“Bloody hell,” James hissed. “Is that our hostess bearing down on us?”
“Yes, that’s Lady Spencer indeed,” Georgina replied. “We attended her first ball of the Season soon after we returned from Bridgeport. You avoided being announced at it, if you recall, so you didn’t get to meet her.”
“If she’s going to ask me to leave, I may have to pummel her husband,” James promised.
“She’s a widow,” Georgina said with a grin.
“I’ll ferret out a male relative.”
“No, you won’t, and she wouldn’t dare,” Georgina said staunchly. “Your name was on the invitation. Even if none of these hostesses actually expect you to make an appearance, it would be a coup for them if you did.”
Lady Spencer confirmed that when she gushed, “Lord Malory! I am so delighted to make your acquaintance. I never dreamed you would accept my invitation, but now you have single-handedly assured my success!”
Jacqueline knew her father hated being cornered like this and would probably just let Georgina deal with the lady and her effusive greeting. But he surprised Jack when he gave their hostess a courtly bow and said, “The pleasure is mine, Lady Spencer, but you do yourself a disservice. Your balls are so legendary, I couldn’t resist the temptation when my wife suggested I see for myself.”
After what Jack had overheard at Haverston while she and Jeremy had eavesdropped, she wondered if her mother was blushing under her domino. The real temptation was what Georgina had dangled in front of James to get him here. But their hostess wouldn’t know that and seemed utterly thrilled by his words. Jack’s father certainly hadn’t lost his touch with the ladies.
But he didn’t fail to notice that one of Jack’s beaus had found enough courage to approach her while James spoke with Lady Spencer. Jack noticed as well and was pleased that not all of her beaus were afraid of her father.
The tall, blond-haired fellow, whom she couldn’t immediately identify because he was wearing a full face mask, gave her a half bow and extended a hand. “Would you do me the honor?”
Gallantly said, and he cut an impeccable figure in his black tailed coat that fit his muscular physique extremely well. Jacqueline placed her fingers lightly over his and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. She felt a distinct measure of excitement, but only because she hadn’t placed him yet and was determined to.
It was the first thing Jacqueline asked. “Which one are you?”
“I’m supposed to tell?” He had a deep voice, but it was muffled by his mask.
“My other beaus have revealed themselves. Quite takes the fun out of a masque ball when you no longer need to figure out who you’re dancing with.”
“Then I won’t tell.”
“Really?”
“I promise.”
So, she’d have to rely on deductive reasoning! Now this was the fun she’d expected to have tonight. “I already know who Bernard, Jasper, John, Addison, and Ellis are, but that still leaves Lewis, Rupert, Peter, Giles, Hugh, Thaddeus, and Chester.”
He laughed under his mask. “D’you really have that many suitors?”
“It does sound a bit much, doesn’t it?” She laughed softly, but then she realized he would already have known that if he were one of them. “Are you pretending you don’t know who I am?”
“Who are you?”
She was taken aback. “If you really don’t know, why did you ask me to dance?”
“How could I not, when you’re the most beautiful woman here?”
She laughed again because he couldn’t say that when her face was mostly covered by the domino, not without knowing exactly who she was. So he was teasing and she was actually delighted by it. It was quite refreshing, from one of her beaus. But she still hadn’t guessed who he was.
She got back to the matter of figuring that out. “I’m sure a few of my suitors aren’t really serious in their pursuit. I know Giles isn’t, since he fancies himself a bit of a rake. However, three of those who haven’t revealed themselves to me yet tonight aren’t as tall as you, and Peter isn’t as strapping.” She paused for a quick admiring glance down his length. “So that just leaves Lords Hugh, Rupert, and Thaddeus.”
“Maybe I should give up before I start?”
“Start what?”
“Winning your heart.”
She chuckled. “Afraid of a little competition, are you?”
“You call twelve men a little?”
“To be honest, they weren’t all mine to begin with,” she admitted candidly. “I inherited some of my cousin’s suitors when her wedding was announced recently. And you can certainly give up if you like, but there won’t be any heart winning in either case.”
“Then, like your cousin, you’ve already decided whom to marry?”
“Gads, no. What I’ve decided is not to marry this year a’tall, maybe not the next, either. I’m quite on the up-and-up about that and have made sure to tell them all. They just think I’m pulling their collective legs, when I’m not.”
“Why?”
“Why follow the pack?” She laughed. “That’s definitely not for me. And what’s the hurry anyway? Because it’s expected of a young lady to marry during her first Season?” She gave a soft snort. “So you’ve been warned, as have the others. But then you already knew that, if you’re one of them.”
“I’m not.”
A shimmer of excitement ran through her when she heard that. So he hadn’t been teasing after all? He was someone new who’d come late to the Season? But, no, latecomers stirred up the gossip mills for a few days, so she would have heard by now if a new lord were in town.
He might be one of the young men she’d met at the start of the Season who were interested only in marriage and expected to be engaged before the end of it. Once they heard her candid declaration that she wouldn’t be marrying this year, they’d wished her well and ignored her after that. But one might have changed his mind and was now determined to change hers—by gaining her interest before she knew who he was.
