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“Miss Fairbanks,” a dark voice drawled, “a pleasant surprise to see you tonight.”
“Is it?” she murmured, taking a sip of her champagne. It was dreadful indeed the way her heart slammed against her breasts.
“I understand you were dreadfully ill a couple days ago and could not contrive to attend dinner at my brother’s home.”
Ester shifted to face him. Edmond Glendevon was too virile and appealing. Tonight, he was garbed in dark trousers and a silver waistcoat that perfectly complemented his silver-gray eyes. Her heart was thumping fiercely and uncomfortably against her ribs. She dipped a curtsy, then tilted her head to meet his gaze. “Did you miss my charming company? Is that the reason for your pique?”
His gaze narrowed thoughtfully on hers. “You have been avoiding me.”
Ester smiled tightly. “Surely you jest.”
His expression was faintly amused. “I do not, Miss Fairbanks.”
“Why would I need to avoid you, Edmond? You and I have no dealings.”
A gentle evening breeze wafted through the open terrace windows, but she still felt heated and terribly bothered by his stare.
Oh, why do I react to you so?
“Determined to act innocent, I see. I do not like liars.”
The clipped words stung, so she lifted her chin and fired back, “I do not like men who cheat others of their livelihoods.”
His dark, slashing brows arched. “I force no man to my doors, nor do I cheat,” he said with biting politeness. “You make no apology for lying, I see.”
Once again something sharp and uncomfortable lanced her heart. “I am certain that it might mitigate my wiliness should you know the circumstances. I daresay you should admire my cunning, brother. Or do you not like being bested?”
His gaze swept over her in a quick, thorough, but undeniably provoking appraisal. “You are not mysister.”
He spat the word ‘sister’ as if it was an affront, and at that moment, Ester realized he saw her as a woman. Ester couldn’t fight the way her heart fluttered or the thumping pulse that pounded hard throughout her body and seemed to settle low in her belly.Why?Ester knew the answer but did not want to analyze it just yet. “I am sorry I was unable to tell you the truth.”
Surprise flared in his eyes. “A confession?”
She lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “I am not guilty of anything to confess. The only villain between us two is you, Mr. Glendevon. I wonder how well you sleep after stealing the livelihood and future of so many. I’ve even heard some call you a ruthless loan shark. The image that comes to mind is distinctly unflattering.”
It surprised her to see the humor glinting in his eyes, but she did not allow it to sway her into relaxing.
“Miss Fairbanks, would you do me the honor of dancing the next set with me. I believe it to be a waltz.”
Something in his tone revealed she would not be able to decline.
“You are supposing correctly,” he said, much too ominous for comfort.
She arched a brow, and he replied, “Watching others’ expressions and reading what they think is the cornerstone of my profession. Tonight, you will not escape the conversation that we will have, so do not wonder how you can outfox me.”
Ester brightly smiled and snagged a glass of champagne from a passing footman. “Of course, I would love to dance…” She allowed herself to be jostled, spilling the bubbly on the front of her ballgown.
Several gasps sounded, and horrified whispers rode through the air.
“Oh, dear me,” she murmured, batting her lashes at him. “It seems I must decline after all. Forgive me, Mr. Glendevon, but I must use the retiring room. I am sure there are many others who would love to take a turn with you on the dancefloor. If you will excuse me.”
Ester swept past him and gracefully walked from the ballroom, painfully aware of his stare upon her and the thrill bursting inside her chest like fireworks at Vauxhall Gardens.
* * *
“Well played, Miss Fairbanks, well played,”Edmond murmured, taking a sip of his champagne as he watched Lady Celdon bundle her charge into a carriage, clucking over her deliberate mishap. Ester glanced over her grandaunt’s shoulder, and the little minx winked when she saw him standing there observing their departure.
That dare in Ester’s eyes burrowed under Edmond’s flesh, ripping his skin and cultivated self-discipline to shreds. Edmond was not a man who allowed distractions into his life. Not in this line of business, and one Miss Ester Fairbanks was a most maddening distraction. One he would not allow to turn his blasted head. Yet he stared at her, sensing his expression was like a hungry wolf.
