Westwood led her out to the floor. “Tell me everything.”
* * *
Dominic had watchedher dancing and had immediately known it was not one of his friends. He strongly suspected the man was Sir Julian, but with masks in place, he was not confident enough to make a scene and pull them apart in the middle of the dance floor. He could not think it a coincidence that Sir Julian had the identical domino with a stripe. Someone in his employ had much to answer for, but he would deal with them later.
He could feel Faith trembling in his arms, so she must have been more disturbed than she’d revealed when she was talking to her sisters. He gave her a few moments to settle her nerves before he spoke again. “I would not have let him take you. I was watching the whole time.”
She nodded and swallowed hard, then forced a tremulous smile at him.
“Did he threaten you?’ Dominic searched her eyes as best he could.
“No. In fact, he was the perfect gentleman. He even made me an offer of marriage.”
“I would hardly call that respectable without first obtaining your guardian’s consent.”
“Yes, and so I told him, but he argued that since you would not allow it, what alternative did he have?”
Dominic scoffed. “I hope you are not taken in?”
“Of course not, but knowing he would go to such lengths to seek an audience with me troubles me more than I anticipated, even though I expected a trick.”
“Perhaps you were right after all, Miss Whitford.”
“How do you mean?”
“Perhaps I was wrong to make you leave Bath.”
“I cannot be the judge of that, but it is done. Even in your wish for amusement, I do not think you would have wished this upon us.”
“Thank you,” he said dryly then spun her into a turn. “If only we could discover when the wager expires. I trust there is a time limit on it.”
“Goodness, I should hope so!”
He watched her as they danced in silence. “What is it?”
“It occurs to me that I should hate to punish my sisters if I am Sir Julian’s object. They are enjoying themselves enormously, you see.”
“Ah, so therein lies another argument for London.”
He saw a little twitch of appreciation in her lips, but he wished he could see her whole face. “What is the solution, then?”
“I do not know. If only Sir Julian would cease and desist with this outrageous wager.”
“Cease to exist? It might cause a slight upheaval, but perhaps that would be the solution.”
“Stop being ridiculous! You know that is not what I meant.”
“If you change your mind, I am at your service.” He made her a bow as the dance ended and they joined the others at the side of the ballroom. Hope immediately began tugging at Faith’s domino. “You will never guess what I just heard!”
Dominic held up a finger and indicated for Hope and Faith to follow him to a more secluded spot. “Now what did you hear, Hope?” he asked.
“Well, I did not know who my partner was, you understand, but even I could tell he was a bit…” She waved her hand.
“Bosky? In his cups? Inebriated? Drunk?” Dominic suggested.
“Well, yes.”
Dominic imagined she was blushing beneath her mask. “Do go on.”
