Had she chosen a husband? What would I do about it if she had?
“Don’t be daft,” Aveen hissed.
Even if I were next to her, there’d be no way of knowing for sure if she was lying since she hadn’t given a proper answer.
Aveen’s sister searched the crowd. When her gaze landed on me, she gave me a dazzling smile. “That’s it, isn’t it?Could it be a mysterious man with dark hair and blue eyes so deep you could drown in them?”
When Aveen turned, I winked at her.
She couldn’t hide her ferocious blush as she caught her sister’s hand, dragging her closer and turning around as if that would keep me from overhearing their conversation.
“I amnotmarrying Ambassador Flirt.”
“Why not? Did you see his arse in those fitted breeches?”
“Keelynn!”
This night had turned out to be entertaining after all.
“Which of our fine Airren women has caught your attention?” a grating voice asked from over my shoulder.
Robert.
As much as I didn’t want to chat with him, I turned and said, “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
His smile tightened. “Let us speak plainly. Which one of the Bannons are you after?”
All I did was smile.
“Dammit, man. Tell me. Is it Lady Aveen or Lady Keelynn?”
All I did was sip my wine.
“They’re off limits.”
“Why? Do you plan on marrying them both?”
He cursed and stomped away to ask the youngest sister to dance. After some protest, she agreed, leaving Aveen all alone.Not alone. At least four men started for the dance floor, beady eyes trained on my soulmate.
Not today, lads. I ran to her, catching her hand and pulling her close.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked in a breathless whisper.
It should have been plainly obvious by the way I held her and the fact that we were on the dance floor. “Ambassador Flirt and his fitted breeches are dancing with you.”
* * *
I could’ve danced with Aveen all night. A foolish desire I had to squash. I wasn’t here to flirt with her. There were other, more important matters to attend to. I sought out Lady Eithne, finding her eyes already fixed on me. She slowly rolled the rim of her glass against her lips, likely trying to be seductive.
Edward DeWarn didn’t know how awful she was, so it made sense that he would respond to the question in her eyes. I swallowed the bile rising in the back of my throat as I approached. It helped knowing this would be the last time I’d ever have to speak to the vile woman.
“Lady Eithne, isn’t it?” I said.
She dipped into a low curtsey. “Lovely to make your acquaintance, Ambassador.”
“You know who I am?” I feigned shock.She’d been checking up on me.Good. That should make the next part of this plan easier. Me reeking of women’s perfume certainly helped. And all the drinking I’d done should make her believe I could be easily swayed.
“I may have inquired after you,” she said, looking up at me through half-lidded eyes.