Vixen in Velvet by Loretta Chase Page B

The entrance fee?”
    “No, it’s all in order.” He stepped away. “All in order.”
    But she wasn’t. She was still smoldering away.
    Because of Gladys.
    Then he remembered the whispery voice behind the fan.
    “There was only—” He broke off. “But no, I’m sure it’s of no possible interest to you. Idle gossip.”
    He sensed rather than saw her come to sharp attention. He knew little about dressmaking but he understood business far better than he let on. For business people, gossip was seldom truly idle. If Sir A was on the brink of bankruptcy or Lord B was growing tired of his mistress or Lady C was hiding gigantic gambling debts from her husband, their tradesmen wanted to be the first to know.
    “Well, then, I shan’t keep you,” she said cheerfully.
    He ought to go. Her business errors weren’t his problem—and she couldn’t wait to be rid of him. He started for the door.
    One, two, three paces. He was reaching for the handle when Lady Alda’s blue and pink fan fluttered in his mind’s eye and he heard her whisper, all feigned concern.
    Could someone not counsel dear Lady Gladys? It is a great shame she’s put herself into such hands. I shall not say those women are unscrupulous , precisely. And yet . . .
    He stopped and turned back to her. “No, I can’t do it. I can’t go without knowing. Miss Noirot, I’m perishing of curiosity. Tell me you didn’t tell Gladys you’d make her the belle of the ball.”
    She blinked once.
    “You’ve blinked,” he said. “In you that can only be a sign of tremendous shock. Perhaps I ought to have broken the news more gently.”
    “No, no. I was only taken aback at the change of subject.” She shook her head. “I’m not at all shocked. I’d heard they’re already placing bets.”
    “They were all tittering about it at Lady Jersey’s assembly last night,” he said. “Are you saying it’s true? The belle of the ball? Gladys? ”
    She donned the politely amiable smile. “You seem to find it inconceivable that Lady Gladys has unfulfilled potential. To you it may seem impossible that anybody not born beautiful and charming could ever win anybody’s heart. Or do I misunderstand?”
    “We’re not talking about anybody,” he said. “We’re talking about Gladys . You can’t be serious.”
    “A young woman’s hopes and dreams are no joking matter to me,” she said. “My livelihood depends on helping her achieve them. In this case, I have every expectation of accomplishing our mutual aims, and all is well in hand. By the time Maison Noirot is done with her, Lady Gladys will need only to crook her finger to have any beau she wants.”
    L eonie wanted to choke him.
    How dare he? That poor girl!
    “This is deranged,” he said. “I thought you were a sensible woman of business.”
    “Pray don’t trouble yourself,” she said. “I know what I’m about, my lord.”
    “No, you don’t know what you’re about,” he said. “You don’t know Gladys.”
    “I know her better than you do,” she said.
    “She has a talent for making trouble wherever she goes,” he said. “The other night she nearly got Val into a duel. She has somehow provoked you to a challenge impossible to meet, and led you in far over your head.”
    “Led me?” she said with a smile. “Led me. ” The notion of any Noirot being led was hilarious.
    “You’ll become a laughingstock,” he said. “Your business will suffer. And my cousin Gladys will never be grateful for any efforts you exert on her behalf. She won’t thank you for any sacrifices you make for her. What she’ll do is blame Maison Noirot for not doing what is completely impossible to do!”
    “You underestimate me,” she said. “You wouldn’t be the first.”
    There was a short, taut silence.
    He eyed her up and down.
    Sizing her up.
    She was used to arrogant men looking her over. But he might as well have put his hands where his glittering green gaze went. She grew hot and confused. And so she made