“Not shocked. Surprised, more like. Certainly you’re not the first to come here wanting to dive into the more unforgiving of sins. Unhappy wives, lonely widows, doomed spinsters. Why not spend a night dancing with the devil?”

“I don’t believe the devil would have rebuffed me.”

“I am too familiar with temptation, vice, and addiction. I do not gamble at my own tables. I do not drink of my own spirits. I do not lounge upon my own ottomans. Until this moment, I’ve never waltzed upon my own floor.”

She offered him a small, tentative smile. “So you are open to making exceptions.”

“It would appear so.”

Laughter nearly erupted from her. It had been too long since she’d had a good laugh. “You don’t have to sound so disgruntled.”

“I’m curious. Have you ever been told you’re beautiful?”

“So many times that the word has lost all meaning.”

“Did you marry for love?”

“I did not.”

“He does not satisfy you?”

“Can a woman be satisfied?”

“With proper bedding. And a proper bedding begins with seduction.” With the slightest of pressure from his hand splayed over her lower back, he urged her nearer until his legs were brushing against her skirts and her toes were coming dangerously close to his boots, but she trusted him not to step on them, not to send her hobbling home.

“You’ve been seducing me since you approached me in the corner.”

One side of his mouth hitched up. “Before that, I’d wager.”

She smiled fully then; she couldn’t help it. “Your earlier strutting through the gaming floor? Was that for my benefit?”

“You noticed me, didn’t you?” He shook his head as a small self-deprecating grin formed. “You’re making me break all my rules.”

“You don’t strike me as one who adheres to rules.”

“I was striving to turn over a new leaf. To become respectable.”

“Respectability is overrated.”

“And you know that because you are so disreputable?”

“I know that because I want to be so disreputable. I have observed propriety my entire life. It grows wearisome.”

“I have another rule, sweetheart. I don’t bed married women. That one I have never broken.”