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Mr. Talbot continued to watch her with a look that bordered on predatory. Georgiana inhaled, gathering her nerves—and buying herself another minute. Perhaps it would be easier with her eyes shut. But just as she closed them, a familiar deep voice joined them.
“Lady Arlington. Sorry to interrupt, but you are needed.”
Georgiana blinked and turned to find Captain Harris at her side. The sight of his stern expression filled her with relief.
“Oh. Captain, this is Mr. Talbot,” Georgiana explained, proud of how steady she kept her voice. “From America.”
Mr. Talbot had tactfully removed his hand from her waist, but Captain Harris shot him a filthy glare that left no question what he had seen. “A pleasure,” he grumbled, then he turned back to her with an expectant look on his face. “My lady, I’m afraid it is most urgent.”
While Georgiana was grateful for the chance to leave, she wouldnotbe ordered about like a child. She held the captain’s gaze until his eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if daring her to deny him, then she let out a little huff and took his arm. “Thank you for keeping me company, Mr. Talbot.”
Mr. Talbot made no effort to hide his disappointment. “Yes. Good evening,” he said curtly before he bowed to her then stalked into the crowd.
As Captain Harris led her back toward the hotel, all she could focus on was her pounding heart and ringing ears. The terrace was filled with chattering guests, but they all blurred together until the music and conversation was replaced by the faint bubbling of the hotel’s fountain and the clacking of her heels on marble. The lobby was nearly empty at this hour, as fellow guests were either outside on the terrace or enjoying Monte Carlo’s many entertainments. She looked up at Captain Harris’s stony profile. Was the man evencapableof enjoying himself?
I’m afraid enjoyment of any kind isn’t safe, my lady.
She let out a snort at the imagined admonition, and he slanted her a glance before wordlessly drawing her into a darkened alcove, where they would be hidden from view from any passersby.
“Just what the hell did you think you were doing back there anyway?”
The force of his words took her by surprise, but Georgiana hid it behind a sharp laugh. “My goodness, I was onlyflirting. You’re acting as if you caught the man ravishing me in full view of the entire crowd. Don’t worry, you won’t have to defend my honor or call the vicar.”
Captain Harris shot her a scowl and took a deep breath. “I’m not opposed to a little flirting,” he said after a moment, more calmly than before. “And yes, perhaps I…I overreacted a little—” She scoffed at this, but he continued. “Might I remind you what brought us here in the first place? You don’tknowthat man.”
Perhaps he had a point there, but like hell would Georgiana admit it. “I hardly think Mr. Talbot threw a brick through the carriage window, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He let out a huff and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course not—”
She leaned forward, her hands clenched in fists by her side. “I know my brother is paying you to be here, but if I want to spend the evening with a handsome man I willdamn well do it.”
The words vibrated in the air between them as she stepped back. Georgiana couldn’t believe she had spoken to him like that. If Captain Harris was offended by her little speech, he didn’t show it. He merely stared at her in his usual way, like he was examining something that was both confusing and mildly unpleasant.
“And that is what you want?” he asked softly. “A stranger in your bed?”
Somehow he managed to make this act of rebellion sound incredibly pathetic. It was infuriating.
“It is,” she insisted, with as much pride as she could muster.
“Then may I make a suggestion?”
Her breath caught at the unexpected question. Oh, how shelongedto deny him, but the fact was she was far too curious. “If you must,” she answered with studied coolness.
Captain Harris stared at her for an endless moment as the scant air between them warmed. Until the furious beating of her heart filled her ears. Georgiana inhaled the rich scent of his skin, unmasked by cologne. As she leaned forward a little, his breathing quickened. “Take me instead.”
She immediately reared back. No. She must have misunderstood.Hadto. She eyed him with suspicion, but he only continued to stare at her, awaiting her answer. “If this is some horribly misguided attempt to protect me, you can take your pity elsewhere.”
His brow furrowed. “What? No, I don’tpityyou. My God.” He let out a harsh bark of laughter, and Georgiana realized he was nervous. And entirely serious. He let his gaze drag down her body, and her corset suddenly felt much too tight. She could practically feel him taking in every single inch of her, lingering on certain places, like the space where her neck met her shoulder, the hollow at the base of her throat, and where her cleavage disappeared into the bodice of her gown. By the time he reached her hem, Georgiana was embarrassingly breathless. Then his gaze returned to her face.
“You are a beautiful woman, Lady Arlington. Surely you know this.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you are offering yourself to me.”
His lips quirked. “I’d like to think the attraction is mutual. Unless I imagined your reaction while underneath me in the carriage. Or…before.”
Georgiana’s breath caught at the reminder of that long ago night—and the answering ache between her legs. “I should slap you for that remark.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “But you won’t.”
