Page 19

Moreland

I t wasn’t my first time attending such a ball. Normally, I was alone when I arrived, which had always suited me. But tonight, as the carriage drew to a stop, I was arriving with my mistress, my very beautiful mistress whom I couldn’t touch because she was Rexford’s sister.

When we crossed the threshold into the large assembly room, I heard the whispers.

The fact that I was arriving with a companion was surprising in and of itself. I’d never had a mistress, and everyone knew that I preferred to avoid such entanglements—which meant that they were trying to figure out who the woman on my arm could be.

No doubt much of the whispering centered on the gossip column they’d read, the one that said a Legend had taken a duke’s daughter as his mistress.

But I knew their speculation wasn’t about me.

No, their interest centered squarely around Victoria.

Even without the rumor in the Chronicle , she was beautiful enough to draw every eye.

I tucked her more closely against my side as we moved along the perimeter of the room.

Rexford had informed me that he would rally the troops for tonight’s event.

Hopefully, their presence would be enough to keep Victoria safe.

Sherbourne would never think of looking for her here.

By the time word reached him, and I had no doubt it would, she would be safely tucked away in Rexford’s townhouse again.

I glanced down at Victoria and watched the way her eyes flitted around the large assembly room behind her mask, trying to take in everything. Her movements were slow, her bearing regal, and to the casual observer, she would appear composed. But I could see the cracks in her facade. She was nervous.

To our left, a man led a woman into one of the many alcoves tucked away along the hall’s perimeter. He was already pulling down her bodice when she languidly reached up to draw the curtain closed. The way Victoria stiffened against me made it clear she’d seen it as well.

I leaned down to murmur in her ear. Anyone watching us would think I was dropping a kiss on her cheek.

“If you want to leave, just say the word.”

She smiled up at me, her wide eyes filled with relief. The force of her gaze hit me somewhere in the center of my chest.

“I believe,” she said, her voice steady, “this evening will be quite educational.”

My chuckle was unexpected. Damn, but I was really growing to like Victoria.

People made their way to the center of the room. There would be no country dances here. No formal bowing or curtsying as couples faced each other across a respectable distance, only to come together with the touch of gloved hands. Tonight was all about the waltz.

I bowed before Victoria and brought her hand to my lips. “Tell me, my dear, that you know how to waltz.”

“I do, my lord.” Her lips quirked. “Though I don’t think what’s happening on the dance floor could rightly be called a waltz.”

I grinned as I pulled her into my arms. We started at a proper distance, but when I saw the way people watched us, I knew we would have to put on a show.

“Please forgive me.” I placed one palm squarely in the center of her back and pulled her into me. A thrill of awareness speared through me at the feel of her body against mine.

Her mouth dropped open in surprise, but she recovered quickly. “There is nothing to forgive. I am supposed to be your mistress, after all. It’s only fitting that I act the part.”

She slid her hands up my arms, then wrapped them around my neck. My thoughts stuttered to a standstill.

Her eyes were on me, half lidded and slumberous. The way her hair tumbled about her shoulders made it look as though she’d just risen from bed. The color on her cheeks and lips had my body reacting as though she’d just issued the most licentious of invitations.

She pressed her cheek against my chest, and I took several deep breaths to rein in my lust. I didn’t know how I would keep myself from dragging her into one of those alcoves and ravishing her.

Was Rexford already here, witnessing our behavior? That thought didn’t summon the guilt it should have. Rexford knew what would need to happen when we’d discussed that I bring Victoria here.

I lowered my head to murmur in her ear. The silky curls of her dark hair brushed my cheek, causing me to close my eyes briefly. “We don’t have to stay long. We can pretend we’re so enamored with each other that we can’t wait to be alone.”

She made a small sound, but I couldn’t decipher its meaning. I didn’t have to. I’d given her a means of escape. It was up to her what we did next.

We spent the next few minutes like that—pressed closely together, swaying against one another. I was acutely aware of the way her breasts flattened against my chest and couldn’t help thinking about how they would feel when she was stripped bare.

I kept my hands on her waist, but my thoughts were filled with how much I wanted to grasp her hips and press her into my growing erection.

Being so close to Victoria had brought out my baser instincts, and I was powerless to hold them back.

If she noticed or was even aware of my predicament, she said nothing.

Finally, after several minutes of delicious torture, I dropped a kiss onto her curls. “We should make the rounds, ensure we’re seen.”

She pulled back and stared up at me, her eyes blinking open behind her mask. I ground my teeth at what I imagined was heat reflected in their depths. If she felt even a fraction of the desire consuming me, it would be impossible to ensure she kept her innocence.

I tucked her into my side again, and we resumed our stroll. We didn’t have to go far before Fairfax and Kendrick approached. They greeted us with a bow of their heads.

Kendrick smiled at Victoria. “It’s a pleasure to see you here.”

“And looking even more enticing than the last time we met,” Fairfax added.

I wanted to punch him. It was irrational since he was only speaking the truth. Madame Argent had done an impeccable job of ensuring every eye would be on Victoria.

She inclined her head. “Are all the Legends here tonight?”

Kendrick nodded and tilted his head to the left.

I turned to find Rexford standing against a wall.

Greyson and Clifton stood next to him. All three watched us.

I looked away, refusing to feel remorse for my behavior or emotions.

Any other man in my place already would have tried to lure Victoria into their bed.

Honestly, Rexford should give me a medal.

“Mirabelle is here,” Kendrick said.

I nodded. “Of course she is. You’re no longer her protector, so it stands to reason she would be looking for another.”

“She’s hoping one of us will step in,” Kendrick continued.

One of us. He meant one of the Legends. She would have to try her luck with the others because I wasn’t interested.

“Fairfax?” I turned to him.

He shuddered. “I don’t wish to see an article about our upcoming nuptials, thank you very much. If I do take a mistress, it will be someone without such unreasonable expectations.”

“She expected you to marry her?” Victoria asked.

Kendrick lifted one shoulder. “It’s not unheard of, though it rarely happens. I think she overestimated her charms.”

Victoria shook her head. “Perhaps you should introduce us. She could give me some advice on how to behave like a proper mistress.”

“Absolutely not,” I said.

Kendrick shrugged again. “It might not be such a bad idea. She definitely knows what she’s about.”

I scowled at him as he and Fairfax took their leave and faded into the crowd.

And of course, the next person to approach was Mirabelle herself.