SYNTON CASUALLY LEANEDย against the wall, arms folded across his chest, an amused upward tilt to his lips. He had somehow managed to enter the roomย andย close the door behind him without making a sound.
A feat that should have been impossible for a man of his size.
โIโm rather interested to see what comes next, Miss Antonius.โ
Instead of allowing him to have the upper hand, Camilla decided to turn this around. False bravado could work wonders.
She let the painting go long enough to place her hands on her hips and leveled her best haughty glare at Synton.
โWhat are you doing here?โ
โWe had an agreement. Remember?โ Syntonโs gaze left hers to take in the painting. โI came to intercept you before you disrobed for your tryst.โ
โMy tryst? With Vexley?โ Her voice notched up an octave. Synton cocked a brow, waiting.
โI assure you I would rather attend a Crown ball in the nude than become Vexleyโs plaything.โ
Syntonโs gaze darkened. He nodded toward the painting. โInstead of undressing, imagine my surprise to find you stealing the famedย Seduction of Evelyn Gray.ย Thatโs rather naughty for an artist.โ
โIโm not stealing anything, my lord.โ
Lying was not something Camilla normally condoned, but she needed to get rid of him before he ruined her best chance to destroy the forgery.
Silence stretched between them. He didnโt believe her.
Rightfully so, but still.
โVexley asked me to have this cleaned earlier this week. I was simply fetching it before we left for the gallery.โ Before she could stop herself, she added, โYou seemed quite enchanted by Vexleyโs mention of games. I figured youโd be occupied for a while.โ
Amusement ghosted across his features.
โIs that why you ducked in and out of every chamber on this floor? You were coming to fetch the painting while also considerately ensuring that I had time to woo a lover? How utterly magnanimous.โ
Camillaโs eyes narrowed.
โDo you make a habit of spying on ladies, my lord?โ
โOnly the ones who declare theyโd never marry me without a proper hello, then get jealous over the idea of me having a tryst with someone else.โ
โI am not jealous. And if you must know, I thought you were someone else that day,โ she said. โTonight, Iโd been looking for the water closet. If you were a gentleman, you would have announced yourself and offered me assistance instead of lurking in the shadows.โ
The wry amusement vanished from his face. He cocked his head to one side, his attention languidly sliding over every inch of her as if each dip and curve were for his viewing pleasure alone.
By the time he brought his gaze back up to hers, there was no mistaking the raw hunger that flashed in those emerald eyes. She wished she hated his heated stare, but it made her feel breathless, like a fire crackling to life.
โDo you believe Iโm a gentleman, Miss Antonius? Iโd wager your heart is beating so wildly because deep down you hope Iโm not.โ
Camilla wasnโt sure how he knew her heart was suddenly pounding, but she certainly wasnโt going to own up to the fact that he affected her.
โYouโre mistaken. I donโt think of you at all, Lord Synton.โ
The smile that had been teasing the edges of Syntonโs mouth turned into a full grin, showing off a pair of dimples she hadnโt noticed before.
โAnother bold and interesting lie.โ
He moved closer to the bed, a hunter sighting his prey, and the thought of being caught by him caused her pulse to race harder in anticipation.
With one languid, effortless movement, Synton stepped up, pressed a hand to the wall to settle in, and now stood on the mattress beside her,
leaning in close.
As he stared down at her, Camilla briefly forgot about the forgery.
No one had ever looked at her so boldly. So intensely. Like he could see through all her carefully erected walls to who she was at her very core.
Or maybe he simply looked at her like he knew the depth of her desire and it affected him in turn. More than either of them wanted it to.
Sheโd only wanted to keep up her normal life here. Had fought hard to become what people expected. But now, she could admit, for only a second, that maybe sheโd wanted something else, too. Something that called to a secret part of her.
โYou ought to know, if I had taken a lover, I would have needed hours, Miss Antonius.โ
His gaze dropped to her neck a second before he reached out, slowly stroking along her quivering pulse.
A bolt of heat lashed through her from the brief contact of his bare skin, and his hand fell away as if he, too, had felt the burn.
She expected him to draw back entirely, but instead he looked at her curiously and then surprised her by raising that same hand to run his thumb against the seam of her lips, applying steady pressure until they parted and allowed him entry.
An ember of desire ignited in his eyes, locked on hers, when she submitted to his unspoken command, drawing his thumb into her mouth.
He tasted of sin and decadence. A heady mix that heated her core.
โThe tongue may lie, but other parts of the body always tell the truth, Miss Antonius. If one looks closely enough.โ
With what appeared to be great effort, he withdrew his thumb and dropped his hand once again, though he didnโt step away.
Camilla wasnโt sure what it was about him. Perhaps that he was largely unknown to her, unlike other members of society. Or maybe it was the quiet intensity with which he studied his surroundings. Whatever it was, she couldnโt bring herself to move away, ensnared by curiosity, wondering what heโd do next.
