A Secret Surrender - Darcy Burke Page 0,17

mine.” She dipped a brief curtsey, which only emphasized the fact that she didn’t really understand the rules at all, and turned to climb the stairs to the terrace.

Harry watched her go and wondered just where this partnership would take them.

Chapter 5

At least four of Madame Sybila’s clients were at the Aylesbury soiree, an occurrence Selina found far too amusing. She’d just “met” Lady Rockbourne, whom she’d seen five or six times in the last month. Petite, with pale blonde hair and light blue eyes, she looked like an angel. However, she had the disposition of a demon. Her appointments with Madame Sybila were full of complaints about her husband and her lust for another man with whom she hoped to begin an affair.

It was a situation in which Selina strove not to provide an answer but to guide the client, in this case Lady Rockbourne, to reach her own decision. She was fairly certain the viscountess had engaged in the liaison, and having met Lord Rockbourne earlier, Selina hoped she would have the chance to counsel the woman to be faithful to her husband. The viscount had been charming and witty, and Selina didn’t like thinking of the woman’s betrayal.

Which was odd given that Selina betrayed people all the time. The hypocrisy stung, particularly in the case of Mr. Sheffield, whom she liked very much. He reminded her of Sir Barnabus Gresham, the man whom she’d tried to swindle, but who had found her out and still allowed her to “borrow” his name. She’d grown to like him and regretted her efforts to cheat him. Then he’d been kind and unbelievably generous. That had happened eighteen months ago, and since then, Selina had been slowly losing her ability to remain detached from her marks.

However, she didn’t know how to support herself and Beatrix without their schemes. Hopefully, Beatrix would secure her father’s support, and Selina would earn enough money during the Season to give up this life and live modestly somewhere. Legitimacy and security were so very close.

Her gaze fell on Harry’s trio of sisters, who were once again squiring Beatrix about. They’d started the evening that way, and it appeared they’d end it in the same manner. In between, Beatrix had danced and conversed and seemed to have a wonderful time.

Good. That was the entire point of being here. She was well on her way to becoming precisely what she wanted: the toast of London.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Lady Gresham?”

Selina turned, and her pulse instantly quickened. But only for a moment, which was how long it took her to realize it wasn’t Mr. Sheffield who’d spoken to her, but his brother, Lord Northwood. They were identical, and if it hadn’t been for the difference in their attire, Selina wondered if she could tell them apart at all.

“I am, thank you. And you?”

“I always enjoy the parties my parents host. There is an advantage.” He lowered his voice. “Because I can sneak away quite easily if I feel the need.”

“I see. Does such a need arise for you frequently?”

“Not as much as it does for my brother. You’re aware he left some time ago?”

At least two hours. After their stroll in the garden, he’d come back up to the drawing room, where he’d spoken to a few people. Then he’d come to tell Selina he was leaving, an event that still had her puzzled. It was as if they’d formed some sort of…attachment. But then, she supposed they had. She was working for him. To help him investigate herself. The thought made her simultaneously giddy with satisfaction and nervous with apprehension.

But it was perhaps more than business. There was something in the way he looked at her, the way he felt beneath her palm as they’d promenaded, the way he’d kissed her hand.

They way they’d almost flirted.

That’s nothing new, she reminded herself. You flirt when you have to.

And given how things were working out with the Bow Street Runner, it had clearly been beneficial. Yet, she hadn’t done it on purpose.

“Yes, he was kind enough to bid me good evening before he left,” Selina said, answering the viscount.

Northwood’s brows arched. “Did he? How fascinating. How is it you two met?”

Mr. Sheffield hadn’t told him? “I tripped in front of him, actually. On The Strand. He caught me before I fell.”

“How dashing.” Northwood chuckled. “No wonder he didn’t tell us. Delia will be delighted to hear the tale, unless she was able to pry it from him before he left.