Instead of taking his hand, she backed away. Her manner had changed. The easy playfulness was gone. “I’ve decided I do not wish to dance after all, Mr. Steele.”
He lowered his hand, confused. “Because?”
Had he been too honest? Or was she being coy?
“Perhaps the more distance between us, the better.” Before he knew what she was about, she fell into step beside her sister Elise and Painswick as they passed.
Beck let her go. He didn’t chase women, and he’d never once wasted energy trying to decipher them.
And yet Gwendolyn tempted him.
He couldn’t help watching her move away with admiration. She had bearing, grace. She’d do very nicely for his plans.
As long as he kept a distance.
Lady Royston sidled up to him. “Has my debt been paid?”
“Absolutely.” Elise and Gwendolyn had rejoined their aunt, who now appeared busy brokering her nieces with the circle of gentlemen begging for their attention.
He tore his gaze away from Gwendolyn and gave Lady Royston a small bow. “Was the favor I asked a terrible one?”
“Those sisters have created quite a stir this evening, especially withyourappearance.”
He ignored her jab. “I want everyone talking about them on the morrow.”
She sniffed her opinion. “They will be. Especially since men think with their little heads and not their big ones.”
“Then you wouldn’t have owed me a favor,” he countered. She had come to him when her husband had declared he was going to leave her for an actress. Royston had planned to elope to Amsterdam and polite society be damned.
Beck had been able to help her husband see sense.
Well, as much as the man was able to be sensible. Royston was the sort who would wander again. Beck knew because his father had been of the same mind. Beck’s initial advice to Lady Royston had been to let her husband go. Ignore the gossips, discreetly take on a lover while playing on everyone’s sympathy, and spend Royston’s money lavishly and generously.
She hadn’t appreciated the idea, so Beck had done as she asked.
And now she had done as Beck had asked.
So would Gwendolyn Lanscarr.
And he actually was looking forward to the encounter.
He started for the door. He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do, including passing offthe piece of information Brogan had requested from him. In turn, Brogan had done as Beck had asked. He’d singled out the Lanscarr sisters.
The time had come to leave.
Beck prided himself on his ability to slip away unnoticed.Hedecided what people thought. However, before he escaped, he did something out of character—he looked back.
Searching for Gwendolyn, he saw she was being introduced to Viscount Morley, who actually appeared fawningly entranced.
Good. He’d planned their meeting as well, and it seemed to be progressing as he wished.
Beck didn’t worry Gwendolyn would be swept off her feet. Yes, the sisters had a chance at becoming duchesses; however, he wouldn’t take a wager on the matter. He understood thetonfar better than they did. The Lanscarrs were aiming beyond their reach, and there would be a fall. The question was, what did he wish to see happen?
He left the ball.
***
Gwendolyn saw Mr. Steele slip from the ballroom. He was an enigma. He could either command all the attention in the room, or slip away like a shadow—and yet she’d been aware of his every movement. He’d watched her for a good moment as she’d politely smiled at Viscount Morley and the number of other suitors lining up for introductions.
