Edward would be appalled if he knew what she was doing this evening. Nor did he care for Palmer. She had to admit there was something unsettling about Barbara’s brother. Darkness lay beneath his polite façade, a certain danger barely hidden.
The thought nearly made her shiver. Though she told herself that very danger was what drew her to agree to Barbara’s suggestion that he take them to the party, now that she was in a carriage at night with him, doubts bubbled to the surface.
“Edward had other plans this evening.” She pursed her lips as resolve filled her. These next few months were all she had. Her life would change drastically once she was trapped in marriage. She expected to be as miserable as her mother was. The vague expression Lady Wynn wore, especially when her husband started on one of his tirades, was heartbreaking.
Then there was the glass of sherry so often at her elbow that Charlotte had realized wasn’t truly sherry but something stronger. The frequent headaches that gave her an excuse to remain abed, the lack of concern about anything, combined with the bland expression she so often wore, suggested she used any means necessary to cushion herself from the reality of her life.
Those signs caused Charlotte to study the other married women around her, and she’d realized that ladies like her mother were the majority rather than the minority. Marriage was the beginning of the end. A business arrangement that both parties endured with stoicism and numbness.
Charlotte loved her mother but didn’t want to become her.
The thoughts strengthened her determination to see through with the evening’s plans. If she wanted to enjoy life, she had to take every opportunity open to her.
Carpe diem.
Charlotte held tight to the thought and leaned back against the bench seat, determined to relax and enjoy the evening. “Did you bring your mask?” she asked Barbara.
Her friend nodded enthusiastically. “It’s gorgeous. I can’t wait to wear it.”
Barbara was a friend best taken in small doses. She rarely thought about consequences and met life with blind enthusiasm, making her the perfect companion for this sort of evening. Her lack of regard for more serious topics frustrated Charlotte. But on this night, the lack would play to Charlotte’s advantage.
“Do you have yours?”
Charlotte held up the gold and green mask that had been tucked in the sleeve of her Spencer.
“Perfect,” Barbara declared. “I cannot wait to see how everyone is dressed as well as their masks. What do you suppose Madame Bernard will wear?”
“I didn’t think you were venturing to the gathering to admire their fashion or lack thereof,” Lord Palmer drawled as he stared out the window as if bored by the conversation. “Surely you would prefer to engage in a more exciting activity.”
Another prickle of nerves struck Charlotte as she wondered what the lord had in mind, but she did her best to ignore it.
“Why don’t we begin the evening properly?” He reached into the dark corner of his seat and retrieved a bottle of champagne and three fluted glasses from a basket. “I believe a toast to our adventure is in order.”
Barbara clapped her gloved hands in delight. “How thoughtful of you, dear brother.”
He opened the bottle with practiced ease, the pop causing Charlotte to jerk even as Barbara giggled. When Palmer handed Charlotte the first glass, she held it carefully before her and off to one side, not wanting a bump in the road to cause her to spill the bubbly, golden liquid on her gown.
“To our adventure.” Palmer raised his glass and looked at both of them in turn. “May we all find a thrill we didn’t expect this evening.” His gaze lingered on Charlotte as he finished the toast, his shockingly predatory expression making her uneasy.
With a mental shake at her ridiculous thoughts, Charlotte forced a smile. It wasn’t as if she would be alone with him. Barbara was at her side, and Charlotte intended to make certain that didn’t change. She wanted to have fun, not place herself in danger. “To our adventure.”
“Yes, to adventure.” Barbara took a sip quickly followed by another. “I intend to dance as much as possible. What if they play a waltz?” Her eyes rounded at the scandalous thought.
Aware of Lord Palmer’s continued regard, Charlotte shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll waltz.” Though the dance had become integrated into Society, including at Almack’s Assembly Rooms, her parents thought the dance scandalous.
“Why not? We’ll be wearing our masks. No one will know.” Lady Barbara held out her glass for a refill and nudged Charlotte to do the same. “I want to do it at least once.”
Deciding she appreciated the way the drink eased her nerves, Charlotte accepted a refill as well. Between the mask and the champagne, perhaps a waltz wouldn’t be so terrible after all.
Lord Palmer clinked his glass against hers again. “Finish your drinks, ladies. We’re nearly there.”
Anticipation simmered as the carriage drew to a halt. They returned their glasses to the basket, donned their masks, and alighted.
Charlotte smiled at the sight of the two-story mansion with torches lighting the path to the front door as anticipation filled her.
This. This was the exact type of experience she’d longed for, where she felt a thrill from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She intended to collect as many moments like this one as possible this Season. Before she married and everything changed.
“Let us see what we can see.” Charlotte linked her arm through Barbara’s, leaving Lord Palmer to follow, hoping to make it clear she wasn’t open to any advances from him.
The crush of people, all wearing masks, some wearing outrageous attire, was a sight to behold. One man wore a gold-colored suit coat that sparkled in the candlelight. Another strutted past whose outfit brought to mind a peacock. The ladies were equally amazing, some with low necklines that left little to the imagination. Others wore wigs piled high on their head, decorated with colorful ribbons and tall feathers. Many wore heavy rouge and painted lips along with colorful masks.
