Page 63 of How to Fall for a Scoundrel

“—law abiding, morally upstanding.” Harry rolled his eyes and pretended to yawn. “I’m surprised you haven’t married him.”

“My parents would certainly approve of the match. He’s exactly the kind of man they’d like me to wed.”

“He couldn’t take his eyes off you, when the two of you were talking earlier.”

“You were spying on me?”

“Of course not. I was acquiring wisdom by observing. And was therefore an unwilling witness to his clumsy attempts at flirtation.”

Ellie made a face. “Edward wasn’t flirting with me. He doesn’t think of me in that way. We’re friends, that’s all.”

Harry’s brows rose toward his hairline. “Take it from someone who knows, he definitely finds you attractive. I think he’s finally realized just how rare you are. You’re not just beautiful, you’re as intelligent as he is, and youwere right under his nose this whole time. He’s thinking he’s been a fool to take you for granted for all these years.”

Ellie gaped at him. “That’s a lot to deduce just from watching us talk.”

He shrugged. “You would have made just as good a barrister as he is, if you’d been born a man. Don’t you envy his career? Don’t you resent the fact that you’ve been prohibited from doing something you would love?”

She bit her lip. He’d done it again. Pierced her straight through the heart with a disarmingly accurate comment. How did he do it? Could he read minds as well as predict playing cards?

“I have been frustrated, sometimes,” she said slowly. Truthfully. “Edward started his career as an apprentice to one of my great heroes, William Garrow, the legendary defense counsel. He’s attorney general for England and Wales now—and a good friend of my father’s. I admire him immensely. He was the first to insist that a person was innocent until proven guilty, and that accusers and their evidence should be thoroughly tested in court.”

Harry’s eyes were sympathetic. “Bravo.”

“I resigned myself to the fact that being a woman bars me from becoming a lawyer many years ago. But I’m glad to have forged a career that achieves very similar goals—namely, helping those in need, and the pursuit of justice for all.”

Harry nodded, and she had the impression that he understood her,knewher, in a way no one except perhaps Tess and Daisy had ever managed. For all her closeness with Edward, he’d never once asked her a probing question like that. He’d probably never even considered things from her perspective. Harry, on the other hand, seemed able to see things from every angle.

He plucked two glasses of wine from the tray of a passing waiter and handed one to her. Ellie took a fortifying sip.

“So, when do we go to The Golden Ball and relieve this Mr. Blake of his jewel?” he asked lazily.

“We?”

“Yes. I need Carlotta again.”

“Why?”

“A man who goes to a gaming club on his own immediately singles himself out as being serious about winning. It puts the other players on guard. A man with a beautiful woman on his arm, however, is there for some fun. He’s easily distracted, only giving half his attention to the game. He’s hardly a threat at all.”

“That makes sense,” Ellie said. She slid him a sly, sideways glance. “Aren’t you afraid Carlotta will distractyou?”

His eyes darkened, and his gaze fixed on her mouth as if he were thinking of kissing her. Her heart seemed to stutter.

“It’s definitely a risk,” he growled. “You’d have to promise to be on your best behavior.”

The thought that she might actually have the power to distract him was heady, and a mischievous smile curled the corners of her mouth.

“I’ll do my best,” she murmured.

Harry watched Ellie saunter away and clenched his hand into a fist against the urge to grab the back of her dress and pull her back against him for a kiss.

Cheeky little minx. She never would have teased him like that a week ago, but it was as if their lovemakinghad brought out some previously hidden strand of wickedness in her. It was glorious to see, even though it increased her ability to be dangerously distracting.

If he had any sense at all he’d take Daisy or Tess to The Golden Ball with him instead. Someone beautiful, who’d do the job without providing any temptation. But where Ellie was concerned, he seemed to have lost his wits entirely.

He only wanted her.

Making love with her should have reduced his desire. He’d removed the mystery and anticipation. But now that he knew the sweetness he could find in her arms, and the pleasure he received from pleasuring her, he craved her even more.