Page 69 of A Deal with the Devil

“You’ll start a fashion in the ballroom.”

“I am not invited to ballrooms, Devil.”

“Rhys. And you are now.”

“I’m all aflutter.”

“I can see that.” He grinned, and it changed his face, made him even more tempting. It did not change the dark electricity that crackled around him, though—nothing could temper that. And truthfully, Kitty would not want it to. “You’re the one who made a deal with the Devil.”

“I did not think it would involve the quadrille.” She wrinkled her nose. “I am not sure I can even remember how to dance a quadrille. It has been many, many years. And I only learned because my aunt is delusional.”

“I’m not worried about a quadrille.”

“Do you think Yelena could teach me?”

“After she teaches you between which ribs to stab a man?”

“Naturally.”

“I wonder if I am going to regret this,” he said drily.

“Probably.” She paused. “Do you think you will?” The question made her feel exposed for some reason.

Devil held her gaze, moss-green eyes glittering. “I will never regret your being able to defend yourself, Kitty.”

“I am sure the Spinster Society could teach me a thing or two.”

“Good. Learn them all, every technique, every method. Whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

Well, that was nice too. She was perilously close to simpering.

And that would not do.

She drew herself up with a brusque nod. Confident. Competent. Not at all swooning inside because the most beautiful man she had ever known wanted to arm her.

Devil read the change in her the way he would read a hand of cards. Calculating, filing it away for later use. “Why did you come here, firecracker?”

“Apparently, I came to scandalize your boot boy. That I could scandalize anyone at the Sins is a wonder, even for me.”

“Pierre?”

“He informed me most gravely that women do not visit the Devil. They wait for him to visit. No doubt with bated breath.” She was, abruptly, mildly peeved and couldn’t think why.

He snorted. “Pierre is ten years old.”

“Pierre has wisdom beyond his years.”

“Why else did you come?”

“I need a favor,” she admitted.

He tilted his head. “Do you?”

He was going to make her work for it. She should have known. This man was like a prism, all complicated angles and light. And unexpected colors. “I need to look through Lord Tadworth’s library.”

“Tadworth? The recluse with the whiskers and the toad collection?”

“He also collects books. But I wouldn’t mind a peek at a toad collection either, actually. More importantly, he recently purchased a trunk of books from Portsmouth.”