“What about you? Are you telling me theton’s most notorious rake is secretly wishing for love? The scandal sheets would love that tidbit of information.”
Jude shook from the resulting laughter. “Don’t be ridiculous. That is the furthest thing from my mind. I will visit one of my mistresses tonight and then sleep alone in my bed, satisfied and content.”
Evan wasn’t certain Jude believed his own words. Perhaps Jude was the one who held the need to encourage his words to become truth.
“A lady in your company has not tempted you?” Evan asked. “You seem to hang around the same group of young ladies at all the events.”
Perhaps Evan could at least confirm if Jude had any intentions with Marina. She said he didn’t, but she wasn’t wise to the ways of gentlemen. Other than what Evan had exposed her to, which heattempted to push out of his mind. He had an obligation to ensure she wasn’t taken in by a rake if he could prevent it.
“Not in the slightest,” Jude said. “They are beautiful, intelligent ladies, to be certain, but I don’t intend to wed. Ever. And when a gentleman is set against marriage, he mustn’t dally with innocents.”
Evan laughed. “So, the rake has a code?”
“Absolutely. And it hasn’t failed me yet.”
From the man’s tone, Evan was inclined to believe him. Despite his reputation, Jude was even more an upstanding gentleman than he’d realized. Unlike himself, who had thoroughly enjoyed giving pleasure to an innocent and allowed her to do the same for him.
He should have married her and damned his pride. He was the cad with no honor, while the rake across from him maintained his gentlemanly principles. Evan downed the rest of his drink.
They sat in silence for a few moments before Jude spoke again. “If your lady is half as bothered as you, I think things will work out for you.”
“Doubt it,” Evan muttered.
“What was that?” Jude smirked.
“I told you. There isn’t a lady.”
It seemed in Evan’s case, the more he spoke the words, the worse the torture became.
*
A couple ofdays later, Evan entered the ballroom of the Trowbridge townhouse, unable to stop himself from searching the room to look for Marina. He spotted Jude and knew the rest of the group would be nearby.
Even though it irritated him that Jude recognized that a woman had vexed him, he enjoyed the conversation with him. They remained at White’s for a few hours, chatting about their school days and theirestates over a few more snifters of brandy.
Evan was in a fine mood that evening. Excellent, in fact. It was a vast improvement compared to his usual mood. His mother had even commented on it and didn’t flee from his presence.
Making his way through the crowd, he observed Marina standing with her friends and approached as if he hadn’t a care in the world. Marina, Tabitha, and Hannah all let him sign their dance cards, then he left for the card room with Jude. He had no desire to dance with any of the other ladies present and remaining in the ballroom only put him at risk of being subjected to Lady Theodosia and her relentless pursuit.
He won a game of Piquet, which earned him a bit of blunt. Jude chatted about some of his estate business, and Evan asked a few questions. It couldn’t hurt to get a few more ideas to incorporate in his plans.
Overall, not a terrible evening thus far, and he was about to enjoy a waltz with Marina. Enjoy might be too strong of a word. It would vex him to no end, but he’d get satisfaction in knowing he left her just as vexed, if not more so.
Even when she verbally sparred with him, it was still among the most thrilling entertainment he had to enjoy as of late. What did that say about the state of his life? Finishing his drink, he removed himself from the table to seek Marina for their dance.
When he returned to the ballroom, he didn’t see her anywhere. He glanced at where her friends were chatting, and she wasn’t among the set. The strains of the waltz started, and soon the dance began. That vixen stood him up for their dance.
He wondered if she was watching him from behind a plant somewhere, laughing at him. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Starting back toward the card room, a footman stopped him.
“A young lady asked me to give this to you, my lord.” The man handed him a small, folded missive.
“Thank you.” He moved to the side of the room and unfolded the parchment.
Come to the first room on the right in the main corridor. Hurry!
Evan’s curiosity piqued as he wondered what Marina wanted to discuss with him privately instead of joining him for their dance. She was talented at stepping on his toes or sparring with him where only he could hear. What was she up to?
He did as she asked and found the room that the note indicated. He looked around and noted no one in the corridor, before approaching.