To emphasize her role as Wylde’s consort, she casually rested her hand on his shoulder. His muscles tensed under her fingertips, but after the slightest pause, he turned back to the small pile of winnings in front of him and threw down a card. Seized by a wicked impulse, Georgie trailed her fingers up toward his neck and toyed with the lock of hair that curled behind his ear.

He half turned his head as if to say something to her, then apparently decided against it.

She glanced at his cards over his shoulder and bit back a frustrated groan. Why had he discarded that queen? Really, he was making the oddest decisions. With her head for numbers, she’d always found calculating the odds of cards relatively easy, but she doubted Wylde would appreciate her interference in this instance.

Her fingers stroked the thick hair at his nape, just above his cravat, and her heart pounded at the illicit thrill of it. Wylde cleared his throat, repositioned himself in his chair, and threw down a ten, ruining any chance he might have had of winning the hand.

Georgie stifled a giggle. Was she distracting him? The idea was delightful.

The hand finished, and he stood and gathered his paltry winnings. “Excuse me, gents, but I’ve ignored my lady long enough. I do believe she’d appreciate a tour of the house.”

This was met with knowing ribald laughter. “Oh, aye. I hear the doctor’s billiard table’s very sturdy,” Kenilworth snickered. “Well worth a detour.”

Georgie flushed beneath her mask. They all thought Wylde was taking her off somewhere for … nefarious purposes.

If only.

She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about his ridiculous offer to introduce her to physical pleasure. The idea had taken root, a wicked, intriguing possibility. Had he been serious? What would he have done if she’d actually taken him up on it?

His cheek brushed hers as he leaned over to whisper in her ear. “They’ll be imagining us in flagrante delicto in less than five minutes. Come on.” He looked at her and away, leaving an instant’s burn in his wake. As he ushered her out of the room, Georgie tried to banish the hot, sinful images he’d conjured.

They dodged another couple sneaking upstairs and a servant carrying a swaying tray of glasses. Wylde sent her a casual, intimate smile over his shoulder that perfectly communicated his delight in the unholy thrill of risk-taking. His eyes were glowing with excitement. Georgie’s matching sense of elation left her almost breathless.

This was what made this man so dangerously attractive. When he called on someone to join him on an adventure, he was well-nigh irresistible.

Chapter 20.

Benedict tried to still his racing heart as he ushered Georgie down the corridor, into O’Meara’s library, and closed the door behind them with a click.