Page 58 of Rules for a Wicked Wager

He drew her deeper into the room and pulled out a chair for her. She sat down across from Greenie, who greeted her in the usual way.

“Happy sodding day.”

Miss Powel cast a dark look at the bird, then held up a bit of apple. “Happy day,” she said with emphasis. If ever a phrase did not fit the tone, that was the one. Nevertheless, she fed the bird some apple while Peter studied her listless expression.

“What happened?” he said softly. “I will not stop pestering you until I know.”

She stared silently at Greenie. Peter saw the classic lines of her profile, the uplift of her nose at the very tip, and the oblong shape to her ear. Her skin was porcelain clear, but the freckles intrigued him more. The slightest dots, mostly along her nose. And a mole just short of her hairline, exposed only because her hair was drawn back so harshly.

“Miss Powel…” he began, then he touched her cheek. He knew she longed for someone to caress her. “Mari, please tell me.”

She swallowed, and when he feared she’d pull away, she pressed her forehead against his thumb. A moment, nothing more. That was progress, but also a sign of her deep distress.

“Do you know why I have hated you for six years?” she asked, her voice low.

“Because you thought I was responsible for your lack of suitors?”

“Because you accurately named the flaw in my character.” She looked to him, and the amber in her eyes was very clear. Bright brown ignited by emotions. “I am wayward. I long to laugh out loud, to dance wildly, and say impetuous things. You have no idea what I hold back. And sometimes, no matter how hard I try, I say them anyway.”

“What did you say?” He could tell she was deeply ashamed so he stroked her cheek, using what she most needed to encourage her. “I will not condemn you.”

She snorted, then pressed a hand to her mouth. “Of course you will. I condemn myself.”

He gently drew her hand away from her face. “I swear to stand your friend.”

She looked into his eyes, and he held his breath. Everything between them hung poised in the balance. If she could not talk to him now, then there would be never be honesty between them.

“I was unspeakably rude to Lord Rossgrove,” she said. The words were quiet but reverberated with dismay. “He was to stand patron to Mr. Camden, and I thought to be bold and powerful.” She looked up at him. “You told me that. He values power, so I…”

“You are powerful, Mari. Just not in a way he respects.”

“I called him a fool who would soon be parted from his money. I told him his children couldn’t stand him and his friends had abandoned him. I told him he was waning, and now he will not help Mr. Camden.” Her eyes swam with tears. “I could bear it if it were just me who suffered. Heaven knows I have done stupid things in my life, but this was Mr. Camden’s future. He had a chance at that seat, and he would work hard in the House of Commons. He is a good man, and I have ruined everything for him because I could not hold my tongue.”

The tears trembled on her lashes. He watched them form and hold there. Even in this, she could not allow herself to break free. So he knelt before her and brushed his thumb across them, smearing the wetness across her cheeks.

“Lord Rossgrove is an ass.”

She snorted softly, and he counted that a victory. “I needed the ass’s help.”

No, she didn’t. That annoying sapskull Camden needed the man’s help. He couldn’t fault her heart, even if he damned her choice of men.

Meanwhile, he tried to stroke his fingers into her hair, but the pins had pulled everything hard to her head. With a muttered curse, he tugged them out. He couldn’t stand it when she tied herself down like this.

“What are you doing?” she gasped.

“You have restrained everything to punish yourself, and I will not abide it. Rossgrove deserved every word you said. Probably more.”

She gave him a wan smile. “Much more, but we needed him.”

“There are other patrons.”

“No—”

“Hush.” He pressed his fingers to her lips. “Listen to me.”

She quieted, and he finished removing all her pins. She let her head drop back; her mouth parted on a sigh of delight, so he took the time to knead her scalp. He rubbed her in his own clumsy way and then felt his groin tighten painfully when she released a low moan.

“You have such large, wonderful hands,” she murmured. Then she abruptly straightened up. “Good God, there I go again.”