“I know nothing of that.”
“Let me speak more plainly. Did you hire those villains to threaten me, tip me off on the winner of the prizefight, and make me hand over my winnings?”
“Are you accusing me of fixing the outcome of a fight? This is outrageous!”
“Fixing prizefights would be nothing to a covert organization that some say acts as a shadow government.”
“Believe me, we don’t resort to petty threats. We have all the power and influence we require without it.”
“Why were you blackmailing my brother?”
“Blackmailing him? Hardly. He’d been bribing us steadily for years to allow him to join our order. With little success, I might add.”
“Then, why were you staring at me at the fight?”
“Again, I owe you no explanation, but I’d like to end this unfortunate conversation as swiftly as possible and return to my companion, andtherefore I’ll tell you what you want to know. I was scrutinizing you because your brother’s application for membership in the Order is finally being judged. It’s a membership for life and transferable to one’s descendants. Rydell is an old and venerable dukedom. There are those in the Order who were seriously considering allowing him to join. However, when we heard of his death, the application was to be terminated. Still, one of my superiors asked me to study you to see if you might be a promising recruit if you become the duke.”
“I’ve no desire to join your sinister order.”
“Exactly the conclusion I drew from watching you at the match and on other occasions. We have no desire to grant you—a hotheaded, rash, indiscreet rake—membership in our exclusive group. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a conversation to finish. And a very unfavorable report about you to write.”
There was nothing about his demeanor or tone that led Dane to believe he was telling anything but the truth.
A curt nod of his head and the man was gone, leaving Dane not one step closer to knowing the identity of his attackers or the nature of his brother’s misdeeds.
He rejoined Madam Avalon. “Did Miss Oliver make it back to her friends safely?”
“I delivered her into her carriage. She’s safely home by now.” She regarded him intently. “Tell me what happened in the gardens.”
He’d proved that he was bad through andthrough. He’d corrupted an innocent at a notorious pleasure ball. His warped mind had invented reasons why it was allowed.
“She asked me to kiss her. She wanted a safe little taste of wickedness.”
“And you were happy to oblige.”
“I kissed her only to satisfy her rampant curiosity. She said she’d developed carnal cravings after viewing my portrait.”
“Ha! She’s not alone. Ladies do like to stand in front of it for hours sometimes.”
“Can you take it down, please?”
“It’s my most popular portrait!”
“I never used to care who saw it, but after tonight I’m feeling some qualms of conscience.”
“Things didn’t progress too far, I presume?”
“They did not.”
“Good, because I will have to murder you if you give her expectations and then let her down.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll never be alone with Miss Sandrine Oliver ever again. She’s helping me plan a charity ball, and I’ll make sure she’s chaperoned the entire time.”
He’d already caused her enough suffering. He’d have to be honorable and chaste from now on. They should never be alone together again, but if they were, he’d be a perfect gentleman.
If her shift was soaked through, he wouldn’t look. Not even one swift glance at a nipple. And if she experienced any more carnal cravings, he’d suggest that she try bonbons or brandy, and if that failed... he’d back away slowly and run like hell.
He’d be stronger and more resolute.