Chapter 10 #2
Cynthia turned back to Sinclair as he rose to a dizzying height.
She was forced to tip her chin up to maintain eye contact.
He dipped his head in mocking imitation of a respectful bow.
‘I weren’t expecting you to bring a… friend.
’ His gaze flicked over her shoulder to Helena.
Without the door to muffle its tone, his voice was even rougher, tinged with the accent of the rookery and resonant in the quiet room.
‘This is my—’ Oh dear. How did she describe what Helena was to her?
Friend wasn’t right. Companion was hardly suitable.
Infuriating witch determined to unsettle every aspect of Cynthia’s carefully balanced life was far closer to the truth, but hardly something she could admit to the Devil. Or Helena. Or herself, for that matter.
‘I am here to ensure Lady Burrows’ safety.’ Helena’s footsteps echoed loudly in the quiet room as she took her place next to Cynthia.
Damien Sinclair lifted a black eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling in an expression far too predatory to be considered a smile. ‘Really? And ’ow might you propose to accomplish such a task?’
‘With relish, Mr Sinclair.’ Helena’s voice was cool water rushing over granite stones.
Sinclair’s mirthless laughter conveyed insulting disbelief.
Never one to endure the derision of others when it was directed at those she loved, Cynthia spoke before thinking.
‘Have you ever considered the marvel of a viper’s venom?
The smallest amount, when administered through a tiny prick in the skin, can kill a man as large as you in no time at all.
Trust me when I tell you, Miss Blair is far more deadly than that venom. ’
‘Really?’ His disbelief was palpable.
‘I’ve heard many things about you, but thus far, no one has attacked your intelligence. Have I been misled? Are you a fool?’
Cynthia could feel the swish of Helena’s skirts as she shifted next to her.
She was playing a dangerous game, baiting a killer. Because whether Sinclair had murdered Hubert or not, it was obvious he was no stranger to violence. Perhaps Superintendent MacDougal had been right to try and keep them shielded. But it was too late to change course now.
She desperately wanted to reach out and take Helena’s hand.
Feel the odd pulse of energy that occurred whenever they touched.
Squeeze Helena’s fingers to reassure her that all would be well, even if she had no reason to believe in such a hopeful outcome.
But she ruthlessly kept her focus on Sinclair.
His sharp gaze cut back to Helena, and Cynthia swore she saw a flash of lightening in his midnight eyes, recognition of one predator to another.
When he turned back to Cynthia, he lifted his chin, reassessing her.
She was certain by the arrogant set of his shoulders, he was used to reducing most women into puddles of fear or desire, but he held no such sway over either of them.
She took a measure of satisfaction in confounding him.
If he did kill them both, at least she could die knowing she baffled the man.
Marvellous.
‘No one’s ever dared question my intellectual acumen, Miss Blair.’ He threw the fancy words at her with his rough accent. ‘At least, no one whose ’eart still beats.’
‘Then you will give my friend the respect she is due.’
‘I don’t take well to commands.’
‘Something we have in common.’
His short burst of laughter creased the corners of his lips. She guessed levity in such a sharply featured face was rare. ‘You are surprising, Lady Burrows. I don’t like surprises. I prefer to know exactly ’ow a situation will play out before I make the first move.’
‘As the owner of a gambling hell, I would have thought you to relish the unpredictable nature of life.’
‘Quite the opposite. A true gambler discerns patterns in chaos and knows exactly what will ’appen next. Some call it cunning, but isn’t that just the opposite face of wisdom’s coin?’
Cynthia shrugged, not willing to agree with anything this silver-tongued devil said.
‘I shall ’eed your warning, Lady Burrows, and give your protector ’er dues.
’ He nodded at Helena. ‘But know this, your friend might be dangerous, but I am death incarnate. Do not fuck with me. You will not survive the experience.’ His coarse words were designed to frighten and offend her.
They accomplished both goals. He stretched his mouth into a harsh smile.
‘Please, sit.’ He nodded at the two chairs sitting in front of his desk.
She might be scared, but she would be damned if she showed any weakness to this bastard. ‘We prefer to stand. This is no social call.’
His jaw muscles jumped. ‘Why are you ’ere?’ Sinclair didn’t like his orders being flouted.
Good. She didn’t like her safety, and more importantly, Helena’s, being threatened.
Terrified or not, she would grant him no quarter.
‘I understand my recently deceased husband was in debt to you. I wish to know how much he owed so I can settle his accounts. I’m aware obligations of this nature can pass onto his living relations, and I have no wish to be beholden to you. ’
He pressed a hand over his heart as his dark gaze glittered with actual humour.
She couldn’t trust his smile, but his eyes were far more honest. She wondered if he was aware of such a glaring weakness.
‘You wound me, Lady Burrows. I so ’oped we could be friends.
But alas, it would seem we are destined to be enemies.
What a pity. I could use a pair of women as formidable as you and Miss Blair. ’
Something about the way he called them a pair caught her like a hook. A wash of heat flowed from her chest up her throat to her cheeks. She cursed her fair skin as Sinclair’s smile once more turned calculating. He might reveal more than he wished with his eyes, but he also saw more than she wanted.
Her mind tripped back to standing outside his gaming hell, Helena so close, her heat sank through Cynthia’s skin. What might have happened if Sinclair’s man hadn’t interrupted them?
Madness of the highest order. And hardly the time for impossible daydreams.
For one, it was the middle of the night and daydreams were for the day.
For two, they were facing off against a fearsome foe who demanded her total attention.
For three, erotic desires for another woman were completely forbidden. Which made the whole thing so much more enticing.
While affectionate friendships between women were common amongst her set, the intimacy she longed to explore with Helena had nothing to do with platonic friendship. An inconvenient truth she was trying to rectify.
She wasn’t some na?ve fool. Cynthia had heard whispers about various spinsters of the beau monde and their lifelong companions, but never had she imagined she would be tempted by the fairer sex.
It was clear in her marriage to Hubert that her blood ran rather cold.
One could attribute that to his age, lack of physical appeal, or general cruelty.
But when she reflected on her encounters with other men, she’d never felt attraction to anyone.
Sinclair was one more alarming example in a long line of handsome men who inspired as much excitement in her as the prospect of needlepointing a pillow.
So how could she account for the sudden spike in her temperature every time Helena was near?
And what might this mean for her future?
I won’t have a future if I don’t find a way to get Sinclair to talk.
She pulled her thoughts away from the impossible to focus on the improbable. Getting the truth from a devil.
‘Did my husband’s debt to you play a role in his untimely death?’