She and Barbara strolled around the room, enjoying the décor of gold and silver along with an entire mirrored wall. Even the footmen wore gold and silver uniforms as well as masks. Everything glittered.
Charlotte felt underdressed in her simple green silk gown. Thank goodness her mask was elaborately beaded, covering most of her eyes and cheeks. When two gentlemen asked her and Barbara to dance, they readily agreed.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur, leaving a myriad of impressions in her mind. Despite the fact that Lord Palmer found numerous opportunities to make her uncomfortable with his flirtatious remarks and frequent brushes against her, she had a wonderful evening and couldn’t wait to experience another like it.
That was until the strains of a waltz filled the air, and she turned to find a masked gentleman standing before her whose broad shoulders and fit form seemed strikingly familiar.
“May I have the honor of this dance?”
A rush of goose flesh prickled her skin, causing her to shiver. She had no doubt of the man’s identity—James. The question was, did he know who she was?
Chapter Two
James’ attention had been caught by the lovely lady in the green gown from the moment he and Edward had entered the gathering. The tilt of her head, her graceful moves as she danced, and the delicate flush of her face from the heat of the ballroom visible below her mask had him watching her closely. Not only was she attractive, but she also seemed familiar. When he’d drawn closer, he quickly realized why.
Lady Charlotte.
What the devil was she doing at a gathering like this? Her presence here was scandalous. If her brother found out—
He couldn’t complete the thought. Edward would be livid. He’d always been protective of his younger sister, and James didn’t think that had changed over the years.
He’d watched her closely, trying to determine who had accompanied her. The way Edward had spoken about her,
as brief as it had been, she was still quiet and shy, much like James remembered. Yet he could hardly believe his eyes as she danced with one man after another. She and another young lady spoke frequently, so he assumed they were together along with a man he didn’t recognize who wore a rather gaudy mask.
Surely Edward would recognize her at any moment. However, a glance at his friend revealed him heavily involved in a conversation with the opera singer he’d mentioned. It had been Edward’s idea to attend the party since he’d heard a particular woman whom he admired was supposed to be in attendance.
James had found himself walking toward Lady Charlotte, telling himself he needed to warn her that her brother was here. But when she turned to face him, her glittering gold and green mask in place, he asked her to dance instead.
Her brief hesitation made him wonder if she recognized him as well, but the mask hid her reaction.
“Of course.” She took his offered arm, and they walked toward the dance floor. “Are you enjoying your evening?”
“Not as much as you, I believe.” Did he tell her who he was or did she already know?
“How do you mean?”
“You don’t seem to be lacking for dance partners.”
“An odd thing for you to mention when you’re one of them,” she was quick to point out.
He gave a single nod to acknowledge the truth of her statement. Why he was dancing with her when his intent had been to warn her of her brother’s presence was beyond him.
“One wonders why someone such as you is at a gathering like this.” He wanted to understand why she was there. What did she hope to find that she couldn’t at a normal ball?
“I could say the same of you.” The boldness of her statement along with the lift of her chin had him shifting his impression of her once again. The reserved girl from the past was nowhere in sight.
They reached the dance floor and James took her hand in his, placing his other on her slim waist, all while questioning what he was doing.
As they joined the other dancers to turn and glide over the floor, James was relieved he knew the steps well enough that he didn’t injure her toes. He’d attended a few parties at the end of the war while in France where the waltz was more widely accepted.
In London, not everyone appreciated the dance. Even he was familiar with Lord Byron’s poem from several years ago which suggested the waltz was promiscuous, partly because one didn’t change partners instead holding onto the other person the entire dance, and partly because it eliminated the tradition of arranging lines of dancers in the order of those with the highest social standing.
“If I’d known a lady like you might be in attendance, I would’ve made an effort to come to earlier gatherings.” He guided her into a turn before looking at her again, hoping her answer would reveal whether she made a habit of attending functions like this one.
“How flattering.”
When she said nothing more, he nearly smiled. She was clever as well as intelligent. It came as a surprise to realize how much he enjoyed the cat and mouse game they played, with neither admitting whether they knew the other.
Of course, he wouldn’t allow it to continue much longer. If she knew his identity, surely she knew her brother was nearby. James didn’t care to cause her trouble, but he couldn’t pretend like he hadn’t seen her.
From the few things Edward had shared, their father had become increasingly difficult. If Lord Wynn discovered what Charlotte was about, the consequences would be severe. The lord was ill-tempered on a good day and also suffered from gout. When the painful condition flared, he was even testier, making unreasonable demands on everyone around him, which made it even more important that Lady Charlotte wasn’t caught.
Though James’ allegiance was to Edward, he felt a certain protectiveness toward her. If this was a one-time occurrence, wouldn’t it be better if no one else knew about it? Perhaps he could simply warn her of the danger in coming to gatherings like this one.
