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She had thought her propensity for shock had worn off after touring several of the rooms and seeing the various performances. Worried someone might approach her with an offer to join them, she had not stayed too long in any one place. For once, she was having trouble fading into the background—perhaps because she was dressed in a domino and mask like everyone else, or she was having difficulty focusing on her own tasks with all the wickedly intriguing spectacles to behold.
Despite this being the perfect setting for intrigue and private conversations, no one was talking about anything nefarious that she had overheard. The most progress Mary had made on her task this evening was recognizing a few members of thetonalso present, which would at least give Evie some new avenues to investigate.
Even though she was fairly certain there was nothing more for her to learn, and the longer she stayed, the more danger of being discovered as a trespasser, she could not make herself leave. Watching the various couples—sometimes trios or more—was having a shocking effect on her. Not just her body, which was decidedly aroused, but also her mind, as though a seductive spell was being woven around her, she could not break.
She had never felt a yearning like this—to see more, know more,experiencemore.
A hard grip wrapped around her arm and her head jerked upward in shock and surprise, heart lurching in her chest. The hard, yellowish eyes of Hartford glittered down at her, the regal lion displeased with finding an invader in his den.
“Come quietly,” he said, warning in his voice. Mary stifled her instinct to call out to Walter as Hartford began pulling her around the edge of the room, heading to the door. Her cousin could not help her now—and she would not embarrass him or make anyone think he was somehow involved with her snooping.
Hartford escorted her down the hall. A couple was coming toward them, the woman naked and wearing a collar and leash, a black mask across her eyes with little points on either side like cat ears. Mary had become used to seeing all sorts of anatomy this evening, but when they came closer, she had to blink several times to make sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing—was that a tail coming out of the woman’s bottom?
What struck her most, though, was the look of utter peace on the woman’s face, discernible despite the mask. Confident as she gracefully sashayed down the hall like a pretty black cat, she was just as comfortable walking beside the man holding her leash as a duchess being escorted through a ballroom.
This secret club was incredibly egalitarian—Mary could tell by the accents of some of the members, they were certainly notton—but they all had that one thing in common. A self-assurance that left her burning with envy even more than the rest of it aroused her.
To her surprise, rather than being shown straight to the front door of Hartford House, the man gripping her arm swung her into a room and closed the door behind him. It was an empty room, clearly an office, but Mary skittered away from him as soon as he released her. She did notthinkHartford was the type to physically harm a woman, but being alone in a room with him and at his mercy, it felt unwise to rest easily on that front.
She could not imagine screaming for help would do her any good. Even if someone came to her rescue, they were likely to be just as irate as Hartford at her presence.
“Who are you, and how did you find out about tonight?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he blocked the only exit to the room. Evidently, he did not feel the need to chase after her since he was standing in front of her only escape route. Unless she went for the windows—hardly an appealing prospect. They were on the second floor, and he would easily catch her before she even got the thing opened.
In fact, the only true shield she had available to her was who she was.
Sighing, she pushed back the hood of her domino, revealing her blonde locks pulled into a simple coiffure, then she tugged at the strings of her mask, letting it fall away. The shock that crossed Hartford’s face when he realized who he’d snared was almost recompense for being caught.
Rex
No matter how unlikely a guess he could have conceived of the mystery woman’s identity, he wouldnothave come up with Miss Wilson. Indeed, in his wildest dreams, he would not have thought ofanydebutante.
“What the devil are you about?” He almost shouted the words, glaring hard.
Did she haveanyidea of what… wait…didshe have any idea of bedroom pleasures? Perhaps the reason she had not stepped back from him earlier today was due to her experience rather than her curiosity. His interest was piqued even more.
Her chin lifted stubbornly, for all the world as if she was in the right andhein the wrong.
“I overheard you and Walter talking about the masquerade earlier today,” she said simply, mask dangling from her fingertips, voice cool and haughty. “I wanted to know more.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Rex closed his eyes for a moment, tightening the reins on his burgeoning temper.
“Where are yousupposedto be this evening?”
“Lady Farthingale’s ball.” She shrugged. “I told my aunt I had a megrim and wished to stay in to recover. She was happy enough to stay home to dote on my uncle. I am sure everyone believes I am in my room resting. Or possibly reading. If they even think about my whereabouts.” That last was tacked on matter-of-factly. She was not looking for sympathy, merely stating things as she saw them. “I tucked some pillows under my sheets, so if anyone opens my door. they will think I am in my bed and will not bother me.”
Pushing away his desire to reassure her,of course,her family would think of her, he focused on thewhyof her presence.
“Did you have any idea what you would be walking into this evening?”
A blush heated her cheeks. Interesting. Although not necessarily indicative. Even for a young woman with some experience, the activities of the Society could be shocking.
“I did not,” she admitted.
Rex leaned back against the door, tilting his head in consideration. She watched him… warily but silently.Submissively.
“Did you understand what you saw?”
“Well enough.” There went her chin again, although the blush on her cheeks deepened, spreading to her neck. Something about her demeanor convinced him she was bluffing. He was not sure why he thought so, but he was inclined to call her bluff.
