Page 2 of A Duchess to Unravel
At one time, she had been curious for more than dancing. A time where she sat in laps and conceded to small, quick kisses that made her feel giddy and empowered. But in her time of numbness that urge grew into something else. Something more intense she did not yet understand. Something she did not entirely trust.
Needing a moment to catch her breath, Theo curtseyed politely toward the three men who held their hands out to her in anticipation, and waved them off.
“Forgive me, gentlemen, but I am in need of rest and a moment to myself,” she apologized.
“Another time,” one gentleman said, bowing politely before heading off to dance with someone else.
“It is my loss,” another stated, dipping his head in respect as he stepped away.
The third man, his mask a black, carved piece that resembled a lion’s fanged mouth, did not step away, but instead move toward her.
“Allow me to assist you, beautiful lady,” the man implored, taking the liberty of grabbing her elbow. “Whatever you need I shall supply it. Wine? A seat? A fan?”
Theo laughed coyly, wrestling her elbow out of his grasp in the most polite way possible.
“I wish to acquire such things for myself, Lord-” She paused, trying to remember his mask, and what false name he used. Yet as she stared, she could not recall him.
“I am sorry, I cannot fathom your moniker.” She finished.
Though she could not see the man’s eyes through the thin black silk that covered the mask’s eyeholes, she could sense his indignation in the way his body went rigid. He tilted his head slightly, only serving to make his black mask appear even more unsettling.
“I have long awaited your return, Lady Calypso,” he replied, “It saddens me that you cannot recall my name.”
A shiver of discontent, something she’d never felt whilst being a guest of theDevil’s Masquerade,moved down Theo’s spine. His mask was frightening. Unique. If they’d met before she surely would have recalled.
“You will have to forgive me, lord,” she answered, forcing a calm tone. “Much has happened to me since my list visit the Masquerade.”
“It is Vulcan,” the lion-masked man answered after a moment of predatory silence.
His tone was flat, gone was the flirtatious edge it held but a moment ago. Theo took another step back. To be fair the last two times she had attended the masquerade her time had been interrupted by Dominic looking for Amelia, but even still, her memory remained sharp. She had not met this man before.
Not met. But watched by.
The thought sent another chill down her spine, and she took another step back.
“Well, Vulcan, as I said, I offer my apologies.” She offered.
“Have a drink with me and I shall forgive you,” he replied.
“A kind offer, but no,” Theo retorted.
Anger joined her unease. The Masquerade was where she’d felt most free, yet he was making her shrink; just as all those men did at the regular balls and galas she was forced to attend in the outside world.
“A lady has asked for her space, Lord Vulcan. Do so kindly respect that.”
Her tone was polite but firm, and Theo did not stand still long enough to hear a retort. She turned her back, head high, and began to walk toward the nearest waiter carrying a tray of wine. She was about to reach for one when a hand shot out before hers, grabbing two of them.
“Go away,” Vulcan commanded to the waiter taking away Theo’s chance to simply grab another. He held out one of the glasses toward her as the waiter quickly disappeared.
Theo drew in a tempered breath, growing tired of his presence, and ignored the offered glass.
“If you are attempting to be charming, sir, I must inform you that you have failed most miserably,” she said with apparent displeasure.
“I am not a man to be ignored, Lady Calypso.” Vulcan replied, still holding out the glass. “You have offered your time to many partners this evening, why not to me?”
“Dancepartners,” Theo quickly clarified. “And I do not need to explain myself. The Masquerade’s rules dictate that I have a right to my decision. Clearly you have not been here as often as you wish me to believe, or you would know that.”
Vulcan dropped the glasses, not flinching a muscle as the shattered glass and wine spilled at their feet, and stepped up to grab her so fast that Theo did not realize he’d done so until she felt his vise-like grip around her upper arm.
