“A pretty name for a beautiful woman.” The way he said the words told her that he wasn’t interested in her proposal. And—if logic were the only consideration—he would need to know that she was a bastard before marrying her. A wedding would make her instantly legitimate, but it would damage his reputation.
“I don’t need flattery,” she began, but it was too late.
They were interrupted by newcomers who bellowed, “Lord Ares! By Jove you do look like a God!”
His head shot up and a banal smile crossed his features before he spoke. “I certainly do compared to your sad offering.”
The gentleman and his lady were both dressed in a simple domino and a mask that they each carried in their hands rather than on their faces. The pair laughed at the greeting, and the conversation continued. The gentleman turned to evaluate the horseflesh that was part of the equine show. The lady gasped at the rider’s antics on the animal’s back. It was all very civilized while Lilah stood by and wanted to tear their hearts out for interrupting.
But in the end, it didn’t matter. She knew the truth even if he hadn’t had a chance to speak it. Lord Ares would not be her husband. She had failed to attract even the slightest bit of interest from him.
And then he did something unexpected.
Chapter Two
Of all theextraordinary things! Never had he met a female who approached the business of marriage so logically. Certainly, the daughters of the most elite knew that marriage was a business transaction, but even they wanted the trappings of courtship and romance. Obviously, this woman was not from thehaut ton. If this green fairy of a woman were of those exalted ranks, her father and her brother would be here defending the asset that was her hand in marriage.
Clearly, she had none of those. First off, he would know her if she did. And second, she would not have been allowed to wander alone during a masquerade. Vauxhall had too many dark corners, too many chances for something to go amiss, like the attack of those drunken dandies.
Who was she? And why did she have to go to such extraordinary measures to find a husband? He combed his memory for a woman named Lilah and found none.
The equestrian demonstration went on as the onlookers cheered. Their little group had grown to seven, and the mysterious Green Fairy as he called her was now chatting with a young Mr. Hallstead. A decent option for a lady without protectors. He was a second son with an acceptable inheritance, assuming his dabbling with gambling didn’t become an obsession. But the more the lady charmed the gentleman, the more Aaron disliked the liaison. Mr. Hallstead had no ambition, which was a disastrous failing in a man without a title.
As the demonstration ended, Aaron moved through the crowd to return to the lady’s side. He ducked past Lord Dankworth, who wanted to talk about the Corn Laws again, and arrived just as Mr. Hallstead asked her if she wanted to dance. There was one set left before the fireworks and the midnight unmasking. If he allowed her to say yes to Mr. Hallstead, he’d never find out her true identity. She’d be lost amid the hubbub of the evening’s finale.
So he did something entirely unusual to his nature. He lied.
“I’m so sorry, but I’m afraid the Green Fairy has promised the next set to me.”
She looked up at him, surprise on her face. She really was extraordinarily pretty with the moonlight highlighting the perfection of her skin. Then she recovered enough for her cheeks to pink.
“You give me hope, my lord. I feared you’d forgotten me.”
“Never that,” he returned, though inside his heart sank. She was a mystery, to be sure, wrapped in a beautiful package. But he was the son of an earl. Just because she intrigued him didn’t mean he would marry her. And yet that was clearly her hope, and he was a cad for encouraging her misperception.
And yet he could not stop himself. She intrigued him.
He extended his arm to her, and she took it with a light touch and a beautiful smile. Then they began to walk. It would take a bit to reach the pavilion, and they would likely be stopped several times as they went. Everyone would see him with this lady, and her hopes for marriage would soar.
It happened just as he feared. With the equestrian display over, their group swelled to a dozen souls all meandering back to the central pavilion. Several people wandered close to speak with him, and many gave her a curious look. As far as he could tell, all of them wondered at her identity.
She was charming with everyone, smooth as she guided them to discuss their interests without giving away anything of herself. It was impressive. She was adept at being charming without giving offense. He had to find out her secret. There had to be some reason she was not yet wed, and he was determined to discover it.
He managed to have a private moment just before they arrived at the pavilion. He used the time to lean in and whisper into her ear.
“You must tell me,” he said.
“What?”
“The secret. The reason you are not yet wed.”
She stiffened at his words and he knew he was on the right track.
“I’ll find it out soon enough by asking Sayres. I assume he’s the one who invited you. He knows all the best women.” Lord Sayres was one of the three hosts of the masquerade and one of his closest friends. Indeed, he was rather dismayed that the man hadn’t told him about her beforehand.
“It’s not a secret…” she began, but then her voice trailed away as she turned her gaze to the dancers. “Do you really wish to dance with me?”
There was such yearning in her voice that he was startled. “I have said so, haven’t I?”