Page 8 of A Game of Scandal

That was when I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder, and knew myself to have been pushed beyond the point of endurance. Call me a cheat? And then have his goon manhandle me? I did not think so.

And I’d spent the last two years living with Izzy.

I raised my own fingers to the giant’s hand, prising it away and twisting his wrist with a swift, sharp movement that had him crying out in surprise. Holding his wrist at an unnatural angle, which I knew would be painful but could be much worse if I chose to twist further, I stepped lightly to the side, keeping pressure on my grip.

“Do not put your hands on me.” I kept my voice level, though my pulse thundered in my ears.

The giant stared at me, his expression stunned. His mouth dropped open slightly. “I was only—” he began.

I twisted a touch harder. Enough to have him bending his knees, a low moan in his throat.

“A simple apology will suffice,” I said.

The man’s eyes darted in the direction of his employer, but I remained focused on him. I knew that to risk being distracted was a bad idea. Izzy had made me practise this motion hundreds of times, though I hadn’t believed I’d ever use it. She’d been the one to tell me: “A young woman should always be prepared to defend herself.” And her lessons were much more interesting than the ones Mother and Max foisted on me.

“I-I’m sorry,” the enormous man said now. I looked closely at his face. He didn’t seem heated or angry, only anxious and a touch embarrassed. I released my hold on him, straightening my skirts as he rubbed his wrist.

“I weren’t going to hurt you,” he said, and he looked shamefaced. “I was only goin’ to make you sit back down again.”

“What is your name?” I asked, my tone brisk.

“Davey,” the giant said, his expression sheepish.

“Well, Davey. You never touch a woman without her express invitation to do so.”

“Yes, miss, I mean – ah – my lady,” Davey said, flustered. He glanced at the man behind the desk. “Took me by surprise, Ash,” he muttered.

I patted his enormous arm – like a Christmas ham, I marvelled. “It’s not your fault,” I said. “I’ve had exceptional training.”

“So it would seem.” The amused voice drew my attention back to the pirate behind the desk – Ash, as Davey had called him.

He was grinning a wide, crooked grin, and looking at his face felt a bit like staring directly into the sun.

“I think you’d better leave the lady to me, Davey,” he said, steepling his fingers as he leaned back in his chair.

“I dunno, boss,” Davey said uneasily, and I smothered a surprised chuckle of delight. It was nice to be considered dangerous.

When I looked back at Ash, I was certain he knew exactly what I was thinking. “I’m sure we can have a civil conversation in private,” he murmured. “If you’ll promise Davey that you can keep your hands off me…”

The words hung suggestively in the air and, to my annoyance, I felt my cheeks colour.

“That won’t be a problem,” I said stiffly. “As long as you behave like a gentleman.”

Ash laughed, and when he threw his head back, I saw that the glint of gold I had noticed at his ears were a pair of small gold hoops. The man was wearing earrings! Something rolled over, slow and heavy, in my stomach.

“I’m no gentleman, love,” Ash said, waving Davey away with his hand. Although he had no clue, I knew his words for a lie. I’d overheard him, after all, at the wedding. The man was in line for a title somehow. He might not look the part, but in name at least he was a gentleman. I narrowed my eyes as I recalled his father’s words, hardly anyone knows of the connection between us. Secrets were valuable currency, perhaps this information would prove useful.

My giant cast another worried look in my direction, before lumbering away. When the door closed behind him, there was a moment of heated silence.

“Please.” Ash gestured to the chair in front of me. “Won’t you have a seat?”

“That depends,” I said, gripping the back of the chair. “Do you intend to accuse me of cheating again?”

He eyed me thoughtfully. “Not immediately,” he said after a moment. “Perhaps we could get to know one another.”

I sniffed, but sat down. “I have no desire to get to know you.” I fussed with the elbow-length sleeve of my gown, straightening the froth of lace there. “I’d simply like to collect my winnings and leave.”

When I glanced up, Ash’s eyes were on my fingers, lingering on the delicate lace of my cuffs. “Who are you?” he asked bluntly.