Evan shook his head with an indulgent smile. “Shall we?”
Michael and Penelope were in their path around the edge of the dance floor, and the ladies reached the couple at the same time.
Evan bowed over each lady’s hand, saving Althea’s for last so he could end up next to her. “Fancy meeting you here, Lady Althea.”
He could not have asked for a better opportunity to woo her into an affair than this particular fête, given its nature.
She slid him a sidelong glance.
Beth bounced. “Tell us how this works, if you will, please, Cheltie.”
“’Tis my understanding that downstairs is for the tame—ahem, I mean, Ton.” The group obliged him with chuckles. He watched Althea’s face closely as he described the rest.
The setup was quite similar to the demi-monde party where they’d first met a year ago, but given the end of the Season, even more of the so-called reputable members of the Ton attended. They simply ignored the other half of the gathering.
“Upstairs is for the more adventurous,” he continued. “All the doors in our host’s home have peepholes. Anyone is welcome to make use of a room for whatever activity they choose, but anyone else may watch. If the door is open, then either the room is unoccupied or the couple welcomes people to step in to get a closer look.”
Althea’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “What about for other times? Couldn’t the servants use them?”
He shrugged, having no answer. He didn’t much care and didn’t think his host did either, or the man wouldn’t have created the holes. He probably had them on the servants’ doors as well so he could in turn watch them.
Evan’s mind raced. He was sure Althea liked to watch, despite her prudish upbringing. How might he coax her out of her shyness to watch a tableau?
The pretty shop owner is competitive.
“I dare you.” His voice was a thread of sound next to her ear as he leaned toward her.
She turned to him so quickly she nearly banged her nose on his jaw. He inched back but remained close, grinning.
“To what, exactly?”
His brows lifted, and his lips curled into a pleased smile. That wasn’t a no.
Chapter Eight
Lud, what was he daring her to do? She’d given her curiosity a very strict lecture to avoid the party’s more salacious entertainments, even if Beth attempted to coax her upstairs. Why hadn’t she anticipated Evan’s presence? This was the lion’s den, never mind his kingdom.
Her pulse, elevated from the moment she’d walked in, started a lap around a racetrack when she’d spied Evan’s hair. She’d been lost at “peepholes,” her guilty pleasure. She had no idea why someone would put those in his own house, but a sudden flash of Evan’s face between her legs negated any attempt to care.
The guilt remained. Sex was private and for married couples. But she knew she’d ignore her conscience no matter what the dare was.
Beth doesn’t agree. Nor does Evan. Clearly, this homeowner does not, either. Who am I to argue?
“I’d dearly like to know what you’re thinking about, Lady Althea.”
Althea suspected Evan mocked her prudish ways with the use of her title, but refused to acknowledge the taunt.
“But for now, I’ll answer your question. I dare you to venture upstairs. Either side of the door will suffice.” He waited, brows still raised in query.
Thanks to the man before her, Althea now understood her body’s reaction to viewing intimate acts.
Was it the performers? Their pure enjoyment and obliviousness to their surroundings? The novelty?Darn her cousin. ’Twas Beth’s fault she was in this position. Her cousin’s overactive appetite for fun in all its forms had led her to Evan, who had encouraged these prurient activities. Althea knew she was blaming everyone but herself, a grown woman, but she was not ready to face her desires.
Her reputation was at risk again by attending. Being seen upstairs would surely affect her sales. But she could not resist. Would watching titillate her again? Did she want it to?
If she were honest with herself… Yes. She wanted the rush of pleasure it brought her to watch and what it would lead to. She wasn’t stupid. Evan’s attempts to seduce her with her own desires were obvious. But her competitive nature and the memory of that explosive, amazing orgasm were compelling.
The idea of another lesson in ecstasy made her breath catch. Her chin dipped an inch, then angled up so she met his gaze.
