by Dawn Brower
“You’re very adept at misdirection,” he said. He sounded almost contemplative as he spoke. “You intrigue me.”
Teddy didn’t like the sound of that. Intrigued meant he would not give in easily. She had to find a way to discourage his attentions. Teddy was not in the market for a husband—even one as gorgeous and eligible as Viscount Carrolton. Though she doubted the rogue before her was about to propose marriage. It would be more likely for him to steal a kiss, or something more scandalous. She didn’t want to be a conquest any more than she did a wife. “I don’t mean to be fascinating, my lord. I’m sure your interest will wane in time.”
“It won’t,” he said with assurance. “Tell me something.”
“I make no promises,” she replied. “They’re too easy to break, but I’ll say this much: I’ll give your question consideration; however I may not answer.”
He chuckled softly. “I do adore your candor. What I’d like to know is why Lady Evelyn Andrews seems shocked I wanted to dance with you. Why is she acting as if you’re an outcast?”
“I am not certain I’ve made the acquaintance of that particular lady. The truth is I don’t pay much attention to societal norms and don’t care what any of them think of me.” His question had taken her by surprise, but only momentarily. She didn’t much care for any ladies of the ton or what they might think of her. “I’m here for my sister. I promised her I’d attend one season. After that, I plan on retiring to the country and living my life as I please.”
He quirked a brow. “You don’t wish to marry well and live a life of luxury at you husband’s expense?”
She laughed. A loud throaty chuckle that she couldn’t contain.
“Why do you find that hilarious?” he asked. He had a perplexed expression on his face. He must not be accustomed to ladies being contrary with him. Good. She hated doing what was expected. It was much better to keep people guessing. They were more likely to tread lightly or else be caught unawares, and in her experience, they also were more likely to leave her in peace.
“Not all women want to be trapped inside a marriage where a man has complete control over their life. I’d rather not be tortured in such a manner.”
He truly seemed puzzled by her answer. Most people she explained her belief to were, so it didn’t surprise her. “You have an interesting view of marriage. I’ve heard there are benefits to it.”
“For the men, perhaps.” She snorted. “My sister seems to be happy with her choice of husband. Marriage works for some, but I do believe that is the exception. Most marriages are ones of convenience, not love. My sister loves her husband and he adores her in return. I’ve not witnessed anything like it before. I don’t expect I’d be as lucky as her.”
“You don’t believe you are loveable?” His grip tightened a little at her waist and he missed a step. He corrected it immediately, but it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Teddy. Her assessment of her belief of love must have surprised him.
She tilted her head to the side. “I didn’t say that.” What was he trying to suggest?
“You implied it.” He twirled her around the floor again and then stopped at the edge of the dance floor as the last strands of music came to an end. “I think you’re giving up too soon. I admit I haven’t witnessed too many love-filled marriages, but I do know they exist.”
“I know they do as well. They’re too rare for me to risk entering into a marriage of my own. I cannot chance trapping myself and regretting it later.”
They walked along the edge of the dance floor. Something caught her attention and she turned toward it, then froze momentarily. It was him. The man who had attacked her. It was a face that she’d never forget and often found its way into her nightmares. She hadn’t crossed paths with him since that night, but then again, she rarely went out in society before this season. Of course her luck would have to run out…
She had to run. If he saw her… Teddy shook as she stared at him and prayed he didn’t glance her way. When he did what she feared most, she thought she’d collapse with the fear coursing through her. She reached for Viscount Carrolton and grasped his hand in hers and squeezed it tight. “Don’t leave me,” she whispered.
Ezra glanced across the room and frowned. What was she so afraid of? He couldn’t see anyone or anything that could have garnered such a reaction. He said the only thing he could. “I didn’t plan on going anywhere.” Her face had gone white and now had quite the crestfallen look to it. He removed his hand from hers and tucked her arm in the crook of his and led her to the balcony. Perhaps some fresh air would calm her. “Come along with me. We should keep moving so we don’t block access to the dance floor.
She didn’t say a word, but allowed him to lead her away. He reached the balcony door and opened it.
“Carrolton,” a man shouted.
He turned and frowned. It was the last man he wanted to see—his uncle, Thomas Sanderson, Baron of Eaton, his mother’s older brother. “Hello Lord Eaton,” he said dryly. “What do you need?” He didn’t mince words. Ezra needed the conversation over so he could take Lady Theodora outside. She’d moved even closer to him at his uncle’s appearance.
“Your mother has requested to come to town. She’d like to stay at Carrolton house,” Eaton said. “I was going to send you a missive, but this is more expedient.”
“I never barred her from Carrolton House. She chose to stay away and left Amelia’s launch to my care. If she’d like to escort my sister to these events, it would be much appreciated.”
“I don’t believe she wishes to take on that task,” Eaton said. “She’s all right with the arrangements you’ve made with Lady Sheridan.”
Of course his mother wouldn’t want anything to do with her daughter. She was the worst mother. If his father were still alive, he’d make her chaperone Amelia. Ezra would rather not talk to his mother at all. “Then I see no reason for her to return to town. She can stay where she is. If she changes her mind and wants to do her duty, then she can stay at Carrolton House.”
