Page 46

He spun on his heel and frantically searched the remaining guests for Davies.

“He’s already gone.”

Juliana’s soft voice brought him back to earth, and he turned back to her.

“He left with Middlebury right after Drake’s announcement.”

Torn, Victor wanted to race after Davies, find him, and beat him to a pulp. But he also needed to mend things with Juliana. And given that she planned to break their engagement in a few hours, Victor knew his priorities.

“I’ll deal with him later. You’re more important. Please allow me to explain.”

Her lips, which he so wanted to kiss, pressed together in a razor-thin line. “If you want to tell me the kiss was innocent, I believe you.”

“You do?” He wanted to shout Huzzah from the rooftops. “That’s wonderful. Then you’ll still marry me?”

“No.”

How could one simple word destroy him? What was it about balls and women rejecting him? If he never had to attend another ball in his life, it would be too soon.

“I don’t understand. If you believe me, then why won’t you marry me?” A shock of realization hit him hard, the force of which, if physical, would have knocked him over. She didn’t love him. Was that it?

Bracing himself, he waited for her answer, prepared to tell her to give him time. That they would grow to love each other. That he was on his way already.

Her gaze darted to the side, and her formerly pinched lips parted.

Why wouldn’t she answer?

“My refusal has nothing to do with what did or didn’t happen between you and Adalyn,” she finally said.

Her answer did nothing to clear his confusion. “Then what?”

“It’s about you and me, Victor. I want a marriage based on mutual love. Unfashionable though it may be. Perhaps everyone is right, and my commoner blood has distorted my thinking. But marrying because of scandal or to further one’s fortune or status is something I don’t understand.”

Victor swallowed her words like a bitter pill. “But that’s what I want as well.”

Her tremulous smile nearly broke his heart. “I know. And that’s why I release you with a free heart to find someone to love as much as they love you.” She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, the action reminding him of what had precipitated the whole fiasco. “Goodbye, Victor.”

Numb, Victor watched her leave, his gaze locked on her until the blue of her gown disappeared at the doorway.

His chest felt hollow, as if she’d scooped out his insides and taken them with her.

Adalyn’s rejection of him, although devastating at the time, couldn’t compare to the despair gripping him at that moment —the word Goodbye landing with a thud in the void where his heart used to be.

The orchestra had finished putting away their instruments and, one-by-one, quietly filed out.

Alone in the empty ballroom, Victor told himself he should go. But he couldn’t. Leaving would mean it was over. Finished. That he had given up. The thought unbearable.

Nash appeared at the entrance, his dark eyes boring into Victor. Even if Victor hadn’t been the only person in the room, he had a feeling Nash had purposely sought him out.

The churl strode toward him, his long legs eating up the length of the ballroom in a trice.

“Here to shoot me or escort me out?” In no mood to waste time, Victor snapped the question. Odd, but he would prefer the former to the latter.

Nash’s dark chuckle did nothing to alleviate Victor’s nerves. “Neither. I passed Juliana on the staircase. Since she was in tears, I thought you could use this.” Nash handed him a flask.

Victor snatched it and gulped down the liquor. Whisky—an excellent quality, Victor hated to admit—seared his throat and dulled the razor edge of his thoughts.

“Slow down. If you plan to win her back, it won’t do to get yourself foxed.” Nash pulled the flask from Victor’s fingers.

“Give it back.” Victor reached for it, but Nash held it above his head.

“First we talk, then you drink.”

Victor eyed him suspiciously. “Why?”

“Do you want my help or not?”

Victor continued to glare at him. Why couldn’t the man just leave him to his misery? “You? Help? How?”

“First, tell me. Do you love her?”

“Adalyn? No, I swear.”

Nash rolled his dark eyes. “No, you dolt. Juliana.”

“I...” The feelings he’d been struggling with came into focus.

Different from what he’d felt for Adalyn, the affection he held for Juliana was less self-serving and more the desire to give.

To want her happiness. He supposed that’s why her words had hit him so hard.

How could he ask her to commit to a marriage to a man she didn’t love?

She would be miserable. Even if he—Lord, he did love her.

“Yes.”

“Are you sure? Because you don’t sound sure.”

God, how he hated Nash.

“I do. I do love her.” Victor hung his head. “But she doesn’t love me.”

“Christ, you really are a dolt. Of course she loves you, man. Are you blind as well as stupid?”

Head still down, Victor swung it side-to-side. “No. She practically said as much.”

“What exactly did she say, you fool? The exact words. Try to remember.”

He didn’t want to remember. They hurt too much. But if it meant getting rid of Nash. Well. “She said...she wanted a marriage based on mutual love. Wanted me to find someone to love as much as they loved me.”

“Blind, deaf, and dumb.” Nash tsked. “Love is wasted on young fools.”

His head felt like it weighed ten stone, but he lifted it to meet Nash’s taunt. “Just challenge me and get it over with. I won’t fight back.”

“Let me put this to you as clearly as I can. Are you listening?”

Victor wanted to spit in his eye.

“If Juliana said she wanted you to love someone as much as they loved you, that was her way of telling you she loves you but thinks you don’t love her. Have you ever told her you loved her?”

“Well, no. Not in so many words.” Especially considering he’d just realized it himself. Lord, he was a dolt.

One dark eyebrow hitched, Nash’s look spoke volumes.

“Very well. No. Not in any words. I was going to tell her of my growing affection tonight before everything went to hell.” Part of what Nash had said finally registered in Victor’s addled mind. “Wait. Did you say Juliana loves me?”

“Ah, thank goodness. I thought I would have to give you a piece of my mind, and I worried that, being in need of it, you wouldn’t give it back.”

“There is no need to insult me. Do you really think she loves me?”

“Anyone with eyes can see it.”

“But she thinks I don’t love her?”

“The boy is catching up. So what are you going to do about it?”

“I need to tell her. Right now!” Victor skirted around Nash, fully intending to find Juliana.

Nash grabbed him by the arms. “Not so fast. You need a plan, something that will sweep her off her feet. You can’t simply go running off half-cocked.” Nash laughed, apparently finding humor in his last words.

Victor folded his arms over his chest. “I’m listening.”

“You need to give her every reason to marry you. Not just tell her you love her. Show her. Do you understand me?”

Victor narrowed his eyes. “You want me to seduce her?”

Nash waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t think of it like that. Think of it as expressing your love.”

“And how do you expect me to do that? Just march upstairs to her bedroom?”

“Of course not. The servants would see you. Make a show about leaving for Frampton or the night porter—whoever is stationed at the front door. Then wait thirty minutes and come around to the back of the house. I’ll be waiting.”

“Why on earth should I trust you?”

“Because I’ve been a lovesick pup myself once.”

And as he left Pendrake Manor, taking his hat and gloves from Frampton and telling him to relay his thanks to the duke and duchess, Victor hoped trusting Nash Talbot wasn’t the biggest mistake of his life.