Page 25 of The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes
“Not tonight.” He should have lied and attributed the hotness in his face to something other than sudden, unexpected desires.
She arched a brow. “But youhaveworn cosmetics?”
“Never underestimate the dramatic impact of a kohl-lined eye.” Better to brazen it out than let her realize she affected him. As they neared the building, he said, “There was another gaming hell a few years ago, so exclusive it didn’t even have a name. You would have liked it—the manager was a woman named Cassandra, elegant as crystal. The place shut down and no one knows what became of Cassandra... though she does bear a resemblance to a very influential duchess.” He shrugged as they climbed the stairs. “Jenkins’s will do for your beginning foray into the world of gaming hells. It’s exclusive and the proprietress won’t tolerate unruly fools.”
Before he lifted his hand to use the brass knocker, the door swung open. A massive liveried footman appeared. The servant’s gaze flicked impassively over Kieran and then turned to Celeste.
He watched her battle indecision, as though picking the proper strategy for how to interact with the footman. Of course—she had no idea what women did when they entered such places. Finally, she lifted her chin with cool disinterest, though a flare of uncertainty still glinted in her eyes.
Something struck him square in the chest, a sensation he couldn’t quite name. Yet it swelled and ached to see her deliberately, purposefully encountering a frightening, unknown situation, yet facing it directly. There was a courage in her he hadn’t anticipated.
The footman stepped aside, permitting them entrance.
Kieran and Celeste crossed the threshold but as they did, a tiny tremor passed from her into him. Entering a gaming hell was an everyday occurrence for him, but forherit seemed to mean something more.
Again, the thought gnawed at him: Why would she take this risk? What impelled her to gamble with her reputation?
A maid came forward to take Celeste’s gloves and cloak, revealing her vivid, snug gown, and how it adhered to her body like emerald water. Dragging his gaze away took far more effort than he liked. Even so, it would be a long, long time before he could get the glowing afterimage of her in that dress out of his mind.
Fortunately, she didn’t seem to notice him leering at her as she took in their surroundings. The foyer blazed with light from a chandelier, and nearby huge Chinese vases held palm fronds as they stoodsentinel. The antechamber itself was not very large, but just beyond it lay an enormous room with an extremely high ceiling and equally tall windows. Even more massive chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling. Crowds of people in evening finery moved through the room, though one couldn’t see precisely what they did. The cacophony emanating from that chamber was terrific.
“It’s noisier than Billingsgate,” she said to Kieran.
“The language is worse here,” he answered with a grin, “especially as the night wears on and the losses pile up. But, as I said, fools are not tolerated and anyone who causes unruly scenes is summarily escorted off the premises. Ah, Mrs. Jenkins, how you sparkle tonight.” He beamed as a mature Black woman in regal azure silk came forward.
“Mr. Ransome, you bestow flattery with a generous hand,” Mrs. Jenkins answered. “’Tis my sapphires that sparkle, not I.” She fingered the strand of impressive gems around her neck and shook her head to make her jeweled earbobs dance.
“Those are cold rocks of minimal value and negligible beauty compared to you.” He bowed over her hand as she chuckled throatily.
“How glad I am that I’ve a rule against dallying with my establishment’s patrons,” Mrs. Jenkins said, her lips curving. Her regard turned to Celeste. “This sweet plum is newly harvested from your orchard.”
“Mrs. Jenkins,” he said, nodding at Celeste, “may I present Salome.”
“Salome what?” the proprietress asked.
“Just... just Salome,” Celeste replied.
Mrs. Jenkins raised a brow. But then the woman nodded, as if well used to her patrons using pseudonyms.
“Welcome,” Mrs. Jenkins said. “As this is your first time here, and as Mr. Ransome is a particularly generous patron, I am happy to stake you ten pounds.” She snapped her fingers, and another liveried footman hurried forward with what looked like a folio of banknotes.
“You are kindness itself,” Celeste murmured, taking the cash and tucking it into her reticule.
“My duties require attention,” Mrs. Jenkins said, “so I will bid you both a good evening, and wish you luck at whatever venture you decide to play.” She sent a meaningful glance between Kieran and Celeste, and then, smiling enigmatically, glided away.
“An extraordinary woman.” Celeste watched the proprietress as she went into the gaming room and wove through the crowds.
“None more extraordinary.” Kieran offered Celeste his arm once more. “But we’ll gain nothing if we don’t enter the fray.”
“This is it,” Celeste said under her breath as she set her hand on his sleeve.
He laid his hand over hers—his intent to offer comfort. But the feel of his bare hand covering hers was anything but comforting. Embers of awareness glowed into being, illuminating all the shadowed corners within him.
Her eyes widened at the contact. She felt it, too.Damn.
Theirs was a relationship of mutual usefulness, and nothing more. He had to remember that.
They went into the main gaming room, and noise and heat met them, solid as a bulwark. He tried to see the place through her eyes, as though experiencing all of it for the first time. People shouted while standing around numerous tables arranged throughout the room, cries of elation mixing with yells of dismay, and the cheers of onlookers encouraging the bettors. Everyone was dressed in evening regalia, with more than a few ladies in silk and jewels gleaming amongst the gentlemen’s dark finery. Liveried servants circulated with trays bearing glasses of wine, admirable in their deftness in avoiding collisions with unthinking patrons. Adjoining the gaming room was another, smaller chamber where people took refreshments, ranging from plates of roast beef served with potatoes, to an array of cakes accompanied by sparkling wine.
