Page 9 of A Game of Scandal

I raised my brows, though they were still covered by the gold silk mask. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“On the contrary.” Ash stood, and he was taller than I’d anticipated. He rounded the desk and came to lean against the front of it, so that his long legs stretched out beside me. He wore dark trousers and leather boots. He braced himself with his hands, fingers curled round the lip of the desk, and disappearing under the edge of his rolled-up sleeve I saw a sinuous line of dark ink. My stomach did that strange somersault again. He had a tattoo.

“This is my business,” he continued, and my gaze snapped from his tanned forearm to his face.

I remained stubbornly silent, and he narrowed his eyes. “If you didn’t cheat…” he began, and then raised his hand to cut off my protest. “If you didn’t cheat, how did you win so many hands in a row?”

I considered him for a moment. There was really no reason not to tell him the truth. I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“I calculated the probabilities,” I said finally.

Whatever Ash had been expecting, this obviously wasn’t it. “Could you explain that to me?” he said slowly.

I nodded, pleasantly surprised. It was rare that a man was happy to admit he didn’t understand something instantly, rarer still that I got the opportunity to explain.

“It’s quite simple, really,” I said, leaning forward. “I assign each card that is dealt a value. If the card is between a two and a six, I add one. If the card drawn is between seven and nine, the added value is zero, if it’s above a nine, then I subtract one.”

Ash’s brow crinkled. “How does this help you to calculate the probability?”

“In basic terms, if the running total is positive, the cards are more likely to fall in my favour, if the count is negative, it’s more likely the dealer will triumph, and so one can bet accordingly. Of course, that’s a very simplified explanation; there’s a lot more nuance than that – it would be easier if I could draw some tables…” I trailed off, aware that I was getting carried away, and internally bracing myself for the condescending sneer or look of disgust that typically followed any enthusiastic demonstration of my mathematical interest.

Ash only furrowed his brow thoughtfully. “And you’re able to hold a running count in your mind over all the different hands that are dealt?”

I inclined my head. “The odds in my favour increase the further into the deck we get. If more decks are introduced, of course, it becomes more complicated. Then one must determine the true count by dividing the running count by the number of decks in play.” I narrowed my eyes. “Theoretically, you could continue to reckon the figures with a significant number of decks in the mix, but the calculations would grow increasingly complex. I have some more thinking to do in this area.”

There was a beat of silence.

“Who are you?” Ash asked again, and this time the question was low, as he leaned close enough that I could feel the warmth coming from his body.

I swallowed. “I’ve already told you.” My hands were twitching to do something wild like stroke the sandpaper texture of his jaw, so instead I folded them tightly in my lap. “That’s none of your business. I didn’t come here to be interrogated.”

“Why did you come here, then?” Ash asked. “I know quality when I see it. That dress alone must have cost a small fortune. You didn’t come for money. And you don’t seem like you’re here for the thrill.”

At the moment my whole body did seem to be experiencing quite the thrill, but I pushed that aside. “I’m hardly likely to confide my motivations to a stranger. My reasons are my own. Now” – I got abruptly to my feet, invading his space and forcing him to lean back – “as I’ve explained that I wasn’t cheating, I assume our business here is concluded. I’d like to collect my winnings and be on my way.”

“You know,” Ash said ponderously, “this icy attitude of yours really gets my heart racing.” He reached forward and lightly touched my hand, sliding his fingers up towards my wrist. It was a delicate touch, light and unthreatening, but I felt as though sparks were about to start flying across my skin. He pulled me gently towards him, resting my palm on his chest so that I could feel his heart beating – hard and fast – beneath it.

“I-I—” I stammered, thrown. I was no stranger to flirtation, but it was clear that Ash was a master of the art. I could appreciate that, could enjoy the way my own heart beat in time with his. “You made me promise to keep my hands off you,” I reminded him, the words a trifle breathless.

He released my wrist with a smile. “So I did. Though, as I recall, we said nothing about my hands on you, did we, my lady?”

“I believe such an eventuality was covered under the demand that you behave like a gentleman,” I managed, and decided there was no harm in keeping my hand pressed against the firm planes of his chest. He was standing so close. He smelled delicious, spicy and masculine.

“But as I already told you,” he murmured, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, “I am no gentleman.”

With a sigh, I tipped my head back, my eyes fluttering closed of their own accord. Lady Felicity Vane should definitely not allow a strange pirate to kiss her in the back office of a gambling den, but I didn’t feel like Lady Felicity Vane just at that moment. I felt free, and reckless with it. I had a feeling that kissing Ash would be an education, and I was nothing if not thorough in my studies.

His lips were a breath away from mine, his hands reaching up to cradle my head, fingers gentle as they tangled in my hair. I felt a sudden tug and, with a whisper of silk against silk, the ribbon holding my mask in place came loose.

I made a sound of surprise as the mask fell into his hands. I froze, blinking up at him, as his gaze moved hungrily across my face.

“There you are,” he said, his thumb and forefinger loosely gripping my chin.

Suddenly the door flew open. A slight boy came barrelling inside, Davey on his heels.

“Ash, you scoundrel! Stop that at once!” the boy cried, outraged. “Unhand her!”

I stared. Sighed. Took a step away from Ash.