“Kentwood had been invited, so he brought me with him.”
The tone of his voice made her pause. Why did he sound like he didn’t want to be here? “Are you not enjoying yourself?”
He shrugged and looked down at his hands. “I wasn’t, but now...” He looked at her and grinned. “I must admit, the evening is perking up quite nicely. However,” he reached behind her head and untied her mask, “I’d rather see your pretty face when I talk to you.”
She chuckled, only to try to get her racing heartbeat to slow down. She held the fallen mask in her lap, grateful that her hands had something to do. “You’re too kind with your compliments, Collin. One might think you are over-flattering me for a specific reason.”
He arched an eyebrow. “One might think... but what doyouthink?”
Her mind turned blank. Really, there was only one thing she could think about, and no matter how hard she tried to calm herself and act natural, the simple truth was that she wanted his attention. She wanted them to be alone. But more importantly, she wanted him to fall in love with her.
“I think you are a charmer, Collin.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been known to charm my share of women. Does my confession shock you?”
She shook her head. “Although it should, I have heard rumors about you and your friend, Lord Kentwood.”
“Rumors?” He turned his body toward her and took one of her hands into his. “Pray, what are these rumors saying about me and Kentwood?”
She moistened her throat with a hard swallow. “That you are rogues.”
Slowly, he nodded. “I suppose we are.”
“Yousuppose?” She laughed. “Are you trying to tell me that you don’t know this fact about yourself?”
He leaned closer as his smile softened. “My dearest, Addie, rogues like myself do not go around bragging about our exploits, especially to fair maidens.”
“If I’m not mistaken, that sounded like you were bragging.”
He stroked her hand. “Tell me, Addie, if you know I’m a rogue, why are you out here with me?”
Oh, heavens...The truth would come out sooner than she wanted. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Would you believe that you’re the only one I know at this ball, besides my family?”
His gaze narrowed on her. “That would be very difficult to believe.”
“Let me rephrase that.” She took a deep breath as her mind twirled with what to say. “You are the only one who has willingly sought my company. The others here tonight turn up their noses at me and my family. We are here only because my aunt invited us.”
“Your aunt?”
“Yes. Lady Guthrie is my aunt.”
His gaze locked on hers as if he was trying to read her mind. Finally, he nodded and realization dawned on his face.
“Then the rumors aboutyouare true?”
She gasped. “Rumors about me?”
“Well, actually, they are about your father.”
Her heart sank. The truth was finally out. “Yes. They are true.”
His fingers stroked her hand again, slower this time. “So, your father gambled away your dowry?”
“He gambled awayeverything.”
“That’s probably why you have no servants.”
