Starling’s gaze shuttered momentarily, a dark cloud that parted as he grimaced in acknowledgement of her barb. “You have me at a disadvantage, madam. Now, what other secrets might you win from me, hmm?”
Helen tapped her fan across her palm, intrigued by the last part of his comment despite herself. “It seems you think we areengaged in some kind of game, Captain. What do you imagine is at stake?”
Starling stepped closer, bending down so that his breath ghosted across the bare skin of her neck. “Secrets are powerful, Mrs Montrose. You have one of mine, now it is only fair I have one of yours.”
Helen felt her skin flush with heat at the nearness of his body, a shamefully wanton reaction to the feel of him towering over her.
What would it feel like to have that lean strength pressed tight against her?
“I have no secrets,” she whispered, feeling as if she was suddenly adrift, with no solid land in sight.
His hand moved to brush along the skin of her upper arm above the edge of her glove, the movement hidden from the gathered guests by their position.
Gods above, he was utterly shameless.
“Oh no, I think you might have some very intriguing secrets, Mrs Montrose. And I intend to win them from you.”
With that, he stepped back, flashing her a charmingly polite smile, before moving away into the crowd.
Helen shivered, still reeling from the feel of his touch and the confusion his words had elicited.
What on earth could he mean?
CHAPTER SEVEN
Not even atthe card tables could Helen escape Captain Starling, as he seemed to appear at the most inopportune moment to smoothly insert himself into the game of whist she sat down to. Sliding himself into the seat opposite her with a honeyed smile that made her want to storm off in a huff.
She took a steadying breath, trying to find the focus that had always come so easily to her before.
It would be too rude to outright refuse him, so Helen picked up the deck with lips pressed tight together in displeasure, shuffling the cards angrily.
He would be her partner in the game, and they were to play against Lord Seldon and his wife.
Lady Caroline was holding court over her own game of whist one table over, and a group of young bucks had set up a game of hazard in the corner.
Overall, the night appeared to be a lovely warmup to deeper play later in the weekend.
Helen should be moving amongst the games, charming the gathering in her own quiet way. Ensuring that none would see her as anything more than just another guest who loved to indulge themselves in a bit of harmless fun.
She should not be fixated on the man seated across from her, who had somehow wrangled himself an invitation to this exclusive party.
Ruining her composure in the process.
And now, she would have to play whist with him as if he hadn’t kissed her practically senseless in a darkened courtyard not a few nights past.
Your partner was a vital part of whist play, as you had to work as a team to earn the most trumps.
The thought of having to rely on this man was maddening. Exasperating.
Bloody inconvenient.
Helen would have to stare into his handsome face with each fall of the cards and she loathed the heat that rushed through her at the thought.
Helen offered the deck to Lady Sedon to cut, then proceeded to deal the cards, laying out the first trump with a crisp snick of the card as it settled in the centre of the table.
Captain Starling fingered his tokens, running the small ivory disk of one through his fingers over and over again.
Helen blew out a huff of annoyance and glared at his movements. Unfortunately, the dratted man would not take a hint, and Starling merely smiled mildly at her in return, continuing to distract her with his long, neatly manicured fingers as they flipped and caught the token.
