And
salles des jeux, the monde and the demimonde met on equal
lure of the table upon the weaker sex. The fashionable lady
besotted swain--and why not, they would ask. When one was
came.
attitude. What struck him the most was the relative silence
signs of life.
numbered pocket.
telepathy one could urge the ball to slip neatly into the
numbers of one’s bets. The momentum of pressing, scented
her neck where she threw her head back with glee, the
casually his way. Who would tremble with desire if she even
looked his way longer than necessary. Whose mouth would dry
and tongue stick to the roof of his mouth if she touched
She startled visibly when her eyes met his, her hand
Her slender, gloved fingers touched his arm, and the young
answering scowl to the one his wife’s swain shot him before
he kissed Gwendolyn’s fingertips in grudging farewell.
passions of youth.
interrupted you.”
tuck her hand into the crook of his arm. “Shall we take a
stroll outside?”
reached for it, she evaded his grasp and withdrew her arm
you here of all places. What wind has brought you to Monte
Carlo?”
This caused her to tense for some reason. But his mood
He interrupted.
“Am I?”
unneeded alarm.”
“Of course I haven’t,” she said stiffly. “I do my best
husband.”
Draco.”
scene.”
“I see,” he said.
said, snapping the fan closed. “Or even London, for all the
Westminster.”
beginning of a session.”
of men.”
hosts.”
paper.”
you as well?”
write.”
that association.”
He supplied silkily.
no right--”
and she adjusted the veiling over her hat. “We have strayed
darkened her eyes when she took the shake of his head as a
signal that she did not want anymore. She settled her bill,
and as she did so, the heaviness of her bag reminded her of
the table and strode from the terrace, her haste disturbing
after the harsh light of day, by the warm, yellow lamps and
easy go.
in the baccarat room and watched the play for a moment; she
tables?”
do?”
began carefully. “But I’ve heard word that your husband has
made an appearance in Monte Carlo?”
said wryly.
shading her eyes from the sun, for she had left her parasol
me.”
have taken a villa for the season. The sea is much too
hands. “So you shall take tea in our villa? Viktoria will
meetings?”
A chill numbed her lips and she swayed where she stood
as the blood rushed from her head. Black dots swam before
her vision and she couldn’t prevent the small gasp of pain
from escaping her lips. Distantly she felt the baron’s hand
on her arm and the echo of her name. Gwendolyn was thankful
for the veil that concealed her face from curious
palpable distress.
baron looked quite unlike himself. “One day you may find
repay.”