Page 104 of Rescued from Betrayal
The dark shadow that passed over Lord Caraway’s features was such a stark contrast to his cheer that Melior wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chilly expression.
“I pity that woman. If the Duke of Rothland and his sons find out what she has done, no place in Society will ever accept her again. And as for her treatment of Lady Agatha…” he shook his head. “No one as sweet as she should ever be subjected to such slander.”
Javenia dropped his arm, obviously as surprised at his vehemence as Melior.
“I will go to the study now.”
Melior grabbed his arm. “No, it has to be after the first set. If not, our plan will not work. Sir Nathaniel will give you all the instructions you need on your way to the study, but you must wait until then so Lady Edith does not become suspicious.”
His posture did not lose its stiffness, but he nodded. Lifting his arms he offered one to each of the ladies. Melior took his right arm gratefully.
“Well then, might we all make a grand entrance into the ballroom so we will not be missed?” His lips tipped up on the right side, determination in his eyes.
“Yes, let's,” Javenia said.
In the ballroom, a man Melior did not recognize made his way toward the three of them. He stopped in front of the group and bowed.
“Miss Harris, what luck we should meet again.”
“Is it?”
Javenia’s curt remark caught Melior by surprise, but when Algenon started pushing through the crowd toward them it became abundantly clear who the smug-looking man before them must be. This must be Lord Penwick. The man Nathaniel and Algenon despised, and the one who ruined Javenia’s first season.
“It is luck, for I am here to claim this next set with you.”
Melior tamped down a smirk as Algenon reached around the arrogant man. “Miss Harris, are you ready for our set?”
Javenia looked like she’d swallowed a lemon. “Yes, Mr. Roberts. My apologies, Lord Penwick, this set has already been spoken for.”
It took all of Melior’s training not to laugh at the circumstances that led to Javenia breaking her silence with Algenon, but it seemed talking to him was far preferable to dancing with the fool fumbling over his words in front of her.
Lord Penwick stared after Algenon and Javenia, then stormed off muttering something about interfering knaves.
“That was highly irregular,” Lord Caraway said.
“Yes. You are not the only one in this ballroom receiving unwanted attention, it seems.”
“Indeed.”
Melior had dropped his arm during the confrontation, but now she touched his sleeve lightly. “I want to apologize.”
Lord Caraway smiled. “For what, pray tell?”
“For everything.”
He patted her hand. “It is not your fault.”
If only that were true.
Chapter 35
Lord Caraway led Melior to the floor, while hot and sticky jealousy filled Nathaniel’s gut. He’d have preferred any other man in the room to dance with her, but not this one. It was easier when he’d ascribed guilt to the handsome, well-connected man. Only now he was innocent.
Melior smiled and skipped in all the right places, and he could not help but admire her beauty. Something was different, though. He knew how brightly her eyes sparkled, the look of her natural smile, and the way her features softened when she was in love.
He stilled his tapping foot.
Was it true? He searched the pictures in his mind for the one from that morning. Melior glanced his way, her face soft and her smile bright and the two pictures matched. She loved him. She wanted him and there was no use comparing. Though she danced with Lord Caraway, her gaze strayed to him.
