Arriving at the spot where they were, Alex adopted her best stage whisper and said, “You lot really ought to keep moving—you’re attracting a crowd.”

With equal starts, the threesome looked up and scanned their surroundings, prompting their admirers to smile, sweep into elaborate bows, and generally make fools of themselves.

Nicola rolled her eyes quite publicly and leaned in to hug Alex. “Ridiculous. Do they really think fawning is going to help their common cause? And hello to you, Lady Alexandra.” She spoke the title exaggeratedly, holding Alex at arm’s length to study her. “This color is incredible on you. The neckline, too. My God—if they were interested in us…they’re quite beside themselves now! I think Waring is in need of smelling salts. Did I see you come in with Blackmoor? He has his work as escort cut out for him this evening!”

Alex laughed at the exaggerated compliments as Vivi spoke. “Good Lord! How did there come to be so many of them? Which one of us do you suppose they’re here for?”

“I’m not certain they’ve crafted much of an opinion on that front, to be honest,” Alex said with a smile. “I should think that if any one of you showed the smallest amount of interest, any one of them would come running.”

“Dear God, don’t do that, then!” Nicola replied with mock alarm.

“What interesting creatures.” Ella spoke with such an undertone of scientific research that the rest of the girls couldn’t help their laughter.

Looking over Alex’s shoulder, Vivi lowered her voice and spoke just loudly enough for the group to hear. “Careful, Alex, here comes someone whom I daresay knows exactly ‘which one’ he’s here for.”

Before Alex could turn to see who Vivi was speaking of, she heard the rich, amused tenor of Freddie Stanhope’s voice. “You four shouldn’t be over here all by yourselves. The sharks are circling.”

With genuine pleasure, Alex smiled up at her friend. “We were just noticing that ourselves, my lord. You are certainly well met.”

“Indeed,” Nicola boldly added, “unless you are circling as well, my lord?”

Freddie put his hand to his chest in mock hurt. “Certainly not, my lady. You wound me to suggest such a thing.” He added a distinctly lewd waggle of his eyebrows, sending the girls into giggles.

In a conspiratorial whisper, he continued, “Shall I escort you beauties elsewhere and away from these young pups?”

Ella replied with amusement, “I’m not certain they wouldn’t follow, but your plan seems as good as any.”

Freddie leaned toward Ella. “I wouldn’t be concerned. Not one of them appears to be committed to proper wooing—if they were worth their salt, I would have had to throw elbows to get so close to the four of you.”

“Intriguing,” spoke Alex. “So now that you have laid claim to us—someone will have to throw elbows to intercede?”

Freddie turned a wickedly handsome smile on her. “Lady Alexandra, I’m not the kind of man to lay claim to four women at once—I’m merely offering my protection to all of you. For now”—he paused, pretending to consider a vital question—“I shall simply fill your dance cards.”

He proceeded to do just that, ending with Alex. As he looked down at the little card dangling from her wrist, he shook his head in mock disappointment. “Why, Alexandra Stafford—it can’t be possible you have the next waltz free. Unless…you were saving it for a dashing suitor?”

“Indeed, my lord, I was.” Alex cocked her head and considered him. “But I suppose you’ll do.”

And, with that, he whisked her into his arms and onto the dance floor. He didn’t waste any time before flirting wickedly. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the room, Alex.”

She smiled up at him. “And you are the greatest bounder in the room, Freddie.”

“True. Yet you can’t help but enjoy my company. Admit it.”

“I never said I didn’t enjoy it…but I’m told it’s risky. Ella and Vivi think you’ve got me in your sights.”

“And if they were right?” His voice was deeper than usual, and she imagined this was exactly the tone he’d practiced to send young women into fits.

She scoffed. “Save it, Stanhope. If you thought even for a minute that I might possibly fall for you, you’d run. Far. And fast.”

“Too true, my brilliant, perceptive friend. Too true.”

“Someday, Freddie…someday, some young lady is going to set you on your ear. And you won’t be able to resist her.”

“Never.”

“And, with such pompous self-confidence, it’s a certainty.”

“I shall shamelessly flirt with you and drive her away.”

“This isn’t shameless flirting already?”

“Not at all! I’m just getting started.” They swirled under the twinkling lights as Alex’s laughter drifted across the dance floor and he continued casually, “But, my lady, you seem to have an altogether different admirer who can’t take his eyes off you. And, at this particular moment, he doesn’t appear at all pleased that you are enjoying yourself in my arms.” She started to look to see to whom he was referring, when he stopped her quickly. “Don’t look, kitten. Then he’ll know we’re discussing him.”

“Who?”

“You mean you don’t know? You haven’t noticed him watching you all evening? All season?”

“Freddie, WHO?”

“Blackmoor, of course.”

“You’re touched.” Alex laughed, shaking her head. “He’s not been watching me all season, and if he has been watching me tonight, it’s only because he feels obligated to. He’s my chaperone for the evening.”

Freddie laughed shortly. “Really? Your chaperone? It seems to me that your family are the ones who are touched, Alex. They’re practically feeding you to the lion.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Freddie. Blackmoor has no interest in me other than pseudobrotherly admiration.”

“Oh? I’ve two sisters myself, if you’ll remember, Alex. And I’ve never looked at one of them quite the way he’s looking at you right now.”

It took all of Alex’s strength not to look. “Which is how, precisely?”

“As though he doesn’t know if he wants to kiss you or kill you.”

She gasped, a blush coming to her cheeks. “Freddie!”

“Don’t shoot the messenger, sweet.”

“You’re sorely mistaken.”

