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He swept off into the crowd without a backward glance.

I need to sit down.And I need a drink.

CHAPTER7

Cassian’s heart thudded so hard that he could feel it through his whole body. His chest was tight, his gut swirling, and frankly, he could not remember the last time he’d been so aroused.

What was it about the wretched girl? She was beautiful, to be sure—he privately thought she was more beautiful than both of her sisters, although she would not be pleased if he said it—and there was something truly intriguing about her. The spectacles suited her, too.

Of course, Cassian had been with women before. What gentleman hadn’t? It was an infamous double standard in their part of the world, where men were permitted to quietly conduct affairs andtendres,whereas women were not permitted to even blink too flirtatiously at men lest they be ruined.

He snatched up a glass of champagne and drained it in one gulp, hoping to distract himself. He could still see the wide-eyed look on her face, lips parted and glistening, staring up at him with something akin to awe.

Not that shewasawed by him, of course, but… well, he was aware that he looked rather impressive in his costume. He swallowed, remembering how intensely he had wanted to curl his fingers around that pointed chin of hers and run the pad of his thumb over her full, moist lower lip.

He shuddered.

You had better calm down, you fool. If you’re caught sporting a stand at a perfectly respectable ball, there’ll be hell to pay. It’s not as if this tunic is going to hide anything.

“Ah, Cassian! There you are.”

The voice of his cousin had the desired effect. Snatching up a second glass of champagne, Cassian turned to face him.

Richard scurried across the room towards him. He was wearing a plain black suit and a black domino mask.

Cassian eyed him narrowly. “You callthata costume?”

Richard blushed. “Bold words from a man wearing a tablecloth.”

“It’s not a tablecloth.”

“Well, it looks like one. You’re causing quite a scandal, you know. You’re practically bare-chested. Why didn’t you just wrap the sheet around your waist and have done with it?”

Cassian pursed his lips, glancing down. “Well, I was going to, but my valet restrained me. I think I look rather dashing. I’m Ares, you see.”

Richard snorted. “Of courseyou are.”

Cassian tossed back his champagne. “Did you see Miss Belmont? She’s Aphrodite.”

Richard wrinkled his nose, looking faintly confused. “MissEmilyBelmont? That’s a surprise. I wouldn’t have chosenherto be Aphrodite. If anyone was Aphrodite, I would have picked…” he wisely trailed off at Cassian’s cold stare. “I’m sure she looks quite magnificent,” he mumbled.

“She does. I’m giving her a moment to settle in, then I’ll go back to claim her. There’s really no time to waste. The sooner the marriage can go ahead, the better.”

Richard didn’t look particularly happy, shifting from foot to foot. “I’m just worried, Cass.”

“What about?”

“What if she leads you on a merry dance? There are other women. If a marriage is what you’re looking for, since you aren’t set on a lady with a dowry, then we can?—”

“I have decided to marry Emily Belmont,” Cassian interrupted decisively, fixing him with a steely look. “A few more days won’t kill me.”

Or cost me my inheritance. The whole business was always going to be rather tight, timing-wise. My dear, deceased papa couldn’t have planned it better if he’d tried.

Suitably invigorated by the champagne, Cassian began looking around for Miss Belmont again. He had plans for tonight. He would woo her if he had to. He’d always been told he was charming, and he planned to exercise his powers if necessary.

Richard, however, was still standing there.

A flicker of worry tickled the back of Cassian’s mind, and he raised an eyebrow. “Well?”