She cast a slight smile his way. Their eyes met. Caroline quickly directed her gaze towards the sky. “The first breath of fresh air is always the most enjoyable.”
No response.
Sure enough. Not a man of many words. Fortunately, the hard part—establishing contact—was over. All Caroline had to do was pilfer the watch—something she could do in her sleep.
She strode over to the balustrade and leaned against the cold stone. “It’s rare to have such a clear night. The stars are quite beautiful.”
“Rare indeed,” he agreed.
“A good omen, I hope.”
A soft chuckle reached her ears. “For you or for me?”
She shot him an inquiring glance. “Can it not be for us both?”
He shrugged. “Fortune for one means misfortune for another.”
Caroline’s scalp prickled at his words. She ducked her head to conceal her expression. How eerie. Yet the Viscount had it quite right. On the whole, fortune for one means misfortune for another. Tonight, he would be the unfortunate soul robbed, and she, well she would be in possession of a fortune, quite literally.
A pinch of guilt wormed its way into her heart, which she ruthlessly pushed aside. The pitiful allowance they received from the baron barely covered the cost of their living expenses these days. Someone needed to care for her sisters. Secure all of their futures.
“Life is rarely fair to everyone,” Caroline said.
He did not answer. As expected. Unexpectedly, he took a small step to close the gap between them.
Her startled gaze flew to him.
“Tell me, my lady,” the corner of his lips hitched upward, leaving Caroline somewhat fascinated by that arch, “between the two of us—beneath the clear sky littered with stars—who do you suppose would be left with misfortune?”
Her breath stalled. Just whowasthe hunter and who was the prey here? Only then did she truly taste the overwhelming presence of the man. He looked cold and different at first glance, but at second, he transformed into a cunning wolf.
His smile deepened. “If I were a betting man, I’d wager on you, my lady.”
Caroline stood stunned. She blinked, once, twice, before forcibly whipping her stray senses back into their corral. She braved a smile and said, “Truly? Do not sell yourself short, my lord. I certainly would not wager against you without care.”
They were close.
Very close.
This was it. This was the moment.
The beat of her heart drummed in her ears like thunderous cannons signaling war. Her palms layered with a coating of moisture as she palmed the object before it disappeared into a secret pocket she’d sown into her dress. Her eyes never left the Viscount.
It’s done.
She retreated a step but did not escape the man.
Golden crystals scrutinized her.
Caroline could not break free their hold. The blood-pulsing presence of the man enveloped her in a tight grasp. Like cloying tentacles, they refused to release her. Truth be told, she had never met a man who could raise her pulse with a mere look—until this man.
A sudden sense of danger tickled her sensibilities. She could not explain it yet the urge to flee nearly set her feet on fire. She best not linger in his company any longer. Her hesitation—and to some degree reluctance—to part sent all sorts of alarm bells jostling in her heart.
Caroline motioned to the ballroom. “I best get back before I am missed.” She gave him her most sporting smile. “I bid you adieu, my lord.”
She did not wait for his response before she headed back into the ballroom. Somehow, still, the tendrils of his voice followed her into the sea of people.
“Until we meet again, my lady.”
