Page 88 of Regency Whispers: Scandalous Matches

He offered her his arm, and she slipped her hand through and rested it in the crook of his elbow. They had only taken a few steps when they were cut off by a statuesque woman in a beautiful green and gold dress. Even with her mask on, Alice recognised Lady Salisbury. There was an expression of concerned curiosity on her face as she positioned herself directly in their path.

‘Lord Westcroft, I hope you are enjoying the ball.’

‘I am, thank you, Lady Salisbury.’

The viscountess turned to Alice, and Alice felt something shrivel inside her. There was coldness in the older woman’s expression that hadn’t been there when she had been looking at Lord Westcroft.

‘I do not think we have been introduced, Miss...’ Lady Salisbury said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Alice felt her mouth go instantly dry and her tongue stick to the roof.

‘You must forgive me,’ Lord Westcroft said before Alice could summon any words. ‘I have a little confession to make.’

‘Oh?’ Lady Salisbury said, not taking her eyes off Alice.

‘This is Miss James, a distant relative on my mother’s side. She has been staying with my mother these past few weeks. When my mother heard I was attending your ball, she requested I ask you if Miss James could come as my guest, but I completely forgot. When Miss James appeared at my door in my mother’s carriage tonight, I panicked and pretended you had agreed to her coming. I have to admit I hoped no one would notice and no word would get back to my mother about my oversight.’

Lady Salisbury looked from Lord Westcroft to Alice and back again for a moment and then broke out into a smile.

‘Lord Westcroft, you should have just brought Miss James to me when you arrived. You know I can never deny you anything. He is charming, is he not, Miss James?’

‘He is,’ Alice agreed.

‘I beg your forgiveness,’ Lord Westcroft said and then leaned in closer to Lady Salisbury and spoke in a conspiratorial manner. ‘And I beg you do not tell my mother of my error.’

‘My lips are sealed, Lord Westcroft.’

‘Now, Miss James, we cannot have the earl monopolising your time and attention at the ball tonight. I am sure there are many other gentlemen you wish to have the chance to dance with.’

‘I have been selfish,’ Lord Westcroft said, smiling indulgently at Alice as a distant relative might. ‘I promise, once we have finished our stroll, to deliver Miss James to the ballroom where she can enjoy the attentions of all the gentlemen here tonight, clamouring to fill her dance-card.’

Lady Salisbury inclined her head and took her leave, glancing over her shoulder at them before she reentered the ballroom. Alice waited until she was sure the older woman was out of earshot to exhale loudly.

‘I cannot breathe,’ she said, trying to suck in large gasps of air.

‘Be calm, Miss James. Lady Salisbury’s suspicions are averted for now.’

‘I thought she was going to rip my mask from my face and declare me an intruder, then command her footmen to escort me off her property.’

‘I would not put it past her. She does not have the most forgiving of natures.’

‘I need to leave,’ Alice said desperately.

‘That is the last thing you should do.’

She looked up at him, incredulous. He was remarkably calm, but she supposed if his lie was found out, it wouldn’t really affect him. Lady Salisbury would forgive the earl, it would be Alice who would be thrown out in disgrace.

‘Right now Lady Salisbury is watching you closely. If she sees you scurrying away she will know you were not meant to be here.’

‘What do you suggest, then?’

‘We stroll along the terrace as we had planned, and then you return to the ballroom and dance with a few different gentlemen before slipping away unnoticed.’

‘I do not know if my nerves can stand it.’

He leaned in a little closer, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke. ‘I’ll be with you.’

Simon knew he was acting recklessly, but he could not find it in himself to care. No one knew who Miss James was or where she came from, so he did not have to worry as much as he normally would when spending time with a young lady. If he were honest, this evening was the first time he’d enjoyed himself quite so much in a long time, and it was because of Miss James.