Synton stood entirely too close and not close enough, his intoxicating scent now overtaking Vexleyโs in the air. There was something dark and utterly masculine about it. Bourbon and spice with only a hint of sweet berries.
Suddenly, Camilla wanted to run her tongue along the seam of his lips, tasting the sweetness of sin she was certain sheโd find there.
Instead, he brought that tempting mouth to her ear, lightly brushing it against the lobe. Her eyelids fluttered shut from the sensation.
โWhy are you after that painting, Miss Antonius? Did Vexley steal it from you?โ
The forgery. Vexley.
It was as if Synton had dumped a bucket of ice water over her, bringing her back to her senses. The scoundrel hadnโt been trying to kiss her at all, heโd been after information. Likely to blackmail her too.
Camilla went to push herself away from the lord of temptation, but he suddenly stepped aside on his own, causing her to lose her footing as the mattress heaved.
She went tumbling forward.
Camilla tensed for what would certainly be a painful collision with the hardwood, but Synton moved faster than should have been possible, leaping forward to enclose her in his arms and break her fall with his body, which thumped heavily to the floor.
Air whooshed out of him upon impact, their knees and hips and chests crashing together, accompanied by the sound of silk ripping. For a moment, both lay still, dazed. But then Camilla stirred.
โDamn,โ she cursed softly.
She pushed herself up, quickly taking stock of things.
Synton looked all rightโnot a hair out of place or wrinkle in his suit.
Camillaโs full skirts were twisted but were otherwise unscathed. But the seam along the left side of her dress wasnโt as fortunate.
She glanced at the exposed stays, cursing like the worst sailor ever to visit Waverly Greenโs shores. The black lace of her stays, her secret indulgence, was clearly visible, clinging to the outline of her breasts, displayed in all its decadence.
A deep chuckle below herโand its subsequent rumble that vibrated along aย veryย sensitive area of her bodyโdrew her attention to more pressing issues: she was straddling Synton in another manโs bedroom, her gown half torn as if theyโd been in the throes of passion, her hands braced on his chest.
His hard chest.
Lord help her. Synton felt like a marble statue crafted by one of the greats.
Camilla became intimately aware of just how large he was as he shifted between her thighs, how toned and powerful.
She also realized she rather liked the feeling of him beneath herโit was as if sheโd conquered some great beast and for a moment, he belonged only to her.
At least until he pounced in turn. He gave her a lazy sort of smile.
โIf youโre unharmed, Miss Antonius, you may wish to stand up.
Quickly.โ
โAre you hurt?โ Camilla looked him over more carefully, then scooted down his hips before he could stop her. โShould Iโฆ oh.ย Oh.โ
Something hard pressed against her backside.
At once she understood what heโd been too polite to say. Synton was as far from hurt as a man could be.
Her mouth went dry, her pulse speeding.
For a breath they both remained frozen, staring into each otherโs eyes.
Camilla didnโt know why heโd paused, but she was suddenly battling a fierce internal war. She should get up immediately, and probably make a small fuss, but her body tingled where they touched, and her pulse pounded a tempting beat.
Any sense of reason was quickly being replaced by physical desire.
And even he couldnโt scoff his way out of this one: his body was responding beneath hers.
Camilla glanced down to where his hands now grasped her hips, his strong fingers buried in the silk of her twisted skirts. She had raised her head to meet his eyes again when he abruptly shifted, pushing her up onto her feet, then slowly rose to his own.
โApologies, Miss Antonius. I assure you I didnโt intend for thatโโ
โNo, no,โ Camilla interrupted, looking anywhere but at the lord and his fierce arousal. โThereโs no need to apologize or explain. I should haveโโ
โHello? Whoโs up there?โ
Vexley. His voice came from what sounded like the top of the stairs. Dread washed over Camilla, erasing all feelings of awkwardness.
โOh, God, no. Hide! We mustnโt be seen together. Especially like this.โ She pulled uselessly at the torn edges of her bodice, but the curve of her breast remained stubbornly free.
Indeed, Vexley sounded intoxicated enough to cause a scene. He stumbled along the corridor, cursing as he smacked into things, drawing slowly closer.
Synton, having restored his own cool, didnโt seem concerned. He merely straightened his jacket and arched a brow.
โWhy?โ
โBecause Iโll be ruined!โ Camilla tidied her hair and smoothed her skirts, but the gaping seam couldnโt be hidden. โFuck, fuck, fuck. This is a nightmare.โ
She glanced up at Synton, who, if anything, was growing more amused by her foul language.