“I’ll inform her.” Lord Eaton turned his attention to Lady Theodora. He leered at her as if he knew something about her that Ezra didn’t. He didn’t like it one bit. “Who is this lovely lady?”
Lady Theodora seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. Ezra hated seeing her like this. She was brash and outspoken with him, but with his uncle…she appeared scared. “No one of consequence,” he answered. If she didn’t like his uncle, she must have her reasons. “If you’ll pardon us, the lady was in need of fresh air. It is stifling in here.” Ezra nodded at his uncle and then led Lady Theodora outside.
Once they were outside, they walked to the balcony ledge. Her face had lost its pink hue and had gone white. “Are you going to explain what happened in there?”
She took deep breath then said, “I’d rather not.”
“Are you acquainted with Lord Eaton?”
Maybe if he asked enough questions she might actually answer some of them. The more information he gathered about her, the more he wanted to know. When he’d arrived at the ball, he was irritated. He hated balls. Now he was glad he'd had to escort Amelia and her chaperone there. He should introduce his sister to Lady Theodora.
She didn’t meet his gaze as she started to speak, “He was a friend of my father’s.”
Ezra frowned. His uncle kept company with some unsavory individuals. Who was her father? “I’m sorry to hear that.”
She turned to him and asked, “Are you really not going to allow your mother to come to town? You would leave her at the mercy of that man?”
That was an interesting reaction. “Yes,” he said simply. “My mother made her choice, and now she has to live with it.”
“You don’t like her?” she asked. “Why would you condemn her so?”
Ezra didn’t want to discuss something so distasteful as his mother and her decision to abandon her children. He used to hate her, but now he chose to not waste any emotions on his mother. “I feel nothing for the dowager viscountess. I do
n’t wish to discuss her with you. She is fine where she is…trust me, she wants for nothing and is not mistreated.”
“All right, I will not ask again,” she said quietly. Her eyes were downcast and he felt like a complete arse. What was bothering her?
“I understand your misgivings,” he told her. “Lord Eaton is not a good man. But he does love my mother and wouldn’t harm her. I promise you that. If he did, she’d have begged me to help her long ago. My mother is not afraid of making her wishes known. She believes I’m more likely to give in to her demands if it comes through an intermediary.”
“I believe you.” She looked up at the sky. “Perhaps Lord Eaton does care for her. Stranger things have happened. I would rather not associate with him.”
“You’re not the only one who feels that way,” he replied. “I have never cared for him.”
He looked up at the sky too. “It is a little magical don’t you think?” He pointed at the blackness dusted with bright stars.
“Breathtaking,” she answered, then turned to him. “Will you do something for me?”
“Anything,” he answered honestly. Ezra didn’t know what it was about her, but he was enchanted with her. He would promise her the world if she asked him for it.
“Will you kiss me?”
That was not what he imagined her to say, and if he were honest, he hadn’t known what to expect; however, he was more than happy to oblige with this particular request. Unfortunately, he couldn’t…
Chapter 4
Teddy had enjoyed the ball the previous night more than she’d anticipated. That didn’t mean it’d been perfect or that she had any desire to attend another one. Partly because she'd never wanted to attend the function held the last evening, and also she’d been severely disappointed Viscount Carrolton had refused to kiss her.
Oh, his reasons had been sound, but that didn’t negate her discontent. It would have been a risk. She should have realized that herself without him telling her the gamble they’d take. There were several people on the balcony with them, and they couldn’t count on the darkness shrouding them to protect their actions. They would have been easily exposed, and she’d have been instantly ruined. He would be required to offer for her, and then she’d find herself in the exact situation she’d hoped to avoid…marriage.
“What has you all in a dither?” Billie asked.
She sighed. Teddy was in the sitting room awaiting afternoon tea with her sister. She'd had been waiting for Billie to make her inquiries about the ball. It was only surprising she’d waited this long to do so.
“It is nothing,” she replied nonchalantly. She held back a smile…Billie had started her inquisition. Unfortunately for her, Teddy didn’t want to tell her sister any of what was on her mind. She intended to keep her secrets safely hidden from her sister. Billie might get excited and think she had a potential suitor. The viscount was not courting her. She hadn’t lost her mind and begun to believe in that possibility.
“Teddy,” her sister said nonchalantly. “Are you thinking about Viscount Carrolton?”
She lifted her head and met Billie’s gaze. How could she have possibly discerned the thoughts in her head? “Of course not. Why would I be?”
Her sister smiled at her. A devious tilt curved around her mouth. Teddy recognized it. Whenever Billie had some scheme in mind, that was the exact smile she gave before imparting the details of said plot. “It was lovely of him to dance with you. I hadn’t thought he recalled meeting you.”
“I don’t believe he did,” Teddy said without considering her words. Drat. She'd hoped she wouldn’t have to explain how she’d come to be in the viscount’s company.
“Then why would he have asked?” Billie tilted her head to the side. “He’s not the sort that bothers to dance at a ball. Zachary told me he isn’t fond of society.”
