Exciting. She rubbed her heating cheeks.
“Ask him to protect you again,” Eliza whispered close to her ear. “Quickly. He likes it.”
Her head whipped back as she studied her sister. Was Eliza correct? How would her sister know that?
But as she was no good at that sort of thing, she’d trust whatever Eliza was reading into the situation. “Bash?”
He stopped, looking back at her again. “Yes?”
“You’re certain we’ll be safe?”
She watched and to her complete amazement, Eliza was right. Isabella saw him soften. His shoulders dropped and his face relaxed. “Of course. I assure you I will keep you from harm. I gave you my word.”
“Interesting,” Eliza muttered behind her. “Very interesting.”
They entered a room without any windows. There was a table in the center and several chairs.
Without a word, Bash crossed the room and grabbed a pitcher of water from a side table. He poured some into a glass and then dipped his pocket square into the liquid. Crossing back to her, he raised the wet cloth. “For your face.”
Eliza touched her back. “Go ahead.”
Rubbing the cloth all along her skin, she scrubbed at her chin and cheeks, then pulled the cloth away, now covered in black soot. But rather than walk away, he took the cloth from her hand and gently wiped several spots she’d missed.
“Much better,” he mumbled just as the door opened again.
Without thinking, she spun about to face the door and took a step back to be closer to Bash. Four men walked through the door, each distinctly handsome.
He pressed his large hand to the small of her back. “You’re fine,” he murmured. Then he looked at the men. “Gentlemen. These fine ladies are Isabella and Eliza.”
Eliza gave a small, satisfied, scheming smile. Isabella knew that look. Her sister was planning something. And she didn’t appear the least bit afraid. She stood taller, her chin notching up.
A particularly handsome gentleman stared back at Eliza looking like a dog who’d just discovered a meaty bone.
Isabella frowned. Despite Bash’s assurances, this was dangerous.
“I’d like to introduce my associates,” Bash said just behind her. He pointed to one of four men, the one who’d been eyeing Eliza. “We call him Menace. Not to worry, he’s harmless.”
Isabella clucked her tongue. “Says who?”
But Menace’s eyebrows rose as a smile spread across her lips. “You’re even more adorable than I imagined. I never considered how nice a man’s pants might look on a woman.” He stepped closer as his gaze perused her again.
Menace reached up a hand to touch one of the pins in her hair, causing her to shiver, but he never got the chance.
Bash’s hand grabbed the other man’s, holding Menace’s fingers an inch from her head. “There is no touching.”
“Well,” a man with unfashionable long, blond hair said as he chuckled. “This is going to be fun.”
Isabella took another half step back and promptly bumped into the front of Bash. He brought his hand to her hip, steadying her with a touch that sent shockwaves cascading all through her.
“I’ve given the ladies my assurance that they are perfectly safe,” Bash said, his voice rising up over the group. “What we want to know is how Isabella was able to win so many consecutive hands.”
“Isabella?” another man asked. His dark hair was perfectly groomed, his clothing impeccable, his looks very wholesome. “What a pleasure to meet you.”
“That is Vanity,” Bash said behind her, his hand still held her. “The other is Blasphemy and the one who has yet to speak is Infamy.”
“Names that inspire a feeling of safety in a woma
n,” Eliza replied. “So let’s make this as quick as possible. We did not cheat.”