A Little Bit Sinful(31)

“Holding a beautiful woman close in your arms. The music, the swell of the strings, the way our bodies move as one. The heated pink stain in your cheeks, the catch of your breath, the way your back feels against my hand. The fact that in just the right angles I get a tantalizing view down your bodice.”

Her mouth had fallen open, but she came to her senses and closed it.

“That is what dancing is about to me.”

“Well,” she said as she tilted her chin up, “perhaps that is what it is to some. But for proper society, it is about witty conversation.”

“We can talk if it will put you more at ease.”

She grinned, satisfied with his acquiesce. “Will you tell me some of them?”

“Some of what?” he asked.

“The secrets? The gambling details?” she asked.

“Chrissy, shame on you,” he said with a grin of his own. “I am discreet, you know that. It is a hallmark of my business. Rodale’s wouldn’t be nearly as popular a gaming hell if people thought their secrets were being bandied about at the balls.” He swirled her around the dance floor, noting that she felt rather perfect in his arms. It had been years since he’d danced. He’d forgotten that, at times, it could be enjoyable.

“You are no fun at all,” she said.

He considered her for a moment, then nodded. “Very well, I offer a deal instead,” he said. “You provide me with some tidbit of gossip you know and I will give you a piece of information in return. Tit for tat, if you will.”

Clarissa looked up at him, her blue eyes sparkling. She nodded slowly. “I suppose I could do that. Ella’s mother does love her gossip so I hear my fair share of it.”

“Ah, well then our deal is off,” he said.

Her expression fell into disappointment. “Whatever for?”

“How can I trust you not to share these bits of gossip with her? Rodale’s would be ruined if word got out that I had divulged private information with you,” he said.

“But I am not the gossip,” she said. She bit at her lip. “What if I promise not to? You can trust me.”

He raised one brow. “Can I?”

She sucked in a breath, but never took her eyes off him. “Yes,” she said quietly. “Of course you can.”

“Excellent. You go first. Tell me about that woman,” he said nodding to the woman dancing next to them. She was probably in her fourth decade and age was beginning to show in her features, though she still worked hard to make herself look attractive. The man she danced with was clearly younger than her, but seemed pleased to have the lady in his arms.

Clarissa looked over and nodded briefly. “That is Lady Bandy,” she said quietly. “She has been a widow for years. It is said she takes a new lover at the start of every Season.”

Justin smiled. “Now then. I could tell you that Lord Bleacher has a significant problem with hazard.”

Clarissa’s eyes widened. “What is it?”

“He has virtually no luck at all. He owes a tremendous amount of money, but he has more than that in his coffers, so I suspect no one overly cares.” He looked around again. “The group of women standing over there near the refreshment table, tell me about the one in the green dress.”

She glanced over, then pinched her features. “That is Mildred Cutter and she refuses to wear corsets.” Clarissa shook her head as if that was a truly vile offense.

Justin chuckled. “Shocking,” he said.

“Do not mock, it is not as if she does not need one.”

He looked back over at the woman.

“Stop it, now you’re staring. Tell me about Viscount Sanders, I’ve heard he has a terrible gambling problem,” she said.

He sighed. “Yes, it is significant. Poor fellow, he has terrible instincts, plays all the wrong people. I am working with him and he owes me a lot of money. Last week I sent him away. I will no longer allow him to play with money he does not have.”

She shook her head almost in disbelief, then a slight furrowing of her brow. “That was very kind of you.”

Justin nearly missed a step. The way she was looking at him as if he’d done something amazing when he’d only done the responsible thing, save his business from more losses.

“I don’t suppose it will prevent him from going to another establishment,” she said.

“No, and men enjoy playing with him because they know they’ll win. If he’s not careful, he’ll lose his house. He’s already had to dismiss most of his servants.”