Page 5 of The Secret of Flirting
Not knowing anything of the play put him at a disadvantage. Gregory hated that. “And I assume thatyou, mademoiselle, approve of the title, since the woman gets to ‘conquer.’ ”
“I do indeed enjoy that, but mostly because ofhowshe conquers—by revealing to the hero his little snobberies and hypocrisies.”
Gregory stiffened. “An intriguing assessment coming from a woman who’s—”
“A merecomédienne?” she said archly.
“So young.” Damn, he’d really put her back up with his ill-considered remarks earlier. “How old are you, anyway? Twenty-one? Twenty-two?”
When she blinked, he knew he’d guessed correctly. Then she attempted to mask her surprise by fluttering a fan before her face. “You should know by now, monsieur, that a woman never tells her age. It dulls hermystique.”
The coy remark made him scoff. “Only if she’s old and losing her attractions. Clearly you are neither. I would say you havemystiqueto spare.”
Amusement sparkled in her eyes. “Ah, so the haughty English gentlemancanexert himself to be charming when he wishes.”
In that moment, he glimpsed the real Mademoiselle Servais—flirtatious and full of joie de vivre beneath the prickliness he’d brought on with his condescending remarks. He wished to see more ofthatMademoiselle Servais.
Allowing his gaze to skim down her lush form, he drawled, “It is no exertion at all with you, mademoiselle. Forgive me if I gave you the idea that it was.”
When the faintest tinge of color pinkened her pretty cheeks, Hart cut in to say, “To be fair, my companion spends his days in the somber profession of politics. He has little opportunity to perfect his ability to charm women.”
Just as Gregory bristled at that characterization of him as some sort of bumbler in the art of flirtation, she added lightly, “And probably little inclination, either. He relies on his rank and riches to charm them.”
Gregory fixed her with a steady look. “I would never be so foolish. Women of any worth generally see past such trappings.”
She met his gaze with an unnerving intensity. “Ah, but I suspect that you find few women of such worth inyourcircles, eh, monsieur?”
“I certainly don’t find them very often in theaters.”
He’d meant the words as a compliment to her—an implication thatshewas the exception to the rule.
But his tone must have resisted translation, because she blanched, then nodded regally to them both. “In that case, you will not mind if I excuse myself. It is long past time I returned home.”
Devil take it. What was it about her that made him speak so clumsily?
“I’m sure his lordship didn’t mean—” Hart began.
“I know what he meant,” she said. “I have more experience with his kind than he thinks.”
This was the point where he should apologize, should explain what he’d been trying to say. But he’d be damned if he’d curry the favor of some French actress who thought him beneath contempt. He was the bloody undersecretary of the foreign office, for God’s sake. He didn’t cower before anyone.
Hart glared at him, but Gregory ignored the man. “Well then, mademoiselle, perhaps we shall see you when you are more at your leisure.”
Her green eyes glittered. “Oh, I don’t think I shall ever be at my leisure foryou, sir.” As Gregory tensed, she turned to cast a dazzling smile at Hart. “Though your charming companion is always welcome.”
Hart started to return the smile, then caught himself with a nervous glance at Gregory, and an unfamiliar sensation tightened the muscles of Gregory’s belly. Jealousy? No, that was ridiculous. He’d just met the woman. What did he care if Hart got the benefit of her smiles? She was playing them off against each other. That was all.
Though Gregory knew that game, he’d never been the loser in it. “Good. Then he can stay and entertain you with his charm.”
Turning on his heel, he left the dressing room, angry at her and angry at himself. She’d made him lose control, and heneverlost control. But the damned chit had essentially givenhimthe cut direct! No one ever dared.
Footsteps sounded behind him. “That went well,” Hart grumbled.
Gregory bit back the impulse to say something snide. He’d already revealed too much of himself to Mademoiselle Servais in front of Hart as it was; he damned well wasn’t going to add insult to injury.
He fought to make his voice sound bored. “You were the one who wanted to dally with an actress. You should have stayed.”
“She didn’t want me there.” Hart’s tone sharpened. “She ignored me completely, except when she was trying to goad you. She was only interested in you.”
