Page 66 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘Do you intend to dance, Lord Amos, or shall you hide yourself away in the cardroom?’ Martina asked mischievously.
‘I shall certainly dance with each of you, if you’re willing to risk standing up with me.’
‘I cannot imagine you making a habit of trampling on toes,’ Ariana said, ‘and so I suppose we can be persuaded.’
‘Very graciously put,’ Lord Amos said in a tone of affectionate amusement.
‘This room looks wonderful,’ Martina said, gazing about it in awe. ‘I haven’t been in it before. It’s quite magnificent.’
‘It isn’t often used,’ Lord Amos said, ‘which seems like a pity.’
Martina wandered away, leaving Lord Amos alone with Ariana. She could recognise all the family members, even in their masques, and yet they all looked mysterious. The musicians were tuning their instruments as the first of the guests spilled into the ballroom, apparently as impressed by its splendours as Martina had been, given the exclamations of delight she overheard. She listened to the hubbub and watched as the first dance formed up, the duke and duchess at its head. She stood to one side, close to where a number of chaperones sat together, observing the proceedings and chattering incessantly. She heard one of them openly assessing her charge’s chances of attracting Lord Amos’s interest.
‘He will have to remarry at some stage,’ the old woman said. ‘His children need a mother. Might as well be to my granddaughter. She’s a pretty and biddable chit and will give him no trouble.’
Martina moved away, having no desire to hear more. The poor man, she thought. It seemed a very great pity that Lord Amos’s situation should be speculated about in such a fashion. He was still in mourning for his wife, despite the fact that Ariana seemed to bring him out of himself. He smiled much more frequently now than when they had first met him, and she credited Ariana with bringing that change about. He hadn’t felt threatened by her at first, Martina thought, because she didn’t attempt to do what this old lady clearly expected her granddaughter to do, which was to throw her cap at him. A friendship had sprung up between them, necessitated by Ariana’s position in the nursery where she had primary care for his children. If her sister’s affections were engaged, she appeared content for Lord Amos to decide without undue pressure if he felt an answering interest in her.
She wondered when Jared would arrive, or if he was already here. She was perfectly sure that she would recognise him, yet the huge room already seemed crowded and it was hard to keep track as yet more people spilled into it.
‘May I have the pleasure of this dance, mysterious lady,’ a voice she would have known anywhere asked in her ear.
Her heart leapt as she turned and smiled at Jared, resplendent in a silk domino almost exactly the same colour as her gown. His eyes glistened with good humour behind his masque.
‘Why certainly, kind stranger,’ she replied, her spirits lifting as she placed her gloved hand in his and allowed him to lead her into the dance.
Suddenly the threat posed by Redrow no longer seemed quite so intimidating, and she resolutely put all thoughts of him from her mind. She would dance with the man who increasingly filled her thoughts, enjoy herself and put aside all her other concerns; at least for now.
Chapter Eighteen
Jared had recognised Martina the moment he entered the ballroom, her masque an inadequate disguise for her elegance and beauty. The dance was a reel, which required energy and precision of movement, leaving them with little breath to spare for conversation. When it came to an end, Jared didn’t have the least intention of releasing her so that she could dance with others. The benefit of a masque meant that the usual rules of conduct didn’t apply.
‘Would you like some lemonade?’ he asked. ‘Or a glass of wine. It’s very hot in here.’
‘No thank you. It must be warmer for you in that domino. Lord Amos insists that it will rain this evening but the duchess refuses to allow her masquerade to be inconvenienced by the elements.’
‘Well then, shall we stroll outside before the rain decides whether or not to defy her.’
She smiled and placed her hand on his sleeve, all the while scanning the crowd, no doubt worried that Redrowwould somehow accost her.
‘There’s no need to concern yourself,’ Jared said. ‘He isn’t here.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘The masques are not much of a disguise. I can easily recognise all the people I know. And you can be sure than I am better acquainted with Redrow’s features than I ever wished to be. Besides,’ he added, ‘Ramsay is outside and will get word to me if he turns up.’
‘A comforting thought, but I remain to be convinced. It’s such a crush, and with so many conveyances arriving, Mr Ramsay could easily miss him.’
‘Ramsay will be very upset if he learns of your lack of confidence in his abilities. But that is neither here nor there. I am confident that Redrow won’t show his face. Since my efforts to expose him at the fair yesterday came to nothing, Lord Romsey has devised a plan that will send him scuttling back to London, where hopefully he will overplay his hand.’
‘I knew you were up to something yesterday but I don’t suppose you will tell me what it was.’
‘Not a chance,’ he replied, grinning.
Martina shook her head. ‘I cannot imagine Mrs Redrow missing this engagement for any consideration. She talked incessantly and in a most animated fashion about it whilst I was still in her employ and promised all her friends who did not receive invitations that she would give them a full account of the proceedings. She was also quite determined that Mr Redrow would publicly give a large donation to the orphanage.’
‘How very vulgar,’ Jared replied as they wandered outside and a welcoming breeze touched their warm cheeks.
‘Quite. I think she hoped that would compel this family to take her supposed friendship more seriously. As though they would be influenced by such an obvious gesture.’ Martina gave an emphatic nod, still looking greatly concerned. Jared felt an overwhelming need to eradicate the worry lines from her delicate brow and make her smile. ‘Accept my word for it, Mrs Redrow will not miss this masquerade.’
