No. Vivian would never be put in that position again. Much better to remain alone.
Rupert stared at his image in the mirror. “I can’t believe my grandfather wore such a thing.”
“If you had wanted to select your own costume, my lord, you should have begun earlier.”
Normally, he appreciated the plain speaking of his older retainers. This was not one of those times. He damn well knew he should have begun earlier. “I always thought he’d go as Henry the Eighth or some other powerful historical figure.”
“I see your point.” Wigman fixed a short sword to a belt circling Rupert’s waist. “Be thankful your legs have the muscle to carry the costume off. I saw a gentleman once who had stuffing in his stockings in order to make his calves more shapely. It all slipped down around his ankles.”
“Indeed.” He probably wouldn’t be the only gentleman to have bare legs this evening.
A long red cape and gold chain came next. Mark Antony. Of course. With Grandfather’s love of Shakespeare and his classical education and travels, who else? Now, if only Rupert knew how Vivian would be gowned.
“There you are, my lord.”
“Thank you.” Rupert donned a gold half-mask. “I don’t know how late I’ll be.”
“It’s no matter, my lord.”
His town coach was waiting when he walked down the steps. A footman opened the door, and as soon as Rupert was seated they started forward.
Even though this entertainment wasn’t to be risqué, he prayed Miss Banks or others of the younger ladies were not in attendance. He wanted to concentrate only on Vivian, once he found her.
The short line on the steps into Lord Sudbury’s house moved quickly, and there was much oohing and aahing over the various costumes, but no sharing of names. The unmasking, as usual, would come at midnight.
In only a few moments Rupert reached his host, whowasdressed as Henry the Eighth. “Welcome, my lord. So far all my guests have wonderful disguises. I don’t think I recognized more than a quarter of them. Midnight will bring some interesting revelations, eh?”
“As it always does.” Rupert greeted his hostess, then followed a footman to the ballroom, wondering if Vivian had arrived yet.
Crystal-and-gold chandeliers hung suspended from the ornately plastered and painted ceiling upon which cherubs, maidens, and men cavorted. He searched the ballroom and thought he recognized Vivian, yet when he came close, a cloyingly sweet perfume assailed his nose.
Definitely not her.
Taking a glass of champagne from a fountain set up off to the side of the room, he wove his way through the crowd, searching, not with his eyes, but with his senses.
Finally, the fragrance of a fresh meadow—lemon verbena, lavender, and bergamot—had him turning toward a very modest Cleopatra. He would swear she was wearing stays and a chemise under her costume.
The sound of violins readying for a waltz floated through the air. He finished his wine, but his mouth remained dry. “My queen, may I have this dance?”
She licked her lips and stared at him. “Yes, you may.”
Leading her to the dance floor, he bent down and whispered, “It appears as if we are the only Antony and Cleopatra here.”
“Yes, it does, my lord.”
“Then you were obviously meant for me.”
Vivian appeared confused as Rupert held her closer than proper as they made the turn. His knee pushed briefly between her legs, and a light gasp escaped her lips. He grinned; she was responding to him physically, as she had intellectually, just as he wanted. She had to have recognized him as well. He was positive she would not allow another gentleman to take such liberties.
She trembled slightly as he slid his hand from her small waist to the top of her buttocks. Their small talk was forced, as if they truly were strangers, and when the set ended, instead of trying to find her cousin, he grabbed one glass of champagne for the two of them and gave it to her. “Drink.”
She took two small sips before Rupert plucked the glass from Vivian’s fingers, drained it, then tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and headed for the balcony. “Come with me. I want to stand up with you again, feel you in my arms.”
Vivian hesitated. “The dance floor is the other way.”
“I know.” The last few days of being in her presence, and always with others, had decided him. She was his, and this evening he would not share her. It was past time she was made to realize how he felt, how much he wanted and desired her.
Rupert placed his lips close to her ear. “I wish to be alone with you.”
