Page 18 of The Seduction of Viscount Vice

“Beg pardon?”

“The beauty at the Castlereaghs.”

Vice choked. “That was Helena!”

“What? I mean, ah, of course. I was only teasing. My, aren’t we on edge.”

“You would be, too, if people were referring to your unmanageable baby sister as a beauty. Christ. For the safety of the world and my own sanity, she should probably go and live in a nunnery atop the Pyrenees until she is at least in her dotage.”

“Bah,” said Mairi, shaking her head. “What a hypocrite you are. Hellion was a high-spirited girl, but never silly. I doubt she has become a henwit who would surrender her virginity to a penniless rake just because he smiled at her.”

“And what a master you are at attempting to change the topic of conversation. Again, I ask, what are you really doing here?”

She glared at him, her eyes blue infernos. “What woman would turn down an invitation to see the most handsome man she’s ever known in his own luxurious home, to forget for a few hours that she is naught but a worthless servant with so many dreams unmet?”

Shocked, Vice searched her face for signs of guile. But for once, she held his gaze unflinchingly. “No,” he said softly. “No. Not a worthless servant. Never, ever that. In fact, a brave and beautiful Highland warrior.”

Mairi’s eyes glistened, and without thinking, he cupped her face. She tensed, then with a shaky exhale, she turned into his touch and rubbed her cheek against his palm. The moment stretched to infinity, all the betrayals and mistakes and lost time raging a silent battle against a hope and a love that had never quite died. Dare he believe? Fuck, he wanted to. So badly. To forget Scotland, to forget the last decade, and publicly claim this woman for his own.

A discreet cough dragged him back to reality.

“Begging your pardon, Vice, my lady, but everyone is seated and ready to eat,” said the footman from several feet away, his expression apologetic.

“Yes. Of course.” He reluctantly stepped away from Mairi. “Lead on, MacNair!”

“The soup!” she added, her smile too bright.

For the next few hours, she put on quite a show for Devil and Eliza, Sin and Grace. Through the courses of soup, fish, and roasted beef and vegetables, she sipped wine, laughed, and answered the others’ probing questions with varying degrees of humor and substance. But oddly, when the dessert trays came out she refused everything, even the slice of berry cream gateaux he’d caught her gazing longingly at.

“No sweets?” he asked, looking at her askance. “Who are you, and what have you done with Mairi MacNair?”

“I’m trying to watch my weight.”

“Excuse me?” Eliza looked up from where she was sharing bites of a cinnamon-and-sugar-dusted apple tart with Devil. “Why?”

“Yes, why?” Sin helped himself to another serve of vanilla custard. “We have the best dessert chef in England, you know. Prinny has tried to steal him away on several occasions. It is quite the bone of contention that the man chooses to stay here.”

Mairi’s laugh was uncomfortably brittle. “I’m sure. But I’m full, anyway. That cock-a-leekie soup was divine, as was the beef. Positively melted in my mouth. I shan’t need to eat for days.”

“In that case,” said Grace, kicking him under the table. “Vice, why don’t you take Lady Mairi on a tour of Fallen?”

“Very well. If only to protect my shins. Mairi?”

“Thank you all for a wonderful evening.” Mairi smiled at the others before getting to her feet and taking his hand.

Soon they stood in Fallen’s main ballroom. On the nights they were closed it was only partially candlelit, the soft glow and shadows giving the room a rather ethereal feel.

“What do you want to see?” he asked. “Costumes? Activity rooms? The toy chamber?”

Mairi shuddered. “No, thank you. I’ve seen more than enough toys today.”

“Really? How so?”

“I, er…accompanied Ramsey and Olivier to a certain warehouse in Blackfriars. My God. I’m quite sure my dreams tonight will be cock ring soup rather than cock-a-leekie.”

Laughter rumbled in his chest as he picked up a large candelabra to light their way. “How about my pirate ship, then? No cock rings, I swear.”

As in the dining room, she strangely hesitated. Then she nodded. “I’d love to.”