Page 20 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
To Dharma’s relief, no one seemed to notice anything astray as she rejoined the crowded ballroom. She stood on her toes to see over the throng and found Charlotte and her brother deep in conversation with Tobin. She hugged herself, looking forward to the next dance with Devlin, to be held in his arms.
Dharma never got the chance to have the last dance with Devlin because he never returned to the ballroom.
What she became was the laughingstock of the season. The traitor had announced his interest in making her his wife, seemingly got her agreement as she’d allowed him to escort her with his family to the ball, and then he’d deserted her, leaving her brother to see her home.
What had she done to set the traitor running? It must have been something terrible.
No other man looking for a wife would touch her now. Why had Lord Devlin left her at the ball? What could she have possibly done?
She’d done nothing but given her trust to the wrong man. He’d damaged her reputation.
But that didn’t matter to Dharma. What mattered was she’d trusted him. She’d let him…
And he’d deserted her without a word.
ChapterSix
London – Beginning of May 1817 (3 months later)
Dharma fingered the ducal invitation and sighed. She was dreading this dinner for one reason—Lord Devlin was on the guest list. The Duke of Sinclair and his duchess, Charlotte, were holding an intimate dinner party for thirty of their closest friends. Of course, they invited her brother Tobin and his wife, along with Dharma. Afterall, Charlotte had been their stepmother for many years before marrying His Grace in August last year.
Lady Rosemary Sneddon, her best friend, had sent her a note an hour ago, stating she’d be at the dinner with her brother. Warwick Sneddon, the Marquis of Devlin, was His Grace’s best friend. Of course, they would invite him. Dharma gritted her teeth. He was the last person she wished to see tonight in such close company. Three months ago Devlin had made a fool of her.
Dharma was just at the stage where she thought perhaps Devlin’s motives for courting her were not solely about money, when Devlin deserted her at Lady Elwood’s Valentine’s Day ball and made her the laughingstock of theton.
He’d up and left without a word to her about where he was going and why. All Rosemary knew was he’d travelled to Scotland.
To make matters worse, throughout the months he was away, he’d not written to her once. It seemed like she had been completely forgotten. And the vicioustonnoticed.
She might have been able to forgive such a slight if, when he returned to town, he explained his absence. However, Devlin rubbed salt into her wounds, and made her the talk of society by arriving home with a rich Scottish widow on his arm.
A rich, beautiful Scottish widow on his arm.
And he’d been back a week and still not called on her.
Even Rosemary was aghast at his behavior, and tonight the two young ladies were looking forward to making Lord Devlin watch her interact with the young, handsome, and rich, Lord Fencourt. The girls had decided, even though quite young, Fencourt could make Dharma a good husband. He had a poet’s heart. He came from a wealthy family, so was not after her dowry, and he seemed besotted with Dharma. It appeared he was not one to want to sow his wild oats, but was seriously looking for a wife. Lord Fencourt did not blame her for Devlin’s desertion.
What burned in Dharma’s gut was that Rosemary revealed Devlin was bringing Mrs. Fiona McTavish to the dinner tonight. Two nights ago, people saw him at the Opera with the beautiful, young widow accompanying him. Rumor was they were lovers, and he was seriously considering marriage.
Dharma rubbed her chest. Why did she care? A tin mine meant Devlin’s driving need to marry for money had diminished somewhat. He still needed money, but the possibility of deriving income long term had pacified his creditors—for now. The fact His Grace had invested helped. Devlin’s creditors gave him more time to pay off his late father’s debts.
His callous behavior made her question his motives once again. Did Devlin want her money all along? He’d proved her right by disappearing from her life, only to reappear in London with Fiona McTavish. His conduct showed how he held her in little regard. If he’d loved her, he’d have no need for Fiona McTavish or her money.
Fool. She’d almost believed Devlin when he said he wasn’t interested in her money, but as soon as he didn’t need it, he disappeared—without a word.
Her pride would not let her believe his desertion. She’d thought he’d come for her. Lord Devlin was supposed to fight for her. After what they’d shared in Lady Elwood’s study, he’d promised his hand in marriage. But then he’d simply left. What did that mean? He was the worst rake of all to take such liberties and then disappear. His desertion battered her pride and heart to her dismay. Her heart deserved a more worthy target.
Although she admitted he’d never spoken of love. Did he love this Mrs. McTavish?
He most definitely was not supposed to take a lover, or bring said woman to a dinner party with Dharma’s family and friends.
Dharma crushed Rosemary’s note in her hand. Well, she was not sitting and moping over a man who thought so little of her. Especially as there were plenty of handsome gentlemen if she could get over the scandal of Devlin’s desertion. Those that seemed interested were those who thought she was an easy mark. That Devlin had taken what he wanted and left her. She had used her fist on more than one occasion to show these men they were very wrong.
To say Dharma would give him the cut direct was an understatement. No man who was really in love, or even held a small regard for her, would treat a woman this way. So, tonight, she’d make it very clear she was not interested in Warwick Sneddon, the Marquis of Devlin.
She didn’t know who she was trying to convince. Already her body hummed at the idea of seeing him again. She’d spent hours over her dress and hair.
She twirled in front of the mirror and knew she looked stunning. Would Devlin notice? And would he even care?
