“Not that you care, of course,” Lissie interrupted, green eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Oh, I see him, all right. I see a gentleman determinednotto notice you,” said Annabel. “That is in itself a particular kind of attention. Why bother to snub a lady one cares nothing for?”
“You try to make it sound romantic, but it’s a snub, Annabel, not a bouquet of hothouse flowers and a waltz. Indeed, I believe he quite despises me.”
Annabel smiled. “Oh my. Thatdoessound promising. There’s nothing more passionate than a man’s hate, Charlotte.”
“And nothing more implacable. Even his love.”
Dear God.How maudlin she sounded. Annabel would never cease teasing her now.
Annabel didn’t hear her, however, for Lord Devon entered the box at that moment, and the ladies were immediately diverted. For all Annabel’s talk of cutting his acquaintance, the widows delighted in Devon. They adored a rake, especially a debauched, handsome one, and Devon was all three.
“My lord!” Aurelie clapped her hands with delight. “At last. We expected you earlier, you know.”
Devon laughed, then bowed to each lady in turn. “Good evening, ladies. I would have paid my respects sooner, but Lady Hadley’s brother-in-law was glaring at me from the other side of the theater. He’s rather bearish—have you noticed? I was afraid he’d leap upon me if I attempted to move toward your box.”
“Don’t tell us you’re afraid of Mr. West, Devon.” Lissie gave him an innocent look as he bent over her hand.
He grinned. “Terrified. Have you seen the size of him? I hear he’s a crack shot too, though it’s difficult to imagine how those bear-like paws could pull a trigger.”
Lady Annabel held out a hand to Lord Devon. “Heisvery large.”
Devon brushed his lips over Annabel’s glove. “Indeed he is. Can’t you do something about that, Lady Hadley?”
Charlotte laughed, and the tension began to ease from her shoulders. Devon talked a good deal of nonsense, but he did it with such charm it was impossible not to be amused by him. “What shall I do, my lord? Hide his boots?”
“No, no. That won’t suffice, for he’ll still be too tall, even without his boots. I’m afraid you’ll have to hide his legs.”
Charlotte laughed again, and Devon’s bright blue eyes moved over her with open appreciation. He took her hand and raised it slowly to his mouth, then held her eyes as he brushed her glove with slightly parted lips. “You, my lady, are worth the risk. How lovely you look this evening.”
Charlotte felt a trickle of warmth in her lower belly. Devon hadn’t made any secret of his interest in her. He was pursuing her, and she… Well, she hadn’t made up her mind yet, but of all the scoundrels London had to offer, a lady could do far worse than Lord Devon.
He released her hand. “But I didn’t come here to discuss Mr. West’s boots or his legs, as diverting as they are. I came to see if you ladies might enjoy further entertainment after the play tonight.”
Annabel glanced at the other ladies. “Indeed? What kind of entertainment would that be, my lord?”
“Nothing terribly interesting, I’m afraid—just a visit to a gaming hell.”
“Need I remind you, Devon,” Lady Annabel said, “That ladies aren’t welcome at gaming hells?”
Devon smiled. “You will be at this one. It’s not a proper hell—more like a private one.”
Lissie’s eyes narrowed. “Is this another west end wager, Devon? How dreadful you are to keep tempting us. We were almost caught out during the last one.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. Shehadbeencaught out, and rather thoroughly at that.
“Now, my lady, no money changed hands between us the other night, so it wasn’t a true wager, and it’s nothing so scandalous tonight— just a little harmless entertainment between friends.”
Charlotte hesitated. Her family wouldn’t like it if she left with Devon, of course. Even now Cam was eyeing him with a murderous expression, but that was nothing new, and she had no intention of retiring early again this evening. “A private gaming hell, my lord? That sounds entertaining.”
“More so if you’ll accompany us, my lady.” He smiled down at her. “Shall I give the direction to your coachman?”
The other ladies murmured their assent, and Charlotte smiled up at him. “By all means.”
Lord Devon bowed, then pressed his lips once more to Charlotte’s glove. “Wonderful. Until then, Lady Hadley.”
Chapter Seven
