Sin nodded. “What do you need help with?”
“Where does she go? What does she do with her time?” Bad asked. “We need to catch her before she tries to take another person who is dear to us.”
Sin looked down at his lap. “I don’t have any idea where she’s living now, but I do know a few clubs she likes to frequent. I could take you there but only if you can help me keep Anna safe.”
Daring nodded. “Of course. In fact, why don’t you both stay with me and Minnie? I can’t think of anywhere safer than that. I can have Minnie’s cousin come stay too. Mary is wonderful with children.”
Sin slumped back, relief making him look limp. “That would be wonderful.”
Vice let out a breath. His plan was falling into place. “We’ll start tonight. In the meantime, let’s return to Exile’s wedding. We can’t miss the entire breakfast.”
Daring rose. “Agreed. And you two are to keep your eyes on Ada and Grace and your hands off of them.”
Bad grunted, but Vice didn’t reply. His entire plan was to capture Ada’s attention. Not that Ada was cooperating. But if she did, if his plan succeeded and she became enamored with him, would he defy Daring?
He wouldn’t ruin her. He hadn’t thought about it before but now that he had, he’d never compromise her future. Perhaps, with that in mind, it would be best to abandon the idea entirely that he capture her affection.
He made his way back down to breakfast. The moment he walked into the room, he sought out Ada, finding her next to Minnie. Her eyes met his, then quickly looked away. He stopped, unable to look away.
When her eyes found his again, it was as though she was drawing him forward, and he found himself crossing the room toward her.
“What did I miss?” he asked as he reached her side.
“Not a thing.” She glanced over at Diana and Exile. “They seem very happy, don’t they?”
He didn’t take his eyes off her. He couldn’t. “They do.”
“I’d like to have that someday. What they have. The way they look at one another.” Then she looked at him again, those green eyes sparkling in the morning light.
He couldn’t help himself. “You will.”
Her gaze widened and her lips parted. “You think some man will feel for me the way Lord Exmouth feels about my cousin?”
He wanted to lift her fingers to his lips. Hell, he wished he could kiss her. “I know a man will. In fact, I’d be willing to wager there will be more than one.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? Are you more or less likely to wager running a gaming hell as you do?”
He stepped closer. “I almost never gamble. The odds always favor the house.” He wanted to stroke her cheek, run his thumb along her jaw.
She let out a soft sigh and her breath tickled his nose. Honey. That’s what she’d taste like.
“Minnie says that I should meet a man’s eye and then, when he approaches, talk about myself rather than asking about him. Do you think that’s true?”
He started. “That’s what you just did to me, isn’t it?”
She gave a tentative nod. “Did it work? Are you more or less interested in me? Not that you need be interested at all. I know I am not much…I—”
“Ada,” he said, wishing he could touch her. How could she say she wasn’t much? She was working her way into his soul. He reached up his fingers but dropped them again. Daring burned holes in his back with the intensity of his gaze. “You are dangerously close to ruining another rake.”
Chapter Five
Ada’s mouth fell open at his words. What did his confession mean precisely? How would she ruin him? She peeked over his shoulder, lifting up in tiptoe, to see Darlington glaring at them. “I think you mean that Daring is close to ruining a rake. He’s not going to allow you a single slip-up, but that isn’t me.”
He laughed. A lovely deep baritone that rippled over her skin like tiny waves on the surface of water. She shivered as the sound washed over her. “He is giving us a rather intent assessment.”
She nodded, peeking at him again. “Perhaps you should go speak with someone else. Then His Grace could relax.”
Vice stepped closer. “Where is the fun in that?”