On a Wild Night Read Free Page A

Cynster. Come to see how the other half enjoys itself, have you?”
    Amanda swiveled regally; despite the fact the speaker was taller than she, she looked down her nose at him. When she saw who it was, she lifted her chin higher. “Lord Connor.”She curtsied—he was an earl, after all—but she made the deference a triviality; her social standing was higher than his.
    The earl was a reprobate cut to a pattern for which they’d thankfully lost the card. His reputation painted him as lecherous, steeped in vice, disreputable in the extreme; the liquid gleam in his pale eyes, the lid of one of which, courtesy of some ancient duel, was permanently at half-mast, suggested that in his case rumor understated the fact. Corpulent—indeed, wider than he was tall—Connor had a plodding gait, pallid skin and heavy jowls, making him appear old enough to be her father, except that his hair was a solid dark brown.
    â€œWell? Are you here to gawk, or are you game to play?” Connor’s fleshy lips curved in a taunting smile; the lines years of dissipation had etched in his face deepened. “Surely, now you’ve braved the doors of Mellors, you won’t leave without chancing your dainty hand? Without trying your Cynster luck? I hear you’ve been quite successful in your forays on the town.”
    Reggie locked his fingers about her wrist. “Actually, we were just—”
    â€œLooking for the right challenge? Let’s see if I can accommodate you. Shall we say a rubber of whist?”
    Amanda didn’t look at Reggie—she knew what he was thinking, but she’d be damned if she’d turn tail and run just because a man of Connor’s ilk approached her. She allowed amused haughtiness to infuse her expression. “I cannot conceive, my lord, that triumphing over a novice such as myself would afford you any great amusement.”
    â€œOn the contrary”—Connor’s voice hardened—“I’m expecting to be amused come what may.” He smiled, an evil eel fixing on his prey. “I’ve heard you’re a dab hand with the cards—surely you won’t pass up this chance to test your skills against mine?”
    â€œNo!” Reggie hissed sotto voce .
    Amanda knew she should coolly dismiss Connor and let Reggie lead her away, but she couldn’t—simply could not—stomach the thought that Connor and every gentleman presentwould smirk knowingly at her departing back, and laugh about her once she was gone.
    â€œWhist?” she heard herself say. Beside her, Reggie groaned.
    She was well versed in the game and was indeed lucky with cards, but she wasn’t fool enough to think herself in Connor’s league. She pretended to consider his proposal, conscious that all eyes had turned their way, then she shook her head, a dismissive smile on her lips. “I think—”
    â€œI’ve a pretty little mare, pure Arab—bought her for breeding, but she’s proving deuced picky, altogether unamenable. She should suit you well.” The comment was just glib enough not to rate as an insult. Connor smiled, very definitely too knowing. “Beat your cousin to her, as a matter of fact.”
    That last comment, thrown in no doubt to pique her interest, pricked her pride instead.
    â€œNo!” Reggie insisted, his whisper despairing.
    Amanda locked gazes with Connor and raised a haughty brow; her smile had disappeared. “A mare, you say?”
    Connor nodded, somewhat distracted. “Worth a small fortune.” His tone suggested he was having second thoughts about the wisdom of his wager.
    For one instant, Amanda teetered on the brink of accepting his challenge, then caution reared its head. If she rejected Connor, playing a rubber with some of the blades watching would be sufficient to prevent her being labelled a silly chit out of her depth, a dilettante. She couldn’t afford to be contemptuously