The Duke and the Lady in Red by Lorraine Heath Read Free Book Online Page A

But they might have been the longest nights of her life, even though she’d spent them with Harry, reading, playing whist, walking through the gardens. He preferred the gardens at night. Although the flowers had closed their blossoms, their fragrance still lingered.
    Here, the fragrances were very different. Tobacco, spirits on the breath, dark masculine colognes fought with lighter feminine perfumes for dominance. She was surprised not many women were about, but then simply because a place was accessible to ladies didn’t mean they would frequent it, particularly if they had domineering fathers, brothers, or husbands in their lives. She was fortunate to rule her own life. She had since she’d reached the age of ten and seven and run off from her cruel father.
    She handed her wrap to a young woman at the counter by the door, received a slip of paper with a number on it, and tucked it into her reticule.
    She wondered if she should first visit the women’s salon and private gaming area, if she should strive to strengthen connections there. With her last visit, she’d met very few ladies, and while her ultimate plan involved a gentleman, she knew that women had quite the influence over males, even if those males were domineering.
    On the other hand, she was sure to be noticed with so few women about in here. Being noticed was paramount.
    As she approached a roulette table, she caught a gentleman’s eye. Winking at her, he eased over slightly, allowing room for her to get nearer to the excitement. She watched the little ball spinning, heading toward a numbered slot. Five, she thought. It landed on twenty-­one. A single groan, composed of nearly a dozen voices, rose up. No sooner had the wooden tokens been gathered up than others were being set down.
    A hand came to rest on the side of her waist, and she was remarkably aware of a broad chest at her back. She might have been startled if his presence wasn’t so powerful, if she hadn’t sensed his approach before he arrived.
    â€œHave you ever played?” Avendale whispered low against her ear, and she fought not to alert him to the tiny shiver that coursed through her at his nearness.
    â€œNo, but it seems rather easy.”
    â€œWhich means the odds of losing is greater.” He set some coins on the table. The man who had spun the wheel gave him a stack of green disks and placed a small metal token on it. Avendale held the disks out to her. “Place them wherever you like.”
    â€œI don’t want to lose your money.”
    â€œIt’s only money.”
    She ground her back teeth together to withhold a scathing retort. Only money to him. Life to her.
    Peering at him through lowered eyelashes, giving him a gamine smile, she took the wooden circles and placed them all on twenty-­five, Harry’s age.
    â€œYou can spread them out if you like,” Avendale said.
    â€œI believe in all or nothing.”
    She felt a subtle tightening of his hand on her waist.
    â€œAs do I,” he rasped so low she suspected no one else heard.
    The croupier waved his hand over the table, spun the wheel, dropped the ball—­
    Rose was acutely aware of Avendale’s inappropriate nearness. She should elbow him, get him to move, and yet she relished the heat of him, his fragrance, his breath feathering along strands of her hair. She didn’t want the ball to ever roll into a slot. She wanted to stay as she was forever, which was remarkably stupid and shortsighted. She had responsibilities. A plan.
    â€œThirty-­three black,” the croupier called out.
    Rose slammed her eyes closed, released with a great huff the breath she’d been holding. Opening her eyes, she peered up at Avendale. “I’m so sorry.”
    â€œHave dinner with me, and I’ll forgive you.”
    She released a light laugh. “Forgive me? When I had no control over the outcome?”
    â€œYou chose the number. Besides, you apologized