He narrowed his gaze. Was she challenging him? His mouth curved into a smile as a new idea caught his fancy. If she wanted to wage a war in the field of affection, he was game. And if she really did have a reputation as a reformer of rakes, well, she’d make a nice addition to his list.
Having her attention would help accomplish another goal as well. In fact, his job would be far easier if she wished to be by his side. He’d agreed to keep watch over her when she was in public. It was the reason he sat next to her today. Ada had discovered a secret about his friends and he needed to make certain she kept that secret. And recent events dictated that he also keep her safe.
A tiny voice niggled in the back of his thoughts that he was as bad as his mother had claimed him to be. But he pushed that thought aside. He was helping her. That much was certain and he wouldn’t go so far as to actually ruin her reputation. The game was harmless. Better than harmless, it helped to keep her safe.
He gave her his most charming smile. “Not absurd at all. I see it now. Your hair reminds me of sunset on a warm summer day and your eyes are the color of new grass. How could a rake not be enchanted?”
Rather than smile, she grimaced, her full lips turning down into a decided frown. “I don’t know what you’re playing at but it won’t work with me.”
He started, which pushed him toward the edge of his chair, and his back slipped off the narrow strip of wood it had been leaning against. He was never clumsy and he didn’t understand it now, but in sickening slow motion, he fell to the side, catching his hand on the very piece of wood that had just failed him. The problem was that his weight had shifted to one side of the seat, at least that was what he decided later. In the moment, however, he careened off to one side, both him and the chair crashing to the ground. Gasps filled the air as the organ came to a grinding halt. He looked up to find Ada staring at him as though he’d grown a second head.
* * *
Ada looked at the Viscount laying at her feet, tangled in his chair. She nibbled at her lip trying to decipher the gravity of the situation.
First, she’d just lied through her teeth. No one in the history of the world had ever considered her a ruiner of rakes. It was a complete falsehood. In fact, they often teased her for being bland and frightened by everything, men especially. She wasn’t sure why they scared her so. They were a mystery to her when everyone else seemed to understand them so perfectly. Diana, for example, understood exactly how to make a man do what she wanted him to do precisely when she wished him to do it.
But Ada went silent every time a handsome man spoke to her. Twice, she’d tripped on her own feet when one had asked her to dance, and once, she’d managed to push her partner into the punch bowl. It was the most humiliating scene of her life. Well, except for right now. She wasn’t certain how, but she surely was to blame for his spill onto the floor.
But worse than the falsehood she’d just told was that her lie had clearly discombobulated the Viscount and once he realized she’d fibbed, well he’d be even angrier. Men were usually furious when she tripped them or sent them flying into the punch. Ada never got away with falsehoods. Some people could, but not her. Diana swore that every lie was visible on her face. It must be true. How else did she get caught every time?
And she was certain he already suspected the lie. Hadn’t he said so when he’d told her that he’d known women who could carry the title of rake ruiner? She was certain he had. And implied in that statement were two facts she’d long known about herself. One, she was not that sort of woman at all. Her past had underscored that fact over and over. And two, a man like the Viceroy would never be interested in her. He’d all but said the words himself. Which was likely why she didn’t stumble all over herself in his presence. She’d been able to talk and she hadn’t tripped him once. Until now, of course.
“Lord Viceroy, are you all right?” She reached down as the entire wedding party stopped to stare at them. He took her hand but was too tangled in the chair to get up.
Standing, she righted the wooden seat and then reached down for Lord Viceroy again. Wedged in a small aisle, she meant to help him stand with as much dignity as possible. But he pulled before Ada had planted her feet. Rather than helping him stand, she toppled forward landing directly on him, her face nearly smashing into his. He stuck his hand between them, which was a good thing. If he hadn’t, their teeth might very well have crashed together but his knuckle hit her cheekbone and a sharp pain made her roll to the side.
“Ouch,” she cried.
He wrapped his other arm about her, just managing to keep her from crashing into the chairs while she planted one hand on the floor next Viceroy’s face, the other pressing to his chest. Moving his hand, he cupped her cheek and turned her face. “Damn it all to hell,” he muttered. “You’re going to have a bruise.”
She tried to scramble off his body, but her skirts had gotten tangled from her movement on top of him. Her legs wound about his and their hips pressed together. All the contact…well…it heated her blood. Or was that her embarrassment? No, she was used to that emotion and this was definitely more. She’d never touched a man like this before and he was so muscular underneath her. A pulse began to ache between her legs. So handsome…
Her breath caught and her eyes widened. Could he tell how she was responding? He was still studying her cheek. “Daring is going to kill me,” he muttered under his breath.
“It’s not your faul—”
As if he’d heard, Ada’s brother-in-law, the Duke of Darlington, called from two rows back. “What is going on up there?”
Ada pressed her lips together. Daring, as Vice called Darlington, was her sister’s husband. But he was also one of Vice’s good friends and they owned the club together along with the Marquess of Malicorn, Earl of Exmouth, and the Baron of Baderness.
“It’s fine,” she called back as if that made everything all right. At least Vice didn’t appear terribly angry. “We’ll be up in just a moment. No need to worry.”
“Bloody hell,” Vice said, his normally pleasant features twisting into a frown.
The man had blond hair with sky-blue eyes, chiseled features, and full lips. Her breath caught again as her hand fisted in his shirt. Which only served to remind her how strong and hard his chest was.
Vice sat up and somehow managed to pull her up with him, climbing to his feet while holding her. He set Ada back on the floor, his hands firmly on her waist. “My apologies for falling. Thank you for attempting to help me. I did not intend to pull you…”
She waved her hand. Was he apologizing to her? “The fault was most assuredly mine.” Then she took a step back, nearly tripping on Grace’s feet. Why did she get so flustered?
Her parents had turned back to stare and Ada wished she could disappear into the floor. Everyone stared. She wobbled and Vice’s hands shot out to hold her in place again. Her skin shivered at his touch. He gave her another charming grin. The sort that looked practiced and false. Her shivers stopped. He made her weak in the knees but not when he looked so rehearsed. That look reminded her that she was one of many women he’d charmed, and likely the least of them. The heaviness that made her limbs clumsy, disappeared. She did not want this man any more than he wanted her.
“If you insist on taking the blame, I won’t stop you.” Then he winked.
She narrowed her eyes as she cocked her head to the
side, assessing him. When they’d been tangled together on the floor, she’d forgotten what sort of man he was. For a moment, he was just the handsome, well-built man pressed against her. And honestly, she did respond to him in ways she didn’t fully understand. But when he started talking…. He made her angry, first and foremost. Most likely because she knew a man like him would never actually be interested in her. At least not after she knocked him to the ground a few more times. He’d run away as fast as his feet could carry him. His stock lines were meant for any woman with a pulse. He didn’t recognize her disdain, of course, but Ada was well acquainted with men like Vice.