The only other young lords in town wouldn’t ordinarily come to an event like this since they weren’t interested in getting married yet. Most rakes were determined to spend some years gadding about before they got down to the business of producing an heir. And the second and third sons of a titled parent felt less pressure to marry than the family’s heir. But due to the masquerade theme of this particular ball, they could more easily sneak in without an invitation. And the thought made her realize, so could anyone else.
“You’re too quiet. Already bored with me?”
Having her thoughts interrupted brought the complaint “It’s bloody annoying when variables sneak up on you.”
“Is that what I am? A variable?”
“Didn’t you say you wanted to be?”
“I wouldn’t put winning your heart in that context, but if you’re whittling down your extensive list of suitors so you can add me to it—”
“I don’t whittle it down,” she cut in. “I just keep count. But I like to do a little research, so if you aren’t one of the fellows who frequent these parties, are you a rake, a second son, or a workingman?”
“That would be revealing too much.”
Jacqueline grinned. “Sticking to an aura of mystery, eh?”
She imagined he was smiling when he replied, “It does seem to amuse you, so, yes, I believe I will.”
“Well, at least you’re not a beggar, dressed as you are,” she said with confidence.
“I could have stolen these clothes.”
Her brows shot up. “A criminal?”
“Overlooked that variable, did you?”
“Indeed I did, and that won’t do a’tall.”
“You could reform me.”
“I could say good-bye.”
“Even if I’m otherwise quite dashing, charming, and just what you need to keep things interesting?”
She started to turn away, quite disappointed that he was the one thing her father could never be brou
ght around to accept, even if she could. But he kept her there by tugging her closer to him for the briefest moment, brushing her chest against his. It was quite surprising, that touch, and titillating, making her nipples tingle. But that he would dare detain her was the bigger surprise.
“I was jesting,” he was quick to say. “I’ve only ever broken the law one time that I can recall, and it was a minor offense where no one got hurt, certainly nothing to warrant me being called a criminal.”
If he would admit that much, then it must be true, but she still wanted to know, “Then what was it?”
“I don’t make confessions to strangers. D’you?”
“Only about marriage. Don’t want to give them hope when there isn’t any.”
“If I’m only destined to be a friend—for a year or two—perhaps you will meet me after the ball so we can start getting better acquainted?”
Instead of being affronted by such a breach of etiquette, Jacqueline chuckled. She was pleased that one of her guesses appeared to be on the mark. “So you’re a rake of the more daring sort? Much as I’d like to be one m’self, I’m not going to tempt my father into killing you. So, no, I shan’t meet you so late at night.”
“A stroll on the terrace then, where I won’t have twelve pairs of eyes frying me?”
She chuckled. “What you would get is my father tossing you over the railing out there, or did you think his eyes aren’t also watching you like a hawk? But you might find me riding in Hyde Park tomorrow afternoon, should you care to join me—without your mask.”
“Then until tomorrow.”
Chapter Six
THE NEXT DAY, JACQUELINE didn’t doubt her mystery man had deliberately left the ball prior to the unmasking. She’d kept track of him in the crowd for a while, noting that he didn’t ask anyone else to dance after he returned her to her parents. They’d been surprised when James had asked him his name and the fellow replied, “Your daughter is amused by mysteries so I’d prefer not to tell you right now.” He’d bowed to the ladies and walked off, and since James had taken off his own mask by then, Georgina and Jack had laughed at his thunderous expression.
She couldn’t get out of her mind the man’s risqué suggestion that they meet after the ball. Daring stuff, his willingness to risk her father’s finding out that they’d gone off together. Which made her think again that her mystery man didn’t really know her or her family, and, more to the point, the many rumors of the more lethally unsavory sort that still abounded about her father.
But then one of her other beaus finally got up the nerve to draw her away from her parental shield, and once he did, the others formed a solid barricade on the edge of the dance floor to request their dances before she could return to her father’s side. She found that so amusing she forgot about the daring stranger for a while. Until the unmasking and finding out that he wasn’t there for it.
She was still intrigued and incredibly excited about her rendezvous in Hyde Park today. She was also glad to have the ride on her agenda to distract her from her father’s having left for the Caribbean early that morning. A fait accompli, so she shouldn’t still be miffed that he hadn’t let her go along, but she was. After all, she was the one who’d been directly victimized by those damned pirates, so she should have a chance to get her own sweet revenge against Bastard, while her father took care of the culprit who’d pulled Bastard’s strings. But so much for her wishes . . .
She was already dressed for her rendezvous in a deep blue riding habit, the only darker-colored outfit she was allowed to wear. Carrying the feathered hat and jacket into the dining room, she wondered if she could manage to eat anything before she left the house. She scoffed at the notion of being nervous about meeting the stranger again. She might be heaping more importance on this ride than she ought to. The stranger might have a physique to admire, but he might also have the visage of a toad.
