Angel in Scarlet: A Bound and Determined Novel by Lavinia Kent Page A

recognized her? She might be willing to take more risks than she ought, but that didn’t mean she actually wanted to be ruined. Why was he here?
    She started to ask but caught herself. She would follow Colton’s directions for a few moments more. For now she would trust, hard as that was.
    The two men embraced once, slapping each other on the back, and then they both turned to consider her. The stranger’s eyes felt most appraising, particularly as they stopped upon her bosom. Her hands started to rise to fold across her chest, but she restrained them. She could not suppress the shudder that took her, however.
    What was happening? What exactly did Colton have planned?
    Forcing her eyes back to Colton, she concentrated on his face and nothing else. His eyes were cold, but as she kept her gaze on his face she detected a subtle change, something hard to measure.
    She closed her eyes for the barest of seconds and tried to find that belief in herself that Ruby had spoken of. If she could pretend even for a few moments that all was as she wanted, this just might work. All she had to do was believe.
    She pulled in a deep breath, remembered her cause. She could do this.
    She opened her eyes and met Colton’s gaze. For a second she felt that he saw nothing but her, and something warm flickered in her belly. When he looked at her like that, it was much easier to pretend she would do anything for him. A hesitant smile formed upon her reluctant lips.
    She could do anything—at least for a few minutes at a time. And that was how she would do this, minute by minute.
    And then his face changed again; a flicker of doubt and then ice entered his eyes. His gaze moved to the other man. “Granderson, have you had the pleasure of meeting, Angela, my angel?”
    Her momentary warmth fled.
    He was using her name? Somehow she’d thought they’d cling to anonymity here at Madame Rouge’s, even if it was only a pretense. And Lord Granderson: She did know him—not well, but when she’d first come out, a few years ago, he’d occasionally hung about the edge of the ballroom before heading off to the card room. She should have recognized him immediately.
    Granderson stepped forward and placed a finger beneath her chin, turning her face to his. He looked her straight in the eyes, his dark-brown ones gleaming in the candlelight. “Yes, I do believe we have been introduced,” he said. “Although I do not remember her being such a beauty.”
    “I’ve only recently begun to fully appreciate her myself,” Colton replied, stepping away.
    He was moving back? She was here for him. If he left the room, she really would run—and never look back. Locking her knees, she tried to hold herself still.
    Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
    “I think she has questions, Colton,” Granderson said, dropping her chin. “Did you tell her about me? I hope you at least assured her that I am very good at keeping secrets.”
    “Now, what would have been the fun in that?”
    “But—”
    “Don’t worry, our sweet little lamb has made it very clear that she’s up for anything. Haven’t you, my dear Angela?”
    Stay calm. She needed to stay calm even if she wanted to flee. He couldn’t mean what it sounded like, could he? And if he did?
    Was she prepared to leave, to end this game? How far was she willing to pretend?
    She’d never even imagined this scenario.
    Too many questions.
    She turned her face to Colton, trying to read in his face what was happening. His eyes seemed almost lifeless. He was hiding from her—of that she was sure.
    She swallowed, considering.
    “I think she still does not quite understand what we want,” Granderson said. “Perhaps you should explain.”
    Colton lifted a finger and beckoned to her. She walked to him, trying hard not to betray just how nervous she was. He reached out and stroked a cheek; his gesture was not that different from Granderson’s, but its effect was dramatically different. Despite everything,