Chapter Sixteen
Iseabail watched asConnall waltzed Mairi about the room. Their display had been shocking to most, dismaying to her, and yet still unbelievably romantic. How was it that everyone else had all the luck in love while she struggled to find a man who might be slightly acceptable?
“What are you doing?” Sadie asked as she pinched Iseabail’s arm above her glove.
“Ow! What areyoudoing?”
“I’m not staring like a lovelorn waif at the dance floor. Who were you supposed to dance with?”
She sighed, feeling the burn of disappointment in her gut. “Connall.”
“Really? But he never promises waltzes.”
She lifted her dance card where she’d purposely left this waltz blank. “He promised that if no one asked me, he’d dance with me.”
Sadie shook her head. “You’ve been dancing every waltz. You’re a titled lady with a dowry.”
Iseabail nodded. “I held this one open for him.”
“But why?” Sadie pointed at the dance floor. Connall had just spun Mairi around so fast that she laughed out loud. The countess would say they were making a spectacle of themselves, and they certainly were, but it was clear neither cared. Mairi finally showed signs of dropping her foul mood and Connall was grinning like it was Christmas morning. “He can’t see anyone but her.”
“I know,” Iseabail said. Fear rose up higher in her throat for all that she tried to shove it down.
“There are other men you like. You told me so.”
It was true. “Do you think any of them could face my uncle and win?”
She saw the answer on Sadie’s face. None of these pampered Englishmen knew how to fight with anything other than words and most were not very good at that. They set dogs to chase foxes and called themselves hunters. Her uncle’s men would make mincemeat of them.
“Come take a stroll with me,” Sadie said with a smile that indicated mischief. “The countess is playing cards. We can wander outside.”
By “wander outside,” Sadie meant play games with the gentlemen who followed her. After a lifetime under her mother’s vicious thumb, Sadie was taking risks that no proper girl should take. Where Iseabail studied every gentleman for a man who could protect her, Sadie was looking for fun, fun, fun. Just that. Entertainment without thought to the danger.
“You can’t keep kissing men just because they ask,” Iseabail said.
Sadie chuckled. “Some don’t ask.”
“Even worse!”
Rather than answer, her friend hooked arms with her and began walking them both toward the open doors. Tonight’s ball was in Grosvenor Square in a home that boasted a garden off the ballroom. Several couples were already taking the air and Sadie laughed with delight when two gentlemen joined them.
The nearest one bowed to them. “Miss Allen, Honorable Iseabail.” He winked when he used a version of Iseabail’s full title, as if he were the only one who had ever done so. “Fancy meeting you here where we were told to be.”
Iseabail gaped at her friend. “Sadie! Are you insane?”
“We’re just taking a walk!” Sadie said as she held out her arm to the speaker. “Good evening, Mr. Carr. Shall we wander?”
“It would be my pleasure,” the man responded as he grabbed hold of Sadie’s arm. He appeared to know right where he wanted to take her. While Iseabail watched in dismay, the two headed down a path that would take them off the house grounds and into the dark neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the second gentleman was bowing low before her. “Mr. Preston Barrett, at your service.”
Yes, she knew who he was. A second son who fancied himself a poet. He had no discernable skills beyond a very pretty face and a silver tongue. That might work in London, but it did her no good against her uncle. He was known to be in Mr. Carr’s company often as they were neighbors, and Mr. Carr would one day be a baron.
“Good evening, Mr. Barrett. I wonder if we might…” She was about to say go back, but Sadie and her beau were already heading into the shadows. The girl had lost herself in a wild quest to have fun for the first time in her life. But Iseabail knew the folly of thinking oneself too strong to be overpowered. Sadie’s gentleman might be narrow of stature, but he was still tall and might not want to stop after a few kisses. “Damnation,” she cursed. “We need to go after them.”
“Don’t worry, my lady,” Mr. Barrett said. “Eugene won’t hurt her. Just wants a little nip and tickle, if you get my meaning.”
She did. She also knew how a little bit could quickly turn into too much. “Let’s find them,” she said.