You appeared concerned with my plan for this evening, but I must determine if Lord Ockham and I might suit. And a moonlit terrace can be quite illuminating, don’t you think? I do hope you’ll help ensure we have a moment alone. And understand why this is what is practical given my intentions for the season.
Your devoted friend,
Diana
Marina crumpled the note, then thought better of it and smoothed it out. Evidence of Diana’s foolishness might be needed later.
Her friend had no idea what she was walking into. If she gave him the chance, Evan would charm her, make her believe she was special, then discard her the moment something more important arose. Just as he’d done to Marina.
She climbed the stairs to her chamber, Diana’s letter clutched in her hand. Her father wanted her to dance with Minto. Diana wanted her to help secure time alone with Evan. Evan wanted her to stay away fromhisfriends. Everyone wanted something from her. And they had all gone completely mad.
Well, they could all go hang. That was a bit too hard for Diana, shesupposed. But her friend was certainly still in need of good sense.
Tonight, she would have to see him again. Watch him deploy that devastating charm on Diana or some other innocent lady. That viper, Lady Theodosia, would throw herself at him the moment she saw him. Evan deserved a life with someone as miserable as the vicious gossip.
But even if it would be miserable, she didn’t want to imagine him with anyone else. Not that she could ever say those words out loud.
Marina had never told her friends about her time with Evan prior to last season, and she hoped they would never find out. Not that she didn’t trust them. They would take her secret to their grave in order to ensure her reputation remained intact. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to tell them how the man had jilted her. Well, not exactly jilted, but that was beside the point.
As Marina entered her chamber, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her gown for the evening hung on her wardrobe door, taunting her. She would wear it because she had no choice. She would dance with Minto because refusing would make things worse. She would watch Diana attempt to build herpractical matchwith Evan.
But she didn’t have to like any of it.
And if Evan thought he could ruin another innocent while she stood by and watched, he was about to learn that Marina Osborne was nobody’s temporary anything.
Not anymore.
Chapter Three
Evan
Evan searched thecrowd for Marina and her friends once he arrived at the opening ball of the season. This ball would work in his favor, since Marina must let him sign her dance card as long as she had a space for him. It was the polite thing to do, and she wouldn’t dare decline him in front of their group of friends.
He just had to ensure he found her before her dance card was full. It was the only way he could get her attention so he could warn her about Jude. She wouldn’t give him the time of day otherwise. The man was a rake, and she couldn’t let herself get caught up in his charms. It was Evan’s duty to ensure that she was aware when she was at risk. It was the least he could do after the way things ended between them. It wasn’t because he wanted to be near her or feel her touch. He wanted nothing to do with her.
In truth, he also needed to secure a dance with Diana. He learned from her brother how she was skilled in estate matters. He could only admit to himself how his pride wouldn’t allow him to ask a gentleman of his acquaintance for advice, but she might share some of her knowledge and ideas with him, and maintain discretion. Diana was a kind, caring woman, and he had every reason to believe she would help him.
He had done what was necessary to ensure they could sustain their income, but he needed to grow his fortune. He had some ideas, but ifshe had knowledge she could share to help him, he could ensure their coffers overflowed for years to come.
Spotting the group of friends, he navigated the crowd and appeared in front of Marina and the other ladies. “Might you ladies have room on your dance cards for me?”
Her friends, Tabitha and Hannah, held their wrists out for him to sign his name. Marina huffed but held hers out to him, too.
He brushed his fingers along her wrist while he wrote his name next to a waltz, smiling to himself at his victory. Winking at her, only because he knew it would drive her mad, he then relinquished her wrist. Her nostrils flared, and he knew he had won that round. She should be equally vexed by him as he was by her.
Still needing to procure a dance with Diana, he sought her out next. With ease, he ensured he would partner with her. Pleased with himself, he took off to find a drink before he would need to collect his first dancing partner. He had no intention of signing any other dance cards for the evening.
“There you are, my lord.”
Evan cringed and scowled, recognizing the voice behind him. By the time he turned around, he wore a tight polite smile. “Good evening, Lady Theodosia.”
She held out her hand to him, and he took it and bowed over it. He did his best to avoid her at all costs.
“I am so glad you have joined for the season. I was just telling Rebecca that I don’t think there is a better match than the one you and I would make. And I saved a waltz just for you, my lord.” She offered him a sweet smile, which he saw right through. She held up her dance card to him as if she had just won. And perhaps some gentleman might find her pretty if they could get past her horrid personality and hateful spirit. That gentleman would never be him.
Even though she was way too forward, he didn’t wish to make a scene and refuse her. He signed his name next to a country dance, thefirst dance of the ball. Better to just be polite and suffer through a dance with her. But certainly not a waltz. “I’m afraid I’m already promised for that dance, but I signed my name to your first dance.”
She smiled at him, and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. The first notes of music filled the ballroom as he offered his arm to lead her onto the dance floor. As they danced, each minute felt like an eternity, making it the longest several minutes of his life. The only saving grace was the lively nature of the dance, so he didn’t have to pretend to enjoy extended conversation with the chit. Once the dance ended, he deposited her with her friend and made his escape as fast as he could.