“Perhaps.” The music came to a crescendo and they whirled to a halt, Freddie bowing low over her hand and lingering a touch longer than was entirely proper. He winked up at her and whispered, “Let’s find out, shall we?” Then, louder and with a rakish grin, “Shall we find the exit to the garden, my lady? I daresay we both could use some…air.”

“I don’t think that will be at all necessary, Stanhope.” The statement cut through the air like a knife, and Alex felt her stomach drop with the realization that Blackmoor was standing immediately behind her. She looked up at Freddie, wide-eyed, not quite knowing what to do.

He spoke with an air of bored dismissal. “Blackmoor, what a surprise. What is it you want?”

Blackmoor’s tone brooked no refusal, but was surprisingly hushed, only loud enough for the three of them to hear. “I want you to stay away from Lady Alexandra, Stanhope. She is most definitely not in need of a walk in the gardens with the likes of you.”

“I suppose you would be a better companion?” Freddie drawled. Alex could sense that this conversation was not going to end well but had a nagging suspicion that Freddie was quite enjoying himself.

“Most certainly. I’m practically her brother.” Freddie gave a short laugh at this, which made Blackmoor even more angry. “More importantly,” he continued, “I’m her escort this evening, and I say where she goes and who she goes with. And she is most certainly not going anywhere with you.”

“I beg your pardon?” Alex spoke, keeping her voice hushed, but pulling herself up to her full height and stepping between the two men. Her face flushed with indignation as she leveled Blackmoor with a dark look. “What did you just say?” He looked down at her mutely as she pressed on. “I’m almost certain that you implied…nay…dictated…that you have some kind of control over my behavior.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “I think it best you say no more, my lord, lest you embarrass yourself further. Let me be clear. Last I was aware, you were neither my husband nor my father nor my king. Therefore, any control you may imagine you hold over me is just that—imaginary.” She continued, her anger making her voice waver, “If I want to take a walk in the gardens with Stanhope, or with anyone else for that matter, that is entirely my business. I will thank you to stay out of my affairs. Or need I remind you that it is not Stanhope whom I’ve had to be wary of on balconies recently?”

Her whispered question dropped between them, and Blackmoor’s face turned to stone. She saw fury flash before he offered her a short bow and turned away, only to be swallowed up almost immediately by the crush of people who remained unaware of the scene that had just occurred.

Fists clenched in fury, Alex watched him go.

“Well…” drawled Stanhope once he disappeared, “that was certainly more illuminating than I had expected it would be.”

“Oh, shut up, Freddie.”

“My lips are sealed, kitten…but may I make a small suggestion? Two, actually.”

“As if I could stop you?”

“First, I wouldn’t necessarily mention that part about balconies so freely and in such close company. It’s not exactly a flattering picture of Blackmoor…and could be damaging to your reputation.”

“Thank you, Freddie.” Her voice was laced with sarcasm. “I hadn’t realized that.”

“Sarcasm doesn’t become you, sweet.” He pressed on. “Second…I’d imagine Blackmoor will be rather…put out…that you brought that up in front of me.”

“More than put out,” she replied. “Livid.”

“A choice word.”

“So what’s your second suggestion?”

“Tread lightly.”

“That’s it? That’s the best advice you can give me?”

“All right, tread very lightly.”

thirteen

Alex did walk in the gardens that evening—alone.

She snuck out not long after the debacle with Blackmoor, shaking with fury. She was furious with him for being so boorish, furious with herself for being so quick to rise, and furious with Freddie for seeming to understand everything that was happening—when she didn’t even know what was happening at any given moment.

She trudged up the garden path, feeling more miserable by the moment as she moved farther from the house.

She really shouldn’t have mentioned the balcony in front of Stanhope. Not that she was worried that he would tell anyone—despite Blackmoor’s opinion of him, Alex knew Freddie had a strong sense of right and it simply wouldn’t cross his mind to do or say anything that would impugn her honor.

No, she shouldn’t have said anything about the balcony because she should have known it would insult and offend Blackmoor. He hated to be caught unawares, prided himself on being able to predict the trajectory of a conversation, and she’d ambushed him—not only because she’d said it in front of Stanhope, but because she’d said it at all—breaking their clear unspoken agreement never to discuss it again.

Perhaps that was what bothered her so much…the fact that he was thoroughly prepared to forever ignore the fact that for one fleeting moment, they might have been more than friends. Not that she wanted that. Or did she? No! Certainly not. And even if she did, she most certainly did not want to marry, which meant she couldn’t very well go kissing him on balconies. Or anywhere else for that matter.

Of course, she did wish they’d kissed that one time. She was very curious about this part of the whole dilemma. And now it was all she thought about when she thought about him. She sighed. “Oh, Alexandra. How have you become such a complete ninny?”

The whispered question hung in the air—no answer springing immediately to mind. She sighed again heavily and took a seat on one of the marble benches that were distributed about the Salisbury gardens. She pulled her slippered feet up beneath her gown, wrapping her arms about her knees.

She could hear the faint sounds of the ball in the distance, laughter and chatter intermingled with the notes of a country dance, and she wondered if Vivi and Ella were dancing, and with whom. The quiet sounds were matched by the dim light spilling across the gardens and allowing her to just barely see in the darkness. She rested her chin on her knees and closed her eyes, wondering how long she would be able to stay outside the ball before someone realized she was missing and came looking for her. She was going to have to make her way back at some point and seek out someone to escort her home—if she knew one thing, she knew she would not ask Blackmoor to perform the task.

She heard a rustle behind her and she stood nervously, knowing that she could find herself in rather a lot of trouble in the event she were discovered by a single gentleman. She peered into the darkness beyond as a female figure appeared, rushing up the garden path and muttering to herself. Squinting, Alex recognized Ella—clearly wrapped up in her own thoughts and not looking where she was going.