Page 37 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous
But she’d never tried it in public. After all, what well-brought-up young lady would go to such scandalous lengths to create a scene?
But if ever there were a time to put her skills into action, it was now.
Taking a deep breath, Caroline glanced about her, catching Henry’s eye, and raising one eyebrow—their signal whenever they were about to do something wicked.
She gave him a couple of seconds to turn in her direction and to extricate himself from the young lady in blue who now had a posse of concerned matrons fussing over her, in between scowling at Henry.
Then, putting her hand to her forehead, and breathing out on a small, low—but very audible—wail of distress, Caroline commandeered the attention… and swooned.
The room spun around her as she let herself fall, aware of gasps and cries as she descended in a graceful arc towards the polished floor.
Chapter Eighteen
“Caroline!” Shocked, andmore motivated to help his beloved than make sense of what else was happening, Henry rushed forward, scooping Caroline up before she reached the ground. The crowd parted, a chorus of gasps and murmurs rising around them.
“Henry,” Caroline murmured, her eyes fluttering open for just a moment as he reveled in the unexpected closeness. Her weight in his arms felt so right—familiar, wicked, and thrilling in equal measure.
He knew this was not the reason she’d resorted to such actions but with his arms about her and her wonderful, familiar scent of orange blossom intoxicating him, he was in paradise. For a moment, all the other strange awfulness could be forgotten. For the softness of her silk gown against his hands, the warmth of her body against his chest helped create a moment of perfection amid the chaos.
Except that her time in his arms would be short. Not for the first time did he curse himself for squandering all those other opportunities he’d had in the past for progressing their relationship beyond friendship. How blind he had been to what was right before him all along.
She was still half in his arms when he heard movement by the door and realized Venetia was returning. Glancing over his shoulder, he recognized Mr. Rothbury and saw that Venetia wasflanked on the other side by Lord Windermere, his tall figure looming possessively near her. Mrs. Pike hurried forward, her face pinched with righteous indignation, her steps quick and determined on the polished floor.
“Venetia…?” Still holding Caroline, Henry made a half-hearted attempt at sounding as he should: concerned? Was he supposed to sound contrite, as the recriminatory looks seemed to imply?
No. Not when that would be tacitly admitting to something he hadn’t done.
Venetia had halted momentarily near the doorway, her face pale, while Caroline remained in his arms, her weight and dependence upon him in this moment not to drop her a glorious reminder of what he wanted from the future. Her face was turned slightly into his chest, hidden from the prying eyes of society.
“Henry, don’t abandon me,” Caroline whispered, drawing his head down as he made a move to set her on her feet so he could go to his betrothed—as duty required. Her breath was warm against his ear, sending a shiver down his spine. “Venetia is too upset to notice us and… and if this is as close to you as I’ll get for the rest of my life, I’m not about to release you too soon.”
Henry sent a wary glance about him, but it seemed most people’s attention was centered on either Venetia and her coterie, or the lady in blue who was just out of the periphery of his vision.
But it was Sir Frederick who arrived at that juncture, his expression stormy. It appeared Charlotte had summoned him, for she was at his side as he strode purposefully over to Henry, gripped Caroline by the upper arms, and muttered, “I don’t know what you’re playing at, Caro, but I think it’s time you went home.” His voice was low but carried an edge of steel.
“I don’t want to go home,” Caroline whispered back. “Please, Frederick. You don’t understand what’s happening. Venetia is—”
“Venetia is betrothed to Henry, and you’re creating a scandal.” His tone was sharp, brooking no argument. “Let him go at once. Come with me now.” His fingers tightened on her arms, not enough to hurt but enough to make his determination clear.
As soon as Caroline had been reluctantly dragged from Henry’s arms, Charlotte filled the void, her normally cheerful face distressed. The candles from the nearby sconce illuminated the tears gathering in her eyes.
“Henry, what have you done?” she hissed. “Barnaby has told me so many terrible things, I don’t know what to believe!” She twisted her gloved hands together.
Henry squared his shoulders as he straightened, feeling suddenly bereft without Caroline’s warmth. “I had thought Barnaby an ally,” he said, feeling wounded. The betrayal stung more than he would have expected.
“It’s difficult to be an ally when one knows someone is guilty of wrongdoing.” Her large eyes were tear-filled, glistening in the candlelight. “What is happening tonight? First you’re accused by that lady over there—” She looked about, but the lady in blue had gone, vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared. “And now these other terrible things Barnaby is telling me.”
The horror in Charlotte’s expression was worse than the bewilderment Henry felt at being implicated in a liaison with a woman he’d never seen in his life.
Could his sweet, gentle sister really be siding with Barnaby over her own brother? Before she’d even heard Henry’s defense?
“Do you deny that what Barnaby says is true?” she demanded, her chin lifting slightly in challenge.
Henry saw over her shoulder that Barnaby was looking in his direction. He was frowning, but there was something else there,too. Something more insidious. A gleam of satisfaction, perhaps, lingering at the corners of his mouth despite his concerned expression.
“I have no idea about anything that has been happening… or said… this evening. By Barnaby or anyone else. And I certainly deny any wrongdoing if that is what you are insinuating.” He swallowed, his throat dry, then ground out, “Or what he is insinuating.”
He looked about for Caroline, but she was already being led away, her brother firmly guiding her toward the exit. She stopped to look over her shoulder, and for a moment their eyes met across the crowded ballroom.
