the baron placidly. Alvanly turned his gaze looked to Phoebe, who had not lowered her gun, and let out a soft laugh as the tension fell away from him. He shook his head.
“I really could have fallen for you, Phoebe, dear,” he said, staring at her with something like hunger in his eyes, before turning to Max. “I wish you joy of her, Ellisborough. She’ll lead you a merry dance, by God. I admit, I envy you that.”
And then he turned his back on them all and walked away.
Max let out a breath and turned back to Phoebe, wanting to congratulate her and apologise for ever having doubted her, but before he had the chance, she had launched herself into his arms and was holding on tight.
“Oh, Max! Max, thank goodness you were here. I was so afraid I would mess it up.”
She clung to him, trembling in every limb, and Max held her to him, beyond words that she had turned to him, his heart so full he almost trembled himself with the enormity of everything he felt.
“Afraid?” said he asked incredulously. He tipped her head up, his fingers gentle on her chin as he looked down at her. “I don’t believe it. You were ice cold the entire way through. I’ve never seen such a steady hand, and the way you drew him in, losing those first hands… my God, Phoebe. You were incredible. I’ve seen nothing like it before in my life.”
“Nor I,” murmured a soft voice beside them.
They turned to see Demarteau watching them with interest.
“I should like to try my hand against you, Lady Ellisborough, should you ’ave cause to return to Rouge et Noir. I believe it would be an—’ow do you say, une expérience éclairante?”
“An enlightening experience,” Phoebe translated for him with a nervous smile.
“Quite so,” Demarteau said, the glimmer of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Though I would prefer it if you did not use those quick fingers of yours with quite such skill when we meet. A fair fight, alors? I shall have the counters changed up for you. The money will be waiting at the door, with the painting when you leave. If you wish to celebrate there is dancing in the ballroom. One of my men will show you the way. Good evening to you both.”
He gave a deep and respectful bow and left them alone.
Max looked back to Phoebe with a frown. “He knew.”
“Yes,” Phoebe said, her expression sheepish. “I don’t usually cheat, I promise, though I admit it’s tempting, but I had to win against Alvanly. I had to. You do see?”
There was fear in her eyes, and he realised she was afraid he might not see, might not understand why she had done what she had. He had no words to tell her what he felt, all he had experienced and learned and understood from the moment they had set foot in Rouge et Noir, and so he simply leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers.
“I love you,” he said.
She sighed, her anxiety melting away as she leaned into him. “I should like to dance with you, Max.”
“Your wish is my command, my Lady Ellisborough.”
Phoebe looked up and beamed at him. “I am your lady.”
“Yes,” he said, unable to keep the emotion from his voice. “Yes, you are.”
***
Though it was closer to morning than evening, the ballroom was alive still. Music swelled and Cyprians and scandalous women, the fashionable and the richest in the city, came together to dance. It was not dancing of the kind Phoebe was used to. A waltz was still shocking enough, even after so many years of acceptance in the ton’s ballrooms, but always there was a proper distance kept between partners. Not so here. The waltz here was a different creature, passionate and indiscreet as men held their ladies far too close, their hands too low on their backs. Phoebe saw one man kiss his partner’s neck as she closed her eyes with a sigh of pleasure. She hurried Max to the dance floor, wanting that now. At once.
He swept her into the melee and Phoebe laughed with the joy of it. His eyes reflected her laughter, and it shone in the warmth of his smile, happiness radiating from him. She had done that. She had made him happy.
“I want to dance until the sun comes up,” she said, gasping as Max pulled her close against him, delighted that her proper, polite Lord Ellisborough should