She could not find the strength to refuse him. Where would be the harm in a little fun? She yearned for it, her heart dry as dust with dedication to her cause. “Oui. I will.”
He drew near, and her instinct was to defy all of Society and kiss him then and there.
“I must leave.” She gave a little curtsy. “Good evening, monsieur. A lovely ball.”
“And you have made it so,” he murmured, and kissed her hand.
She fled like the wind was at her back.
#
She climbed into the public hack, thanking his butler for the acquisition. Settling into the cushions, she muttered her vows to do better where Evan, the noble Monsieur le Comte de Halsey, was concerned.
She would become closer to him. Submerge her fondness for his charm and the lure of his words and his lips. She had to. He was precisely the type of man she needed to accomplish her mission—but she would use him only for the occasional information. Not the final coup. Damn her to hell, she wanted him only for the soaring satisfaction of her own heart.
He might be well connected to those in government. The foreign minister. Perhaps the home minister, too? Officers in the army? The navy?
But she took a huge risk to be so close that she learned him better, admired him more.Non, certainment.To lose herself in a romantic liaison would confuse her. Delay her process.
Heaven knew, she could get lost in him. His dancing—she had evidence now—was indicative of his grace as a lover. That she had craved for herself, like any young girl, but she cut the desire from her when she took on work with Luc and more for Amber. She was not young now. Not a girl, but a woman of someexperience. Could she not act the part of a woman fascinated, a woman tempted? One who danced and flirted, kissed, and left the man to his own devices?
She could. Clenching her fists, she must demand that of herself. Spend time with him, go shopping with him or eat ices at Gunter’s. That was all. She would not have to show him the ultimate favor. That would be so unkind. She was a woman bound by her past, but she could act responsibly. She was not, at base, an unscrupulous woman.
Resolved now as to her limits with him, she could plan better. She would refurbish her house. Establish her security. Use her solitude. Become Evan’s fond friend. Learn what she must. Find other men to give her access to the very thing she required.
People would check on her. Soon they would make themselves known. They must. They would come and ask about her timing. Her progress.
She had to be ready for their questions.
Her brother’s life depended on it.
Chapter Ten
The following afternoon at two o’clock, Inès arrived in Berkeley Square with the maid whom Gus had assigned her from the Ashleys’ household staff. The girl was young and nervous.
“Do not worry, Mary.” Inèshad tried to calm her servant’s fears of being in such high company. “It is not a problem. We will sit and have a sweet and a cup of tea.”
“Oh, ma’am, I donna want to spill my tea or make ye unhappy with me.”
“I will tell you what you can do. Soon after we sit down, you can excuse yourself and walk along the street. Say you will buy what I asked you to buy in the apothecary shop. You will stroll along and look in the shops. Then return after you’ve had a good time of it.”
The girl agreed, and Inès was pleased.
Though I should not be.Wanting to be alone with this man was a dangerous tactic.But I want him. Badly.
The hack idled to a stop. She climbed down and there he stood, her escort, her smiling chevalier.
“I am delighted to see you here.” He offered his arm and they entered the shop, Mary strolling behind.
The room was filled with the hustle and bustle of customers, the fragrances of lavender and vanilla, the sweetnessof sugars and of the man who took a seat opposite her and spoke of the charms of London in winter.
They sat in a quiet corner, Mary in one chair between them.
“Do you skate?” he asked Inès between bites of his vanilla ice.
“Of course.”
“Then we must. I have the blades. Do you have pattens?”
