoped he’d see her again. And she found herself hoping for the same, no matter how dangerous that reality could be.
No matter how much his very presence threatened the delicate world she had built for herself since she ran away from her old life.
CHAPTER 4
When Ramsbury had sent a message apologizing for missing the fight and suggested meeting at the Donville Masquerade, Finn had told himself he could go there without thinking about his mysterious Hellion. That he could find someone else to warm his cock and forget about her. It turned out he was wrong.
The whole time they’d been there he’d been looking for her. Watching the games around him hadn’t taken off the edge of wanting to find her, nor had several drinks.
It was bloody frustrating.
He glanced over and found Ramsbury staring off into the crowd with much the same distracted look on his face that he, himself, felt. Normally he could depend on Ramsbury to drag him from a mood, but that wasn’t going to happen tonight, clearly.
“Are you brooding to attract the attention of the ladies, or is something truly on your mind?” Finn asked as he sipped his drink.
Ramsbury jolted as if he’d forgotten Finn was there at all and looked at him, but he didn’t answer. It was as if he immediatelygot lost in thought. Finn stared at him, waiting for what felt like forever, then threw up his hands.
“Ramsbury.” No answer. “Ramsbury,” he repeated, sharper. Finally he shook his head. “Sebastian!”
At that rare use of his first name, his friend shook his head. “My apologies. Woolgathering, I suppose.”
Finn almost laughed. Weren’t they the pair, both unable to focus. His problem was a woman, but he couldn’t imagine that was true with Ramsbury. He’d never allowed himself to be connected to a lady in his life. He seduced and played and carefully extracted himself.
And here Finn was daydreaming about a woman he hadn’t even touched. “About what?” he forced himself to ask.
Ramsbury’s cheek twitched ever so slightly. “Nothing of consequence. How is your sister?”
Finn wrinkled his brow at the change of subject. One he very much didn’t want to discuss when there was a woman moaning in pleasure just a few feet behind him.
“Marianne? She’s fine, I suppose.” Once he said it, he hesitated, for he wasn’t certain that was true after their tea earlier in the day. “Still mourning her old friend, I think, but otherwise well.”
To his surprise, Ramsbury pressed and for a few moments they talked about his sister.
