Page 9 of How to Tempt an Earl

Look at me.

As if on command, she raised her head to the window. Ian knew the glare from the blazing chandeliers prevented her from seeing him clearly. Nonetheless, her gaze remained and her brow furrowed above the mask.

He wanted her very much. Despite his strong physical response, he wouldn’t act upon it. He needed her for more.

It hadn’t been difficult to discern her identity. Soot had followed her and had reported where she’d lived. A few inquiries and Ian had learned her name, and he’d since looked into her family.

Miss Grace Ashton was the only daughter of Baron Newbury. The baron also had a young son and heir. Grace’s mother had died from consumption three years ago, during Grace’s first Season. The baron had begun frequenting the Raven Club months ago, and he’d come three to four days a week since. He drank too much whisky before and during his ventures at the tables, often betted recklessly, and his debt had risen to a considerable amount. He’d most likely frequented other gambling clubs before Ian’s, but he’d been refused admittance after not paying his debts in a timely fashion.

He watched as she spoke with Brooks, who was manning the door tonight. Ian experienced a strange pull of jealousy as the tall Irishman leaned down to speak to her. The foreign emotion was odd and uncomfortable.

Ian had left explicit instructions for his man to bring her to him. She held the hood of her cloak with one hand as she wove her way through the casino floor and followed Brooks to the back staircase. Heart thudding in anticipation, Ian went to the large oak desk and sat. A minute later there was a rap on the door.

“Enter,” he said.

Brooks opened the door, and the lady flew inside with the force of a fierce summer gale.

“You blackguard!”

Ian didn’t rise. “Good evening, Miss Ashton.”

She stiffened at the use of her name.

Brooks had taken her cloak, and she stood before him in a modest gown of blue alpaca that covered her from her neck to the tips of her shoes. It was an unflattering dress, but her clothing did not diminish her beauty or hide the swell of her breasts. Her distinctive lavender scent wafted to him.

“Leave us, Brooks.”

Brooks nodded curtly and quietly shut the door.

“Please be comfortable.” He motioned to one of the leather chairs before his desk.

She ignored him. He shrugged and leaned back in his seat. “To what do I owe the pleasure of another visit?”

Her eyes flashed blue fire, and she placed her hands on her hips. “You know precisely why I’m here. Not only did you entice my father to your tables, but you let him win until he was in a fever of excitement, then you permitted him to continue to gamble until he lost his winnings and more. You took advantage!”

“I run a business, not a charity house.”

“You’re a liar. You tricked him. You knew his debt to you would double.”

Ian laughed gruffly. “Double? Since the baron began frequenting the Raven Club months ago, his debt has reached six thousand pounds.”

Her mouth gaped. “Six thousand pounds! That’s not possible.”

“I assure you it is. I have his IOU to prove it.”

“You are incorrigible.” Her cheeks flushed. Her breaths came in short gasps of anger, her breasts rising and falling beneath the bodice of her modest gown.

She was stunning in her anger. His cock jerked to attention, and he was glad he remained seated behind his desk, no matter how ungentlemanly his behavior. His arousal would be blatant if he stood, even to an inexperienced lady.

“Why would you do this? I offered you my mother’s jewels. Surely they would have been enough then and—”

“I told you, I won’t accept jewels, and I’ve decided I don’t want your money.”

“Then what?”

“I want something else.”

Her expression immediately turned wary, and a blush crept into her cheeks. He was entranced at how easy she was to read. She’d make a horrible card player.