Page 25 of One Night of Scandal
“I can tell you’re dying to know what happened with my betrothal.”
He found amusement in her statement. “How can you tell?”
Her gaze settled briefly between his eyes. “The top of your nose scrunches up into little lines when you are particularly interested in something. I’ve noticed it several times in the course of our association.”
“Does it?” Reflexively, he touched the bridge of his nose. “It seems you are coming to know me very well too,” he murmured, thinking that must certainly be an extraordinary occurrence. Had a woman ever known him well enough to recognize a tiny facial expression that he wasn’t even aware of?
She didn’t respond, so he said, “Yes, I would like to know what happened, but you needn’t tell me. Clearly, Ledbury is an ass.”
A glorious laugh leapt from her lips, and she clapped a gloved hand over her mouth. Her eyes danced in the moonlight. He was utterly captivated.
“He wasn’t really anass,” she said after lowering her hand. “He just wasn’t for me. As I prepared for the ceremony at the church, I realized I’d never be able to write anything for publication—not for a newspaper, not a pamphlet, not a book. He said a countess couldn’t do such a thing. At least nothiscountess. I would cease to exist as Viola Fairfax the moment I became the Countess of Ledbury. I just couldn’t do it.” She sounded a trifle sad, but not regretful. “Perhaps he was abitof an ass.”
More than a bit in Jack’s estimation. “When I get around to marrying, I would hope my wife would retain her sense of self. She might be Mrs. Barrett, but the woman she was when we wed would forever be the woman I fell in love with.” He coughed, feeling slightly uncomfortable all of a sudden. “If I’m lucky enough to fall in love as my parents did.”
Lady Viola’s gaze had softened while he spoke. “My parents were fond of each other, but I don’t think their emotions ran deeper than that. My brother is desperately in love with his wife. It’s nice to see.” She shook her head. “Notnice. Powerful. Moving. Intoxicating.”
Jack felt a little drunk at the moment. The urge to kiss her swept over him, at once shocking and thrilling.
The air between them seemed to thin. Accordingly, their breathing grew rapid, and it was all he could hear. She was all he could see…
“We should go back inside.” She broke the spell with those five sensible words.
Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, Jack offered her his arm once more. “Ledbury must have been very sorry when you decided not to marry him.”
“I think he was relieved. His father and my grandmother had orchestrated the match, and while I liked him and he liked me, there was no danger of a broken heart on either side.”
Something in Jack’s chest pinched. He ignored the sensation. “I’ve changed my mind about our investigation. I think we should go to Brooks’s on Monday evening.”
She paused at the threshold before they stepped back into the ballroom. “You do?”
“I still think it’s dangerous, but it’s too important to ignore.” He’d been pondering it since seeing her that afternoon, but their conversation on the terrace had persuaded him. She wanted this. She deserved this. And he would help her see it through.
She squeezed his arm. “Thank you. Truly.”
Another couple came to the doorway, and Jack swiftly guided Lady Viola inside. “You’ll come as my guest, and we’ll do what you’d planned with Pennington—we’ll just keep our ears open and find out what we can.”
“What if we act as though we already know who the MP is?” she suggested softly, her tone rife with anticipation. “We can mention the gossip and then be coy about identifying the MP. Just like everyone else has done,” she added wryly.
“You think Pennington lied, that he knew more than he revealed?”
She shrugged. “I think it’s possible. I also think it’s possible Hodges knew more. We should probably visit him again too.”
“Probably. I’m just a trifle nervous about Tavistock being seen as pursuing this story.”
“I thought about that, actually. Today I managed to turn the conversation to this topic with a gentleman in the park.”
Now Jack stopped as apprehension twisted through him. “Whom did you talk to?” He wasn’t sure what he was afraid to hear—there wasn’t anyone he feared. Except everyone when it came to her safety. Good Lord, what was going on with him?
“Lord Orford. He didn’t seem to know anything.”
Jack snorted in disgust. “Orford wouldn’t. He’s from a rotten borough amidst other rotten boroughs paid for by his father. He only pays attention to matters his father cares about.” He looked at her seriously. “You must promise not to do that again. It’s bad enough that Tavistock is out there making inquiries. Lady Viola Fairfax shouldn’t be doing that too.”
She nodded. “I will be careful.” Her gaze narrowed slightly. “My grandmother is staring at me. She’s going to ask why I promenaded with you instead of danced.”
“Tell her I have an injury that prevents such activity.”
She grinned, and the desire to kiss her crashed into him anew. “Brilliant.”
