“No, please!”
“Damnation!” a loud voice cut through. It was deep and booming, and it did absolutely nothing to distract anyone. Nothing, that is, until one of the men was abruptly hauled back. And then a moment later, the second one went sprawling. Lilah didn’t fully register it. She was busy trying to fight the one who held her. But that quickly ended as a large hand grabbed the back of the man’s neck and squeezed until he yelped. Finally, she wrested herself free, scrambling backwards while her gaze shot to her rescuer.
Lord Ares.
He looked like a gladiator from old, from the tip of his plumed helmet through to his broad shoulders, and the spear butt he used to trip up the two men trying to regain their feet.
“Are you idiots?” he demanded in a harsh voice. “There are willing women throughout London. Find one of them!”
“It were just a bit of fun,” the nearest said.
“And what if her mother had seen? You would have to marry her. Is that what you want?”
“What?”
“Wot?”
“Wat?”
Apparently willingness made no difference to them. Marriage, however, did. Lord Ares harrumphed in true disgust.
“Get out. All three of you. And you can be sure I will remember your names from now on.”
He stood there, his legs spread with his spear planted firmly in the ground. And when the two on the ground were slow to get up, he clapped them with the butt of it.
They protested, each one of them, but he would hear none of it. And soon the three drunks were rushing toward the exit. Which left her there shaking while Lord Ares turned to look at her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his tone gentle.
She stared at him, her tongue unaccountably tied. She managed to nod, though, and soon she was able to straighten her clothing. Nothing serious. One wing was ripped, and the shoulder of her gown had been pulled askew. It was quickly righted, as was her mask which had somehow tilted across her eye. Her hands shook, her heart beat painfully fast, but she was able to set herself to order. If only she could find her tongue.
“Thank you,” she finally managed. When the words came out breathless, she said it again more firmly. “Thank you, my lord. I shouldn’t have wandered away, but I was watching the rope dancer.”
“It’s my fault for allowing those blighters to be invited. They’re idiots, all three of them, but they’ll be in the House of Commons soon and I thought they’d take advantage of this opportunity to learn a few things.”
“At a masquerade party?”
He arched a brow at her. “I invited every one of the members of Parliament. It’s always good to have some social time one and all. Gives a chance for more casual discussions.” He shrugged. “But you can lead an idiot to water—”
“But you can’t make him discuss politics?”
He smiled. “The country is in a deplorable state when a debutante understands the situation better than the men supposedly running it.”
“I make no claims to understanding it. Merely that calling something a party and hoping that young men won’t drink is an odd sort of logic.” Not to mention that she had never been and never would be a debutante. That was reserved for the legitimate daughters of theton.
“I’m ever hopeful that people will rise to the occasion,” he said as he extended his arm. “I am sorry that you became the victim of my optimism. Are you feeling better?”
“I am,” she said, as she set her fingers to his forearm. This close, she could see he wore linen beneath his breastplate, but the sleeves had been torn away such that his arms were bare. Nothing was between her hand and the warmth of his skin, the wiry touch of his hair, and the pulse of the thick muscles there. It was just a man’s arm, but the feel of it made her cheeks warm with delight.
“Shall I return you to your family?”
He should. It was the proper thing to do. But by an unexpected quirk of fate, the most interesting man at the masquerade was by her side. She’d be a fool to let this opportunity slide without trying to make the most of it. “I’d prefer a walk around the garden,” she said. “If you are agreeable?”
He arched his brows. “I see now how you came to be by yourself. Are you prone to wandering?”
“I suppose I am, but I prefer doing it with company.” She was being bold, but how else was she to talk with the man?
“Then shall we see what mischief is brewing beyond the knife thrower? I believe there is an equestrian display.”