Before Liars Loved (Before Series, Book 3)

Devil

Leo's eyes were glued to the actor playing Don Giovanni, watching every action the foul-mouthed, deceit-driven character made. He'd seen the opera before, and he knew what was going to happen at the end. Poor Gio here was about to be carried off to hell by a horde of demons. A little dramatic, Leo supposed, but it was the theatre.

Surely Scarlett did not truly believe he was the same as such a character. Leo was a harmless, though perhaps relentless, flirter. He did not seduce and debauch innocent women. When he did engage in a relationship, it was always with women who were searching for something mutually beneficial. Actresses or widows who sought comfort and pleasure in the bed of another for some time. No strings attached, no expectations.

Leo never involved with innocent women, and he certainly had never slept with a married one. Such women had propositioned him on more than one occasion, but Leo had no desire to fight off jealous husbands in a duel. He'd definitely lose; marksmanship was not his strong suit.

But the way that Scarlett had compared Leo to Don Giovanni sat uncomfortably on his shoulders. She'd always rebuked his advances, but never in such a cold way.

Leo was suddenly relieved that he hadn't signed his name to the betting book at White's.

Oh, he was undoubtedly involved in the wager. But only in the way that he was determined for no man to succeed.

That day he'd found out about the bet, Leo sat at White's with Will for hours, debating. Sinking deeper and deeper into his glass of scotch. They had not talked much. Leo had slouched back into his leather armchair, watching, glaring, as man after man had come to sign their name to the wager.

And now, sitting in the royal box at the opera, Leo felt the eyes of all those men on him. To them, Leo was winning at a game he wasn't even playing. Hopefully, they would all simply give up, but Leo was not that naive. Especially after their encounter with Symons.

Scarlett seemed unfazed about what had happened in the corridor. Leo could not say the same for himself.

Sneaking a glance at Scarlett, Leo's breath caught in his throat. Christ, it was no wonder every man wanted her affections. She was simply exquisite.

Leo was almost relieved when the performance was over. Standing, he shook his legs out one at a time. He hadn't even realized that they'd gone partly numb from sitting so still. Giving a little bow to Addie and Theo, Leo smiled and thanked them for the invitation. He then waited impatiently as Scarlett did the same thing before guiding her by the elbow out of the box. An attendant stood just beyond the curtained doorway and offered to retrieve their outerwear, to which Leo gratefully accepted.

"This way," Leo said in a hushed tone after they put on their cloaks, turning the opposite direction of the route they had come in.

"Why?" Scarlett said, her footsteps quickening to keep pace with Leo's.

"We can go out the side door and make our way to the carriage from there." They had reached the end of the corridor, the maroon and gold carpet stopping abruptly at the top of steep steps. Leo made sure he had a firm grasp on Scarlett's arm before descending.

"Why?" Scarlett repeated, a little breathless.

"Fewer people," Leo said succinctly. "I do not wish you to face another encounter from Lord Symons or some other overzealous lord."

He thought he heard Scarlett mumble something, but couldn't discern what it was. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Leo led her through the door directly to their right. Pushing through it, the frigid air instantly beat against Leo's cheeks. Luckily, Leo saw his carriage on the other side of the manicured hedges that lined the street and quickly steered them toward it.