A chill shot down his spine—the instinct of a male in danger—leaving a cold trail along his back. Warrick preferred to survive the proverbial mating ritual.
“I’m not in the mood, madam.”
“How can that be? I’m offering you a night of pleasure on a silver tray. What man would turn down such a dessert freely offered?”
Him.
“I’m afraid I’m busy tonight,”and every night, “madam.”
“You don’t look busy to me.” She placed her hands on his chest. “Come now, Warrick, dear.”
A bitter taste coated his mouth. It wasn’t the first time she had approached him, but it was the first time she had been this bold. In other circumstances, he might not have minded, but he drew the line with married women. Though even if she hadn’t been married, his mind only had space to occupy one woman at a time. He was a simple man in that regard. And that space had quite recently been claimed.
He shrugged off her touch, but not before he caught Selena’s stare from across the floor. She looked away when their gazes touched, and Warrick inwardly cursed. “I’d prefer you don’t test my patience. Go pester somebody else.”
That beautifully aged face contorted, revealing the true woman behind the mask. “How dare—”
“Lady Ridgeland.” Dare grinned as he sauntered over to them. “I see you have set your sights upon the one man you can never sway.”
Warrick let out a light breath of relief, earning him a viscous glare from the woman.
“All men can be swayed,” Lady Ridgeland said to Dare, her eyes never leaving Warrick. “The earl is merely playing hard to get.”
Dare arched a brow at Warrick.
Damn it. “I don’t play games.”
Dare nodded, smiling at Lady Ridgeland while he flung and arm around Warrick’s shoulder, finally drawing her attention, though there was a perceptible edge to that smile. “Warrick is not the best company tonight, but I hear the Duke of Mortimer has just arrived and is looking for some fun.”
Lady Ridgeland eyed them a moment before striding off with a huff.
“I’m in your debt,” Warrick said, inclining his head to the man.
“We males must stick together.”
Warrick sent Dare a skeptical glance. “Mortimer is a male. Is he even attending tonight?”
“He is here, yes.” Dare’s grin widened. “But he is not looking for fun.”
“Then why did you send that harpy his way?”
“He is more contemptuous than you.”
Warrick grunted. He couldn’t argue on that score. The duke was stiffer than a stick and extremely poised. Not one to tumble about with women of ill repute. He was also in search of the betting book and had shown that he was not a man to be crossed. But that was about where Warrick’s interest in him ended. Though he had wondered at the man’s determination.
Dare patted his shoulder before removing his hand. “Be careful of Lady Ridgeland. She is not a woman who forgives or forgets.”
“Are you speaking out of experience?” Warrick dusted off his chest where that woman had touched.
“God no, I value simplicity. But I’ve heard the tales. That woman is a complication that is hard to disentangle from once you allow her into your bed.”
“Noted.” Though Warrick had no intention of entangling with her in any way or form.
“You made quite the spectacle at the parade with Lady Selena,” Dare remarked. “That must have earned you the slap of the century.”
“You were there?”
“Of course. I would never miss the chance to see a group of women prancing about in trousers.”
