A Little Bit Sinful(24)

“You already thanked me for that.” He eyed her a moment noting the way she bit down on her bottom lip. Yes, it was much easier to simply admire her cleavage. He took a sizable gulp of the scotch. “Is there another reason why you came?”

She exhaled slowly, clenching her gloved fingers several times before blurting out, “What do you know of the wager involving George’s, well, his marital situation?”

He paused in the act of raising his glass to his lips again. “Who told you?”

“Ella. She overheard her brother and some other men talking about it.” She took a few steps further into the room, placed her hands on the back of a carved mahogany chair. “Obviously, you know about it since the betting is taking place in your establishment.”

He nodded, raised the glass the rest of the way to his mouth and downed it. “Are you angry?”

Her chin bumped up a notch and defiance flashed in her eyes. “Of course not. I know that gentlemen are fond of many kinds of wagers.” She hesitated then, and he noticed the way her fingertips strained against the wood where she gripped it. “I was told that I was not favored to be the bride.”

“It is generally between you and another woman.”

“Franny Cooper. I had not realized I had such stiff competition for George’s heart.”

“And you are still convinced you wish to win his heart?”

She shot him an odd look before giving her head a little shake. “You know I am. But how can I possibly win against a girl like her?”

“I have no notion of who she is.” Justin allowed his gaze to take in Clarissa’s figure before him. “I can assure you, though, there is no competition.”

Blush reddened her cheeks. “Franny is very worldly. At least that is what I’m told. And you know who she is, remember you met her at the Welbrook ball a couple months back. She was the tall one with the dark hair, very friendly.”

Justin scraped his memory and recalled the woman she spoke of. If it was the same one, she was very pretty, but held no real appeal for him compared to Clarissa.

“What do you suppose that means, her being worldly?”

Clarissa shrugged, her feminine shoulders pushed upwards ever so slightly. “She drinks brandy, perhaps curses, enjoys stolen kisses. I honestly couldn’t say.”

Justin smiled at her. “If only you knew how very charming you are. So you came to me for some brandy? I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed as I prefer scotch, but you’re welcomed to have a glass.”

Some of the tension went out of her shoulders at his teasing. “No, I was hoping you’d teach me to curse,” she said with a grin.

“Yes, an interesting choice in the scheme of worldly behavior.”

She laughed, then the smile faded and she shook her head.

“You shouldn’t try to be someone else to persuade George to marry you.” He moved to her, ran a hand down the bare skin exposed between her cap sleeve and elbow-length gloves.

“But you could teach me,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“Teach you what, precisely?”

“How to be more worldly, more, I don’t know, more sensual.” She bit her lip again and looked up at him.

“You are not concerned about your virtue?”

“Are you planning to ravish me?”

He gripped her arm, resisting the urge to do precisely that. She would never ask such a question if she had any idea the kinds of thoughts he’d been entertaining since she’d walked into the room. Thoughts of stripping off her lovely clothes and doing sinful things to her body. Of showing her all the sinful things she could do to his. He could take her three different ways on the rug alone. “Only if you want me to.”

“Perhaps merely some kissing.” Again a bite of her lip.

Only kissing? Ah, if only she knew how much latitude that gave him. He was ready to nibble his way around her body.

The thought was only too tempting. Unfortunately, she would then be ruined and he’d have disgraced the sister of one of the few men in London whose opinion he actually valued. No. That wouldn’t do at all.

“Tell me something,” he said. “Do you believe Miss Franny Cooper kisses a great deal of men?”

Her eyes widened slightly. “I don’t know, to be honest.”

“Why is it you believe her to be so worldly? Has she ruined her own reputation?”

“No, she hasn’t.” Clarissa gave her foot a little stamp, one that was barely visible beneath the hem of her gown. “That is precisely the issue. Miss Cooper’s reputation is intact. Above reproach even. And yet, somehow, she is courted by so many men. And they all seem enchanted by her.”