Madeline. Gabriel couldn’t blame her. No one had paid the redhead the slightest heed since Madeline had glided into the pit at the end of the first act. The ladies above peered over the sides of their gilded boxes with varying degrees of disgust, outrage, and envy. Their gentlemen escorts kept their heads averted, but after a few moments, although their opera glasses remained trained on the stage, the eyes behind them drifted to the far more entertaining performance below.
The gentlemen surrounding Madeline didn’t try to hide their ogling. Or their groping. Gabriel knocked away a hand reaching for her.
The actress on the stage finished dying to a smattering of halfhearted applause. She miraculously revived and flounced offstage before the curtain had fully closed.
With the pause on stage, more men gathered around Madeline. A drunken Corinthian, eager to press closer, stumbled into Gabriel, driving him backward into Madeline. He reached to steady her but two of her admirers were already hoisting her back to her feet.
Madeline laughed with abandon, as if she could imagine nothing more delightful than being tossed about by overanxious theatergoers. But rather than keeping the crowd at arm’s length as she’d done the night before, she pressed back against Gabriel, the softness of her derriere flush against his thigh. “It’s time to make a strategic retreat to the corridor.”
He threaded her through the mob of men surrounding them. “I thought you were succeeding well with your impression of a lively barmaid.”
“Barmaid? I’ll have you know that was lonely opera dancer to perfection.”
Gabriel couldn’t help grinning at her look of exaggerated affront.
“But I swear, if I get pinched once more, I won’t be able to sit for a week.”
People were already strolling about, taking advantage of the intermission. “I doubt you’ll be safer in the corridor.”
“I can keep my back to the wall. And if I’m in the corridor, the gentlemen will be able to create an excuse to leave their boxes and wander past me.”
He should have guessed even her escapes were carefully orchestrated. “You’re frightening.”
She laughed, this time a breathy chuckle meant only for Gabriel’s ears. “Why do I love your compliments the best?”
The refreshment vendor must have adored her because, true to her prediction, nearly every gentleman present found himself possessed of great thirst and in need of lemonade from the vendor directly to her left.
Gabriel settled against a wall a few feet away, allowing her free rein with her wooing.
Danbury arrived at his side a few minutes later. “I don’t know if I envy or pity you having to keep an eye on her.”
“You’re the one who bid on her. I’ll need the past seven years of your financials, by the way.”
“You know I’m good for the money.”
Gabriel did know. The man was incredibly wealthy, but Madeline was right—he couldn’t excuse his friends. “Same rules for everyone.”
Danbury focused on where Madeline stood sipping a drink, her lips moist and red from the spiced ratafia. “I suppose I will do what I must. Although I doubt she’s actually a virgin.”
“She claims she is.”
“Come now. There’s a ship at the docks waiting to take me to the other side of the globe. The only thing that holds me here is this auction. Surely you know the truth.”
Gabriel preferred not to think about Danbury taking Madeline to bed. “If you question whether she’s a virgin, why did you bid?”
One of Madeline’s bidders careened into Danbury. Grabbing the man’s port before it spilled, he steadied the man. “These men will bring shame on our entire gender if I don’t save them from themselves.” Danbury handed the glass back to the drunken man. “Do you suppose she cares if I woo her before I bed her?”
Slowly, Gabriel uncurled his fists. She wasn’t a lady whose reputation he needed to protect, after all. “No. Your bid is all that
The gentlemen surrounding Madeline didn’t try to hide their ogling. Or their groping. Gabriel knocked away a hand reaching for her.
The actress on the stage finished dying to a smattering of halfhearted applause. She miraculously revived and flounced offstage before the curtain had fully closed.
With the pause on stage, more men gathered around Madeline. A drunken Corinthian, eager to press closer, stumbled into Gabriel, driving him backward into Madeline. He reached to steady her but two of her admirers were already hoisting her back to her feet.
Madeline laughed with abandon, as if she could imagine nothing more delightful than being tossed about by overanxious theatergoers. But rather than keeping the crowd at arm’s length as she’d done the night before, she pressed back against Gabriel, the softness of her derriere flush against his thigh. “It’s time to make a strategic retreat to the corridor.”
He threaded her through the mob of men surrounding them. “I thought you were succeeding well with your impression of a lively barmaid.”
“Barmaid? I’ll have you know that was lonely opera dancer to perfection.”
Gabriel couldn’t help grinning at her look of exaggerated affront.
“But I swear, if I get pinched once more, I won’t be able to sit for a week.”
People were already strolling about, taking advantage of the intermission. “I doubt you’ll be safer in the corridor.”
“I can keep my back to the wall. And if I’m in the corridor, the gentlemen will be able to create an excuse to leave their boxes and wander past me.”
He should have guessed even her escapes were carefully orchestrated. “You’re frightening.”
She laughed, this time a breathy chuckle meant only for Gabriel’s ears. “Why do I love your compliments the best?”
The refreshment vendor must have adored her because, true to her prediction, nearly every gentleman present found himself possessed of great thirst and in need of lemonade from the vendor directly to her left.
Gabriel settled against a wall a few feet away, allowing her free rein with her wooing.
Danbury arrived at his side a few minutes later. “I don’t know if I envy or pity you having to keep an eye on her.”
“You’re the one who bid on her. I’ll need the past seven years of your financials, by the way.”
“You know I’m good for the money.”
Gabriel did know. The man was incredibly wealthy, but Madeline was right—he couldn’t excuse his friends. “Same rules for everyone.”
Danbury focused on where Madeline stood sipping a drink, her lips moist and red from the spiced ratafia. “I suppose I will do what I must. Although I doubt she’s actually a virgin.”
“She claims she is.”
“Come now. There’s a ship at the docks waiting to take me to the other side of the globe. The only thing that holds me here is this auction. Surely you know the truth.”
Gabriel preferred not to think about Danbury taking Madeline to bed. “If you question whether she’s a virgin, why did you bid?”
One of Madeline’s bidders careened into Danbury. Grabbing the man’s port before it spilled, he steadied the man. “These men will bring shame on our entire gender if I don’t save them from themselves.” Danbury handed the glass back to the drunken man. “Do you suppose she cares if I woo her before I bed her?”
Slowly, Gabriel uncurled his fists. She wasn’t a lady whose reputation he needed to protect, after all. “No. Your bid is all that
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