You say you want more, but how is she to know this?Last time they discussed it, he’d had his own limitations for the relationship. He’d told her he had no interest in marriage, and warned her about his public profile. He desired the freedom of a public fling with none of the responsibilities of marriage or the repercussions that society imposes on women.
The idea of marrying Althea was sitting more comfortably in his thoughts. But the risks of marriage felt far more serious than the risks to her reputation. Weren’t they? Or was that a selfish point of view? He had no idea. But one thing he was certain of was that he was done with sneaking around. He needed her to choose him. Then he might be able to trust in the future.
Rifling through his usual pile of invitations, he let them drop one by one into the wastebasket. A familiar logo—a scourge and mask—caught Evan’s eye, and he pulled it free, dropping the rest of the stack back to his desk.
Sarah and Pru were hosting a demi-monde masquerade in two nights. He grinned. ’Twas the perfect opportunity to get past Althea’s walls and end this sneaking around. The temptation of viewing debauchery might distract her and lower her guard. Mayhap she’d be more willing, more open to suggestion. His desire to take advantage of the situation might be underhanded, but he wasn’t sure he cared. He was at his wits end. He wanted Althea but could no longer live with her terms. It was time to up the stakes.
He scribbled two notes out and called for a footman. Ford needed warning that his presence was required. The other, he sent to Althea, making his excuses for the evening and telling her he’d be at the party the following night. Let the next time she saw him be at the gala. After another quick thought, he sent a note to Sarah to ensure Althea and Beth had been invited.
****
Trying to take a page from her cousin’s book, she’d allowed Beth to dress her for the masquerade. While she had no interest in marriage or a high-profile affair, she could not resist the allure of these parties now that she had discovered the pleasure to be had in physical intimacy.
If I’m being honest, that pleasure may well be dependent on being with the right person, and my prurient interest in watching others performing intimate acts.
She kept an eye out for Evan, having received his note the day before.
Beth had chosen a garnet dress for Althea, her favorite because it suited her light skin and dark hair so well. While the one she’d worn at Greenborough Park had been somewhat daring, this dress’s neckline skimmed her nipples. She’d need to breathe carefully tonight and not bend over. Beth only allowed her one petticoat and no drawers, so she felt naked from her ribcage down, where the dress draped away from her short form corset. The dress was a leaner cut than her other dresses and skimmed along her body, highlighting her willowy height.
In contrast, Beth had donned a buttery yellow dress that matched her hair and had a wide square neckline that displayed her impressive cleavage without being as low cut as Althea’s. Instead, Beth had rouged her nipples and foregone a corset. She had declared earlier that her goal for the evening was carnal acts right at the party. Althea hoped she meant in an upstairs room, not the theatre-ballroom.
Slipping on their masks, they stepped down from the coach and knocked on the unassuming door. Althea tried to ignore her misgivings about entering the private men’s spanking club again. She reminded herself of her mantra the first time she brought Beth to one of these as an outlet for her cousin’s overactive libido.
In the main room, she accepted a glass of gold bubbly liquid from a servant’s tray and sipped.Champagne rather than lemonade. Ah yes, this could be a very good night.
They strolled the perimeter of the room. There was another dark-haired woman in a ruby gown who Althea remembered seeing at the last party and that she was within a few years of Althea’s age.
Althea wondered if Evan had been with the slightly older lady. Then, looking around she grimaced.Gads, he may have been with all of them. If only she could claim him publicly, so they’d know he was not available.
Giving herself a mental shake, she realized how silly that thought was. She was the one who wanted it secret. She did not want to marry any more than he did.
Trading her empty glass for a second one, she frowned into the gold liquid.
A gentleman’s voice said teasingly, “Now what did that poor drink ever do to you to cause you to frown at it so?”
She looked up. One of the prospective investors Evan had introduced her to stood before her, with a small mask that did nothing to hide his features.
“Lady E, I believe?” He kindly forewent her full surname given their surroundings.
She nodded.
“And what brings you to this establishment?” His smile was wicked.
“Ah…” Lud, she was out of practice at flirting. “My cousin…” She gestured vaguely, but Beth had seen someone interesting and was halfway across the room. As Althea’s gaze followed Beth’s progress, it stopped on two men talking just inside the entrance. One was taller and slimmer than the other but with nicely muscled shoulders and a mane of dark gold—Evan!
He turned in her direction, perusing the dancers.
She gasped.
He hadn’t even bothered with a mask.
He wonders why I worry about being with him in public.
Her lips twisted at the bitter thought. Not ready to see him yet, particularly in the large crowd, she murmured a garbled excuse to the investor and turned to flee up the stairs, seeking refuge.
Chapter Seventeen
As Ford greeted their hostesses and stepped away to speak to Sarah privately about adding two new items to the demonstrations, Evan gazed around the room. When he spied Beth, his blood surged.
