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“See here, we saw her first,” one of the men protested.

I turned and glared at him, allowing the full weight of my anger to show. “What did you say?”

The man took a step back, clearly recognizing me now. “Nothing. I think I see someone over there who’s been trying to gain my attention.”

He scurried off, the other two following behind while I glared after them. Had the trio been planning to force Claire into an alcove?

My blood boiling, I began a circuit of the perimeter of the ballroom. We needed privacy for this conversation while I explained to Claire why she couldn’t be here.

“Where are we going?” she asked, rushing to keep up with me. “I was having fun. Those gentlemen were very amusing. I never realized how entertaining it would be to attend one of these balls. I can see now why my sister enjoys them so much.”

With every word, my anger grew, but not at her. No, I was angry at the others who’d placed her in this position and then abandoned her. And who clearly hadn’t explained that this wasn’t one of the tame society balls her sister attended.

One corner of my brain knew I was behaving irrationally. They were keeping an eye on her and hadn’t scattered to enjoy themselves elsewhere. And Fairfax was watching from afar. Nothing nefarious would have occurred under his watchful gaze. But it seemed that I was beyond logical thinking.

I peeked into one alcove after another, hurrying Claire past the ones where the occupants hadn’t even bothered to completely close the curtains before engaging in their activities. The fact that Claire had suddenly stopped arguing told me she’d seen far more than she should have. Finally, I found an unoccupied alcove and dragged her into it.

I closed the curtains behind us and turned to look at her. My chest was heaving, and I told myself it was because I was worried for her safety. Yes, she was older than the women my friends had married, but not by much. And I didn’t think I was mistaken in believing her to be an innocent.

Her breath was also coming in small little pants. “Do you think”—she licked her bottom lip, and I wanted to groan—“those men were planning to take me into one of these rooms to have their way with me?”

I closed my eyes. She must have caught a peek inside that one room where two men were enjoying a woman together. “You shouldn’t have come here, Claire. I’m going to speak to the others. Make sure they don’t place you in this kind of situation again.”

Her head tilted to one side, her eyes narrowed. “Tell me, my lord…” She swept her hands over her figure. “Would any of the men here tonight actually want to bother with the likes of me?”

My eyes followed her hands as they brushed over her figure, taking note of her demurely cut neckline. But then she shifted onto one leg and I caught sight of a shapely thigh. My eyes traveled back to her face, where her mouth seemed uncharacteristically wide beneath the mask that covered the top half of her face. The tumble of curls around her pale skin. Her eyes, blue and wide.

“I can guarantee that there isn’t a man out there who wouldn’t want to drag you into one of these rooms and have their way with you.”

Her breath hitched. And then, instead of asking me to take her home, she took a step closer. “Are you one of those men?” When I didn’t reply, she continued. “I mean, you have dragged me in here, although I don’t know whether it was to keep me safe or to scold me like a wayward child. But do you think that, in another lifetime, you might have been tempted to… entertain yourself for an evening with someone like me?”

I swallowed thickly, unable to believe what I was hearing. Her eyes searched my face.

When I didn’t reply, her shoulders sagged, and she turned away. “Never mind. I think we both know the answer to that. I won’t make you say it out loud.”

I placed my hands on her bare shoulders, her silky skin feeling like sin itself, and turned her to face me. “I am the worst of the lot,” I said before taking her mouth.

Her breath hitched, and then she wrapped her arms around my neck and returned my kiss. It lacked finesse, but she more than made up for it with enthusiasm. And when her tongue brushed against mine, I lost my mind.

Chapter 19

CLAIRE

It was impossible that I was tucked away in an alcove, kissing Greyson. Which meant I must be dreaming. But if this wasn’t reality, I didn’t want to wake up.

Instead of pushing him away like any gently bred young woman should, I pulled him closer. I didn’t know what was happening, and I didn’t care.

I knew Greyson hadn’t dragged me into this alcove for this. It was clear my presence at tonight’s masquerade frustrated him. But despite his concerns, I wasn’t foolish enough to disappear with a man just because he flirted with me. I shouldn’t have allowed Greyson to bring me here either, but it seemed my good sense was nonexistent when it came to him.

When his mouth left mine, I wanted to protest. He turned us around and I expected him to pull open the curtain so we could return to the crowded ballroom. Instead, I found my back pressed against a solid wall.

His mouth moved to my ear. “You shouldn’t be here, Claire. Those men would think nothing of ruining you and casting you aside.” He took my earlobe into his mouth and pulled once gently. The press of his teeth and warmth from his breath caused shivers to race down my spine. “Above all, you shouldn’t be tempting me.”

It was the height of recklessness, but I couldn’t help wanting whatever he was threatening. Still, I couldn’t forget we weren’t in private. “Anyone could walk in.”

His tongue made a path along the side of my throat, and I was glad the wall was behind me, his body pressed against me. If he stepped back now, I’d be in danger of collapsing. “I’m not going to defile you,” he murmured.

Disappointment flooded through me. All I wanted was to experience whatever he’d be willing to do with me. “Don’t stop.” My voice was low. Breathless.