Page 64 of Intolerable
Looking toward the door, the tension left his frame as he saw Cassandra, beautiful in a vivid dark rose-pink gown. He simply stared at her, his senses reveling in her presence. Then everything around him came to a screeching halt as he realized her father was standing next to her.
What the hell was the duke doing here?
His presence would make seeing Cassandra privately more difficult. Ruark forced the tension from his shoulders. Perhaps that was for the best.
Turning away, he escorted his mother and Kat deeper in the ballroom.
Two glasses of champagne later, he was feeling slightly better. He’d also convinced himself that not being alone with Cassandrawasbetter. For her. She might be content to wait for him, but he couldn’t shake the doubt swirling in his gut. He’d spent nearly his entire life thinking he shouldn’t be ready to wed until he was thirty and that he couldn’t be sure he could love anyone until then. And experience had proved that right.
“I’m so pleased your sister is dancing,” Ruark’s mother said, dragging him from his thoughts.
Kat was currently in the middle of a set with a young, energetic gentleman. She wasn’t the best of dancers, but she was keeping up from what Ruark could see.
“Can we move over to the refreshment table?” his mother asked. “I need something to drink.”
Ruark offered his arm and they strolled to a table with a bowl of probably ratafia. A footman offered his mother a glass, which she accepted and immediately drained.
“Lovely,” she declared, swinging the glass as she spoke. And nearly hitting the Duke of Evesham in the chin.
Cassandra’s father jerked back then narrowed his eyes at Ruark’s mother. Already disinclined to like the duke, Ruark’s hackles rose.
“Please excuse my mother,” Ruark said evenly. “Mother, allow me to introduce the Duke of Evesham. This is my mother, Mrs. Fergus Shaughnessy.”
His mother dropped into a perfect curtsey. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Grace.”
“Good evening,” the duke said without inflection. His gaze however was tinged with annoyance.
“I beg your pardon,” Ruark’s mother continued. “I didn’t mean to swing my arm like that.” She offered a lighthearted laugh, clearly meant to defuse the tense encounter. Was it really tense, or was that just Ruark’s estimation?
Ruark realized Miss Lancaster was just behind the duke. “Miss Lancaster, you remember my mother?”
“You’ve met?” the duke asked in surprise.
“At the park,” Miss Lancaster replied. She curtsied to Ruark’s mother. “How pleasant to see you again, Mrs. Shaughnessy.”
“And you.” Ruark’s mother looked around. “Where is your lovely charge?”
The duke peered beyond them as if he couldn’t be bothered to engage. “My daughter is dancing with Mr. Terryford.” He said this as if it should matter. Terryford was a young buck barely out of leading strings. “I’m afraid you must excuse me.” He glanced toward Ruark before turning his attention to Miss Lancaster. “Stay here to await Cassandra. She’ll be expecting to find you here.”
Ruark’s pulse sped. If he remained, he would see her—without her father. Not alone, but it was better than in the duke’s presence.
“Are you staying here at Fernhill?” Ruark’s mother asked Miss Lancaster. “We must travel back to London at daybreak, but that’s fine with me as I enjoy such occasions.”
“We are lodging here, yes.”
Ruark clasped that information to his brain. Not that he needed it. Hadn’t he already decided he shouldn’t see Cassandra alone tonight?
The music drew to a close, and Ruark braced himself.
His mother craned her neck toward the dance floor. “I suppose we should go back to where we were so Kathleen knows where to find us. Oh, but here comes Lady Cassandra, and I must say good evening.”
Ruark’s entire body tensed as she sailed toward them on the arm of her dancing partner. Terryford looked flushed and sweat dappled his wide forehead.
“Thank you, Lady Cassandra,” he said with a bow.
“Thank you, Mr. Terryford for the lively dance.” She smiled at him as he turned and departed.
Cassandra grimaced as he walked away.
