Page 48 of The Last Chance
He was pacing, tugging at his collar and the ends of his coat sleeves, each step a muttered complaint. He hated parties. He hated the demimonde. He refused to wear a mask. He was liable to punch someone tonight, and it might be Mr Daventry.
Then he glanced at the stairs and came to a crashing halt.
He faced her, swallowing so hard she feared he was choking. Intense dark eyes moved from her hair to her lips to her bare shoulders.
“We’re not going.”
She descended the last few stairs. “Of course we’re going.”
“Then you must wear something else.” He scrubbed his face with his hand and groaned. “They’ll eat you alive.”
“Mrs Daventry only sent one gown.” She ran her fingers over the lace neckline, tears threatening to fall. The last thing she needed was an argument. “I had to make a few adjustments. The lady is a little larger in the bust.”
“Every man there will seek ways to get you alone.”
He was afraid. The truth was there in every tense muscle.
“I’ve taken care of myself all my adult life. I’m capable of putting a drunken sot in his place.” She decided to mention her ruination before he did. “I’ll not make the mistake I did ten years ago.”
“You’ll be out of your depth.”
“I’m always out of my depth. It’s how I learned to survive.” She inhaled deeply, keeping her disappointment at bay. “I have never felt so confident, so feminine. Don’t spoil it for me.”
He pushed his hand through his hair and sighed. “God help me. I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life. You take my breath away.”
Her heart swelled. “You need to work on your delivery. Compliment a lady first, then let her see your insecurities. Allow me to demonstrate.”
She stepped back, raking her gaze over his torso—remembering the muscled physique beneath his fine clothes. In his all-black ensemble, he looked like Lucifer come to survey his minions. As sinful as hell.
“You’re a dangerously handsome man, Mr Chance. When I look at you, my body is not my own. It answers your silent call. Every woman will want you tonight, but they’ll have to fight me first.”
He smiled, and her heart missed a beat.
“You don’t need to change clothes,” she said, smiling too. “I’m confident I can deflect their unwanted attentions.” She stepped closer and patted his chest. “Trust me. If you decide to kiss anyone tonight, it will be me.”
He held her gaze. “We agreed not to mention kissing. We said we’d pretend our mouths had never met.”
“Yes, but your shoulders are so tense, you look like you need to lose yourself for a few hours. Remember, tonight we’re entering a world that exists outside of society. We can do as we please, and it doesn’t count.”
The hard lines of his mouth softened, but he said nothing.
“Let me be transparent,” she said because she had her own list of demands. “I will never give up The Burnished Jade. I’ll never be beholden to a man again. We both have responsibilities to other people. I can’t think about my future until I see my ladies settled.”
“That could take forever,” he mocked.
“Yes. Like you, my life is not my own. But we’re allowed to relax and enjoy ourselves a little.” She pushed a lock of hair offhis brow and he didn’t catch her wrist to stop her. “We’re friends who might kiss occasionally. Where is the harm in that?”
He looked at her like she was a mathematical puzzle. “You make everything sound so simple.”
“And you complicate everything. Perhaps we might meet somewhere in the middle.” She paused, waiting for him to make a demand or refuse to play games, but he didn’t. “You’ll need to wear a mask.”
“And have those pathetic fools think I’m one of them?”
“We don’t want Venus to recognise you. And if you do decide to kiss me again, is it not better to pretend we’re strangers?”
“I doubt I’ll have time. I’ll be batting vermin away like an overworked rat catcher.” He strode to his study, returning with a black domino and stuffing it into his coat pocket.
“I can take care of myself.” She hoped the lessons in pugilism would help if cornered by a rakehell. Failing that, Mrs Daventry had ensured she was armed. “On Mrs Daventry’s request, I have a blade strapped to my thigh. A pretty silververijero. Though I fear it’s asking for trouble. She said to tell you before we leave for Belgravia.”
