Page 52 of Unseen

Lady Grantham chortled. “That is the heat in this unbearable room, my dear! And just wait until everyone begins to dance.” She grinned up at Azriel as he reached my side, and handed me my champagne.

“You shall have to dance for me tonight, Mr Caine, and make sure your wife has a good time, for heaven knows I am unable to dance tonight!”

“I am sure Lord Grantham could take you for a few rounds yet, your grace.” Azriel offered Lady Grantham one of the glasses of champagne, which she took eagerly with yet another ear-piercing laugh.

“Going a few rounds with Lord Grantham got me in this mess!” She raised her glass to me with a loud ‘Cheers!’, before taking a large swig.

“Music! We must have dancing!” She heaved herself to her feet, taking Azriel’s offered hand to help her up all the way, and headed in the direction of the assembled musicians.

“She is a rather interesting lady, is she not?” Azriel took a seat beside me, taking the champagne glass from me after I had taken a sip to take a swig himself.

“Yes, unusual and rather boisterous. But I like her.”

“His family was outraged when he chose her as a bride. Far too loud, far too uncouth.”

“Perhaps that is why she invited us,” I said, taking the glass back from him, and taking another sip, which I knew would go straight to my head in all this heat. “We are equally outrageous and uncouth.”

Azriel raised his eyebrow as he gave me a crooked grin. “I told you, Evie, there is no such thing as good society. Just a lot of secrets, and a lot of filth rather well hidden.”

The music struck up, and Lady Grantham’s laugh echoed over it.

“And the dancing has begun,” Azriel said, leaning closer to me. “I did have a fantasy of taking you outside and bending you over the balcony, but perhaps dancing with you will have to do.”

I gasped, feigning outrage as I fanned myself. “Mr Caine, you beast. ”

He grinned widely, his blue eyes sparkling, and indeed looking so handsome that it almost took my breath away.

“I am a beast, but I am also a fair dancer, if you would do me the honour.” He took the glass from me, placing it on the table, then got to his feet, offering me his hand. “Let us show them how it is done.”

Anxiety sent ribbons around my stomach, and sweat erupted on the small of my back. All eyes turned to us as a space was cleared and Azriel escorted me right into the middle of it, music swelling around as he put his hand to my waist.

“Head up, Mrs Caine,” he murmured, and led me into a waltz.

The champagne did not help my anxiety, nor the heat that prickled at my body, and my head swam as Azriel spun me around and around on the dance floor.

But within moments, all I could see was his face, all I saw was his eyes on me, and everyone around us was simply a blur.

They faded into nothing, and I did not even notice as they began to dance around us.

“You see?” Azriel said, his eyes remaining on mine. “No one even noticed.”

“They certainly did notice.”

“All anyone noticed is how beautiful you are, and all anyone thought is how lucky I am that I am the gentleman who takes this creature home, and knows what lies underneath this dress.”

My cheeks burned, and my face erupted into a smile. “Have I ever told you that you are insatiable?”

“You have, and you are correct.” Without missing a step, he lowered his mouth to my forehead, planting a soft kiss there. “With you, I am forever undone, Evie. Forever wanting and yearning for more.”

I melted against him, and the dance went on, before the music swelled into yet another waltz, then another, and before I knew it, we had been dancing for over an hour, and my feet began to ache.

My throat burned with thirst as Azriel escorted me from the dance floor, back to the seat beside Lady Grantham.

“Shall I fetch you some more champagne?” Azriel asked, and I nodded.

“Please, I am parched.”

Lady Grantham clutched my hand with a giggle as Azriel left us. “You two are a fine prospect. My goodness, did you see everyone watching you?”

I unfolded my fan, trying to cool my heated skin. “I think everyone was rather thinking what a spectacle we are.”

“Oh hush.” Lady Grantham playfully slapped my arm. “There is no spectacle here tonight, just plenty of fun to be had, and a new year in a few hours! Imagine what the morning could bring!”

“ CAINE!”

The music stopped, one instrument at a time, falling away as the crowd around us went silent, looking about them to pinpoint where the furious voice had come from.

“ MISTER. AZRIEL. CAINE.”

My stomach dropped, and Lady Grantham clutched my hand tightly.

“What is happening?” She squeaked.

The murmuring crowd parted somewhat, allowing me a view of the door.

There stood a man, a snow-dusted coat draped over him, his hat still on his head. His face was twisted with rage, lips pulled downwards as he scanned the room. My eyes dropped to his hand, and I saw he still held his riding crop.

“MR AZRIEL CAINE!” He bellowed again, the room stunned into silence. “SHOW YOURSELF.”

Movement, as Azriel slowly walked through the crowd towards this man and his blanched face. Shocked eyes followed his advance, and Lady Grantham murmured something beside me I could no longer hear over the roaring in my ears.

“Fitzwilliam,” Azriel said calmly, stopping several feet away from the man. “You are looking for me?”

“You cad.” The man’s head was shaking, so filled with rage was he. His white knuckles tightened around the riding crop. “You utter swine.”