Yet as he looked into the sparkling eyes just visible through her mask, he decided it could wait a few minutes more. She’d obviously come to enjoy herself, and he was reluctant to be the one to take that away. He had the impression she didn’t have many chances to take pleasure in life because of her father.
The music was impressive. Wonderful, in fact. Why not enjoy this dance before he confirmed what she had most likely guessed? The rhythm of the song and the graceful woman in his arms served to lift the looming darkness that followed him everywhere these days. A welcome reprieve from the shadows that plagued him.
All too soon, the final notes of the piece filled the air, bringing them to a halt. For a moment, he wished she weren’t Lady Charlotte. Then he could give in to the ridiculous urge to ask her to accompany him to the terrace where he might find a dark corner to dispense with the masks and share a kiss.
The thought shocked him to his core. This was Edward’s sister. He cleared his throat, hoping to chase away the alarming idea so it would never again see the light of day. She wasn’t simply an attractive lady, but Lady Charlotte.
“By now you must be aware that your brother is here.” James resisted the urge to look around for him.
Charlotte drew a quick breath. “I am. Will you tell him?”
“Not if you promise to return home immediately and not to attend this type of event again.” Parties like this were ripe with men who made lechery their middle name. He didn’t want any harm to befall her.
She smiled. “You are a good man, James.” His chest tightened at her use of his given name. “Thank you for the dance. Good night.” She turned and disappeared into the crowd in the general direction of the door.
Too late, he realized she had promised neither. “Damn.”
“Who was that?” Edward appeared at his shoulder, his gaze following James’.
The close call sent his heart hammering. “She didn’t give her name.”
“How unfortunate for you.”
James turned to face Edward. “It’s for the best. I’m not looking for any entanglements. What of you? Did you find success?”
Edward grinned. “Perhaps not success but progress. Shall we move on to the gaming hell?”
“Excellent idea.”
As they walked out of the mansion into the night, James thought he saw a green-gowned figure stepping into a nearby carriage.
One thing was certain, he intended to find out why Lady Charlotte had been at the party. He would call on Edward on the morrow with the hope of speaking with her to gain some answers.
~*~
James waited until the afternoon to call at Wynn House. He hoped that gave Edward enough time to sleep off the effects of their late evening.
The gaming hell they'd gone to had been entertaining. The cards had been in James’ favor, and he'd taken home a tidy sum. From what he could tell, Edward had luck as well. At least until he'd had one too many drinks. Then his decisions had been questionable.
James tended to keep his drinking to a minimum these days while gambling. His pockets weren’t so deep that he had extra money to toss away on a whim. He had his future to consider.
Once again, he found himself waiting in the drawing room for Edward, this time hoping Charlotte would emerge. He’d considered asking the butler if she was home but decided against it. He didn’t care to draw attention to his sudden interest in her.
He nearly scowled in disappointment when Edward arrived before he’d caught sight of Charlotte.
“Good day, Redmond,” Edward greeted him. “You must have had a better time than I realized if you've called to discuss our next outing already.”
“Yes, I'm quite eager to plan another evening’s entertainment.” James continued the conversation about trivial matters until he couldn't stand it anymore. “Have you seen your sister today?”
Edward frowned. “I can't say that I have. Why?”
“Just curious.” James shrugged. “It sounded as if she had a
busy evening planned last night.” He avoided Edward’s gaze, hoping his friend wouldn’t make the wrong assumption.
Ladies like her weren’t for the likes of him. They, along with their families, expected proposals from an eligible man who showed interest. He was far from eligible. Not when he couldn’t control his inner demons.
Even as he opened his mouth with the hope an excuse for his query would come to mind, Charlotte started into the room only to pause at the sight of the two of them.
“Good afternoon, Lady Charlotte.” James bowed, studying her closely. Though she looked lovely, if he didn't know better, he would guess she wasn't feeling especially well.
Shadows marked her eyes, and her smile wasn’t nearly as vibrant as it had been the previous evening. He knew those signs well as he’d seen them in his own reflection far too often since his return to England, and they matched her brother’s. If he didn’t know better, she appeared to have overindulged the previous evening.
“Gentlemen. I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said even as a delicate pink bloomed in her pale cheeks. She gestured to a table near where he stood. “I only wanted to retrieve my book.”
Before he could think of a reason to detain her, she walked close to pick it up and turned to leave. The urge to reach for her hand to delay her came over him, but that would never do.
Just then Lady Wynn entered the room, her gaze fixed on her son.
“Mother, you remember Viscount Redmond, don’t you?” Edward asked.
“Of course. How good to see you.” She nodded politely at James, who bowed.
Lady Wynn had aged since James had last seen her. The corners of her mouth pulled down as if she were perpetually unhappy. The fine lines around her eyes and mouth had deepened significantly, making James wonder at the cause.
Her attention returned to Edward, and she asked him a question, allowing James to move closer to Charlotte. “I hope your evening went well?”
She met his gaze, her blush deepening. “It was lovely. Thank you. And yours?”
To Dare a Rogue Page 2