That thought made her laugh aloud, which was when Amy Anderson appeared in the doorway, still removing her gloves. Amy had brought her twins, Glorianna and Stuart, with her, but then she would never have heard the end of the complaints if she hadn’t. They were the same age as Jacqueline’s twin brothers, and those four loved getting into trouble together when Amy and Warren were in London. Stuart and Glory were already rushing past their mother to the stairs.
“Eating alone?” Amy said as she took the chair next to Jacqueline.
Amy was Jacqueline’s cousin and had become her aunt as well when she’d married Jack’s uncle, Warren Anderson. Amy sailed with her husband, even raised her children at sea, bringing along first their nannies, then their tutors. But Warren’s ship had departed that morning, along with Boyd’s and Georgina’s, all sailing with James back to the Caribbean, and none of them were taking any women along.
“You missed my mother. She’s off having lunch with Aunt Roslynn.”
“I did think she might need cheering up, which is why I stopped by, but I’m sure Ros will see to that.”
“And you don’t need cheering when you get left behind?”
“It’s actually the first time Warren has sailed without me since we married. When I was expecting, he stayed home with me for the duration.”
“So you’re as miffed as I am not to be included?” Jack asked.
“No, but if you are, then maybe you need cheering up more’n your mother.”
“So everyone keeps telling me,” Jack mumbled.
“Then let’s start with you telling me who he is?” Amy said with a grin. “I’m dying to know.”
“Don’t be so cryptic, Cousin.” Jack rolled her eyes. “I’m not a mind reader.”
“You’ve met your true love.”
Jack’s eyes flared. “Bite your tongue, I did no such thing. Take it back, Amy, right this minute.”
Amy frowned before admonishing, “Well, don’t get upset about it. I know you didn’t want to meet him during your first Season and maybe you didn’t actually meet him. Maybe you only encountered him in passing so he didn’t make an impression on you. You didn’t even see him? Maybe he only saw you and hasn’t started the pursuit yet?”
“That’s enough maybes, thank you very much. If you’ve just cursed me by saying I’ve found the man of my dreams, I’ll never forgive you.”
Amy tsked. “I didn’t. There’s been no wager, I assure you, and I’ve learned my lessons about not pushing things along by betting that they will happen. I just had one of my feelings, and you know they aren’t always spot on the mark. It might not even have been about you. The family assumes you’ll be next to the altar, so I was only guessing. It could be Jaime.”
Jacqueline didn’t believe a word of that, but as long as her cousin didn’t make one of her infamous wagers that she never lost, then Jack wasn’t going to worry about it. Especially since Amy’s premonitions weren’t always time-sensitive. If Amy was predicting that Jack would find true love, it could happen next year or the one after, which would be on Jack’s timetable and suit her just fine.
But Amy could be a font of information of the mysterious sort, too, which prompted Jacqueline to suddenly ask, “Have you had any feelings about my father or your husband and what’s going to happen when they reach the Caribbean?”
“Nothing like that powerful feeling that something bad was going to happen when you all set sail for Bridgeport, Jack, which is why I’m not worried about their trip.”
Well, that wasn’t satisfying. It could mean they wouldn’t come to harm, but it could also mean they weren’t going to succeed in finding the culprits. If she had just told her father immediately about that damned original note from Bastard’s boss while they’d all still been in the Caribbean . . . No, her father would have walked straight into a trap and would still have left her behind somewhere. But she should have told him as soon as they got back to London; then he would have been gone for a full month by now instead of a few hours, and she would only have to wait one more month to find out what had happened or was going to happen, rather than two
or more. She growled to herself because there was no winning for her in any of those scenarios.
But thinking of the secret she’d kept longer than she should have, she suddenly asked her cousin, “Can you keep a secret?”
Amy chuckled. “I’m not sure!”
Which changed Jack’s mind about mentioning the note and asking if Amy had any feelings about what might have happened if Jack had handed it over sooner. So she said instead, “I met someone at the masked ball last night that I can’t place.”
“You have such a legion of beaus, surely he—”
“No, he was quick to say he wasn’t one of them.”
“And the secret is?”
“I was interested,” Jack admitted, abashed.
“But that’s wonderful news! And shame on you for trying to convince me my feeling wasn’t about you.”
Jack tsked. “But this isn’t wonderful a’tall when he could be anyone, even someone quite inappropriate. Besides, I was merely intrigued.”
“Clever fellow. Perhaps that was his strategy. He wanted to pique your curiosity so he would stand out from the pack, and he succeeded. It is going to take someone quite out of the ordinary to win you, m’dear, and that’s not just my opinion. All of our aunts have said the same thing, including your mother. But I’m not sure I like that reference to ‘inappropriate.’ You’ve really no idea who he might be?”
“No, and he didn’t stay for the unmasking at midnight, so I don’t even know what his face looks like. It’s annoying that I could pass him on the street and not know it.”
She did worry that she might not recognize him in the park today. Or that he’d found out exactly who her father was last night after their dance—how could he not when James’s confirmed presence had put the gossip mill in full swing? But that might have been why the stranger had left early. He could be a coward after all and not want to tempt fate by getting anywhere near James Malory again—or his daughter.