โWhy in the name of the Crown are you just standing there, my lord? Do you want us to be discovered?โ
โI couldnโt care less if that inbreed found us.โ
โYou should!โ She couldnโt help but drop her gaze. โIf you cannot get
thatย situation under control, weโll definitely look guilty, my lord.โ
โThat situation, Miss Antonius?โ Syntonโs voice was amused. โHave you never seen a situation before? I suppose propriety would have me offer to marry you immediately?โ
She gave him a withering look. Her lack of virginity, such as it was, was none of his damned business.
โIโm not marrying.โ
โHullo?โ Vexley called out from the room next door, his voice slurred. โCome out, come out, wherever you are! No fornicating up here, least not without me!โ
โWe could pretend,โ Synton went on thoughtfully as if Vexley werenโt coming to destroy everything sheโd worked so hard for over the last two years.
โPretend?โ She must be having a nightmare. โAre you mad?โ
โI donโt see how that would be a terrible thing,โ Synton said calmly. โHeโd stop ogling you if he thought you were involved with someone else. Unless you actually enjoy his advances?โ
Camilla shot him an incredulous look.
โItโs not just about Vexley finding us,โ she hissed. โIf Iโm found in a compromising position, society will either demand we marryโnot pretend, my lord, but actually marryโor I will be forever ruined. My gallery. My life. Iโll never be accepted again. Surely you know this!โ
โRules are made to be broken.โ
โFor you, perhaps. But women here do not get that same grace. You have a duty to do the honorable thing!โ
Camilla ran to the window, looking down into the dark garden below. There were no guests or, worse, columnists lurking that she could tell, at least.
If only they werenโt two stories up, sheโd toss herself out. She cast her eyes around the shadowy corners of the room, but wherever Vexley kept his wardrobe, it didnโt seem to be here, as each wall gleamed closet-free.
โThe forgery!โ she cried as her attention landed again above the bed. โForgeryโฆโ
Before Synton could say more about it, she rushed past him, leaping back up on the bed to snatch the painting off the wall.
But this time it didnโt move an inch, catching her off guard. How the hell had Vexley attached the thing? What had changed?
Camilla worked her fingers underneath the frame and heaved her weight away from the wall, doing her best to pry the painting free. But it didnโt have the common decency to even pretend to budge.
She stared at the cursed thing, wondering how on earth sheโd managed to move it not ten minutes prior. She couldnโt have imagined sheโd nudged it before Synton interrupted her. Could she?
โHelllooooo.โ
The bedroom doorknob rattled, chilling her blood. Any second Vexley would charge into the room and find them alone, and disheveled. And knowing Vexley, heโd embellish the tale until they were both nude and caught midact. Or worse: Vexley would claim heโd ruined her dress and say Synton had found the two of them together. It would be his word against Syntonโs, and Synton was a newcomer.
Camilla yanked at the painting one last time, swearing as it remained stubbornly fixed to the wall. Vexley pounded against the door violently now.
โIโm no longer amused. Open the damned door!โ
The knob jangled again but held firm.
Softening her grip on the painting, Camilla looked back at Synton. He held up an ornate skeleton key that apparently locked any door as well as opened it, flashing a devious grin.
โThat should slow him down for a moment. Maybe two,โ he whispered, his voice enticingly smooth. โBut we must hurry.โ
He pocketed the unique key and moved to the window, scanning the garden below. Seeming satisfied, he pushed open the window, then held out his hand to Camilla.
โAre we making our grand escape, or not?โ
Camilla glanced between the lord and the forgery. Freedom was so close she could taste it. How could she willingly leave it behind? Synton made an annoyed noise, drawing her attention back to him.
Grinding her teeth, she climbed down from the bed, keeping her voice low. โMy lord, you can simply walk out the door unscathed. Why are you helping me?โ
โTrust me, Iโm as far removed from a saint as one can get.โ He flashed his teeth. โWhat I am is someone completely uninterested in society games or playing the role of a besotted fool, Miss Antonius. I do not desire the complication. If youโre ruined, it will negatively impactย myย plan. If youโre attached to that drunkard, it will also complicate matters for me. Iโm helping myself first, which has a trickle-down effect of assisting you.โ
โHow very noble,โ she murmured. Of all the men in Waverly Green, how had she ended up stuck with him?
Without another word, Synton nimbly hoisted himself out the window, finding purchase on the edge of the iron roof, then poked his head back inside. Shadows carved his face into dangerous lines, and for a moment, his eyes became ebony pools. Then he blinked and whatever hidden depths she thought sheโd seen vanished.
Who is this man?ย She paused halfway to the window, indecision warring inside her. To be so close to her goal and to walk away was unfathomable. To climb out the window with this stranger seemed insanity. Yet if she stayed, sheโd find herself in worse circumstances.
โCamilla.โ Syntonโs voice rang with authority. โVexley will break through that door soon. Unless you wish to become his bride, Iโd hurry.โ
With one final look at the forgery, Camilla made her choice and prayed
she would live to regret it.