Lord Grantham rushed to Azriel’s side, hands held up. “Now, now, de la Croix, I am sure there has been some misunderstanding.”

“There has been no misunderstanding,” the man growled, and pointed the riding crop at Azriel. “This rat, this foul scrub, defiled my wife.”

Gasps rose from the room, hands flying to mouths, fans fluttering to cover shocked expressions. I clutched on to my fan so tightly I was sure I would snap it in two.

Azriel’s face remained the picture of calm. “Fitzwilliam, you are making a spectacle in this fine house.”

“I don’t care what I am doing right now, you, sir, defiled my wife, and I shall have justice!”

The room erupted into tittering, hushed exclamations delivered behind fans and hands, some glances straying to me. Lady Grantham tutted, patting my hand.

“Outrageous,” she muttered.

Lord Grantham looked uncertainly at Azriel. “I am sure Mr Caine would not-”

“I have the proof of it!” The man, this de la Croix, took a step forward, teeth bared and shaking his fist. “You, Caine, you left my wife with child!”

The room erupted into shocked cries, wide eyes not knowing where to look, and I found myself on my feet, Lady Grantham pulling at my hand and urging me to sit back down. But I was like stone, watching the scene unfold before me.

Azriel threw back his head and laughed. “My good man, do not be ridiculous.”

“She has felt the quickening!” Spittle foamed at de la Croix’s lips, the crop creaking in his grasp. “You foul cad, how dare you soil my family name, my wife!”

“If your wife has felt the quickening then I assure you, that little bastard is not mine,” Azriel said, smirking at the furious man. “I was not even in the country while your wife was opening her legs. Perhaps ask your servants.”

More outraged cries, and the blood drained from my face, or out of my body entirely. I was numb, and shocked, sure that de la Croix was about to start beating Azriel out of sheer rage.

De la Croix advanced on Azriel, and Grantham rushed at him, holding him back. “Stop it, man!” He implored. “This is madness!”

“You have ruined my family’s honour!” De la Croix raged over Grantham’s head. “I demand justice!”

“What justice!” Azriel closed the distance between them, and the two men were now only separated by the desperate efforts of Grantham as his gaze zipped from one to the other.

“You are a fool, de la Croix, your wife whores herself around and everyone in this room knows it. For you to land on me is rather creative.”

“She told me it was you!” De la Croix’s face was the most extraordinary shade of red, making rhetorical whites of his eyes shockingly brilliant. “She told me what you did!”

“Then she lied,” Azriel purred, and de la Croix exploded.

He shoved Grantham aside, sending the man toppling to the floor, and Lady Grantham struggled to her feet, steadying herself on my arm.

“Edward!” She cried .

De la Croix seized Azriel’s collar, teeth gritted. “I challenge you! You will meet me at dawn!”

I was sure I was about to faint. The room once again fell into silence.

Azriel shoved de la Croix away from him with a sneer. “Go home to your wife, you fool.”

De la Croix lunged at him again, slapping the crop against Azriel’s chest. His lips moved, muttering something, not audible, but the poison in his tone more than evident.

Azriel’s face shifted, betraying shock for barely a moment. Then anger settled on his face, disdain and anger, and he once again pushed de la Croix away from him.

“At dawn then,” Azriel said, and reached down to help Grantham up from the floor. “Will you be my second?”

Grantham nodded eagerly. “Of course, my good man. But-but this, this is…” He turned back to de la Croix, lifting his hands helplessly. “Fitzwilliam, you are possessed. This will not do anyone any good. Please, reconsider.”

“Bring your pistol!” De la Croix jabbed his finger in Azriel’s face. “I shall have my justice! And remember what I said.” De la Croix’s gaze darted across the room until it finally found me. His lips pulled back, and he spat on the ground before him.

Outraged cries and murmurs rose from the crowd, and de la Croix spun on his heel, striding from the house.

Lady Grantham waddled across the room to her husband’s side, and I followed her quickly. She took Grantham’s hand with a gasp, and shook her head.

“Oh, Edward, what happened?” She asked desperately, and her husband’s eyes stayed on Azriel. “What are we to do?”

Azriel’s shoulders rose as he drew a deep breath. “I apologise, your grace. I have spoiled your party.” He gave me a wan smile as I took his hand. “I feel it best to take my wife home. ”

“Of course.” Grantham dipped his head. “I shall collect you in the morning, by my word.”

“Thank you, Grantham.” Azriel shook his hand. “And my apologies again.”

“No, please, do not distress yourself.” Lady Grantham planted a kiss on Azriel’s cheek, her eyes shining with tears. “I shall pray for you, and for your safety.”

“Thank you, your grace.” Azriel took my arm gently, and led me from the ballroom.

I was still too aghast to speak, wobbling on my feet as Azriel put my coat over my shoulders.

Even the blast of cold air as we stepped outside did nothing to sober me.

I remained in shocked silence in the carriage, Azriel asking me several times if I was alright, and all I could do was shake my head in return.