“I cannot say with any certainty,” she began. “But I think it was to avoid dancing with Lady Evelyn Andrews. I was conveniently nearby when she cornered him. Perhaps he believed I was the lesser of the two evils.” That sounded like a reasonable enough explanation and it was partly true. At least to her knowledge anyway. She wasn’t at all certain how she felt about it either. Teddy had never discovered his true intentions where she was concerned. She believed it might have been a game of some sort for him. The viscount considered her a challenge.
“That rings true,” Billie agreed. “Still, it didn’t go unnoticed that not only are you the only lady he danced with, but he spent some considerable time in your company. Many will believe he intends to court you. I wonder if he realizes how his actions will be perceived.”
He spent a lot more time with her than anyone in the ton realized. She also doubted that Viscount Carrolton had deduced how the members of the gentry perceived the time he spent with her. She certainly hadn’t taken any note of it. Billie had though. Drat. “They’ll stop discussing me and Viscount Carrolton when someone else catches their attention. The ton is fickle. They’re always looking for something or someone else to gossip about.”
“They’ve certainly had a fine time discussing both my rushed marriages,” Billie agreed. “Luckily, I’m a duchess and they don’t give me the cut direct. They want to be invited to all the functions the duchy holds. I’m inclined to ignore them and they keep their mouths closed when I’m around. It’s not a perfect solution, but it works.”
Teddy wrinkled her nose. “This is why I don’t want anything to do with society. They’re so judgmental. I hate them sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?” She lifted a brow.
“All right, most of the time. I don’t need that kind of pressure in my life. I’d rather live in the country and avoid people. They’re too much effort, and I’m not disposed enough to give them any leeway.”
Billie chuckled softly. “That is why, sister dear, you end up being a wallflower at any society function. You should at least attempt to socialize. You might find someone you actually like if you do.”
“I’d rather not. The wall is company enough for me.” It might be better if Viscount Carrolton were there beside her, but she’d make do with being alone. She enjoyed her own company better than anyone she’d met thus far in the ton.
“You’re so difficult,” Billie complained. She scrunched up her nose in displeasure. “I tried to tell Zachary you would be this way, but he asserted we should try. I let him convince me it was worth it. I’ll have to make sure to tell him how wrong he was in insisting on a season for you.”
“Men often believe they know more than women. His assertion doesn’t particularly surprise me. You’re acquiesce doesn’t either. You love him and want to trust in his decisions.” Teddy took a breath. “Neither one of you are entirely wrong. I don’t want a season, and because of that, I sabotage your efforts on my behalf. It might not be so terrible if I tried. The dilemma is I don’t want to and probably won’t.”
Billie shook her head. “I cannot make you, but we’re going to see this through to the end.”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I’m resigned to suffer through it.”
At that moment a maid pushed a teacart into the room. It held a plate of scones, a bowl of jelly, and another with butter. The tea should help keep Billie silent, for a little while anyway. Teddy needed the reprieve, however brief it would be…
Ezra stared at the accounting ledgers on his desk. The numbers were swimming across the page. He’d been working on them all morning, and it was now midafternoon. He should set them aside and leave them be until another time. There wasn’t much chance he’d make any further progress. Not when he couldn’t focus on what he was reading. He sighed and closed the book, then rubbed his hands over his face. He was so bloody tired.
“You look as if you could use a drink,” a man said.
He glanced up and grinned. “Fox…to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” The Marquess of Foxworth was one of his closest friends.
“I heard a little rumor and had to drop in and ask whether it was t
rue.” He strolled into the room and headed directly to the decanter of brandy that Ezra kept on a nearby shelf. Foxworth lifted the decanter and asked, “Would you like me to pour you a glass as well?”
Ezra thought about it for a brief moment then nodded his head. A drink would do him good. He needed the break, and before Fox had walked into his study he’d been considering leaving work behind. “What rumor did you stumble across?”
“That not only were you present at a ball, but you actually danced,” Fox told him. He crossed over to him and handed him his glass of brandy. “Please tell me you’re not on a path similar to the one Graystone took.”
Ezra frowned. “I’m not in the market for a wife if that is what you’re asking.”
“Neither was the duke,” Fox added. “But he is shamelessly in love with his duchess. It’s disgusting.”
“He did appear quite happy with himself.” Ezra frowned. “He was gloating when I spoke to him. You’re right—it was disturbing.”
“All right, I’m satisfied you’re not searching for your viscountess.” Fox took a sip of his brandy and plopped down in a nearby chair. “I’m assuming you attended the ball for your sister.”
“You would assume correctly,” Ezra agreed. He tapped his finger on his desk and then took a deep breath before adding, “And I did dance.”
His mouth fell open and shocked filled his eyes. Fox was completely appalled. “Good God, man, are you trying to bait the marriage-minded misses and their mamas?” He shook his head displeased. “Before you know it, every eligible lady will be cornering you at these society functions trying to entice you with their wares.”
Ezra burst out laughing. “I have my doubts that they’ll be attempting to seduce me in front of the entire ton.”
“Who says they are going to do it in sight of anyone? There are plenty of dark pathways you can escape to. I’ve discovered quite a few areas for some pleasant interludes when I’ve deigned to attend a ball. You have to be aware of all the possibilities before you find yourself in a trap you’re unable to escape from.”