“Ah, so your concern is for appearances,” he said, his tone making it clear he didn’t believe her for a moment. “How considerate.”
“Exactly,” she agreed, relieved to have a plausible explanation. “We must maintain proper decorum.”
“Indeed, we must.” His thumb traced a small circle against her back, the gesture both distracting and intimate. “Though I must say, I find your concern for propriety remarkably selective. For instance, you don’t seem at all troubled by my scandalous costume.”
“That’s different,” she protested.
“Is it?” His voice dropped to a teasing murmur. “I could swear I caught you admiring my ‘impropriety’ earlier.”
Amelia felt her cheeks flush hotter. “You’re being insufferable.”
“And you’re being adorable,” he countered, spinning her through a turn with effortless grace. “Particularly when you’re jealous.”
“I am not jealous,” she insisted, though the protest sounded hollow even to her own ears.
“No?” His expression turned thoughtful. “Then you wouldn’t mind meeting her? I should introduce you properly.”
Alarm flashed through Amelia. “That’s hardly necessary—”
“I insist,” Charles said, his eyes dancing with mischief. “In fact, let’s do so now. The dance is ending.”
As the music concluded, he kept her hand firmly in his, leading her through the crowd toward where the Cupid stood by the refreshment table. Amelia tried to pull back, but his grip was gentle yet unyielding.
“Charles, really, this is ridiculous—”
“Nonsense,” he replied cheerfully. “You’ll like her immensely. She has a wicked sense of humor.”
The Cupid turned as they approached, her face lighting with a brilliant smile. “There you are, Charles! I was beginning to think you’d forgotten me entirely.”
“Never,” he assured her. “I was simply dancing with my wife.” He drew Amelia forward. “My dear, allow me to introduce Lady Margaret Sutton. My cousin, my mother’s sister’s daughter. Margaret, this is my wife, Lady Hereford.”
Amelia felt the breath leave her lungs in a rush of relief and embarrassment. His cousin. The woman was his cousin.
Lady Margaret’s laugh was warm and genuine as she extended her hand. “So, this is the woman who finally captured the elusive marquess! I’ve been dying to meet you. Charles has told me so much about your newspaper—it sounds absolutely fascinating.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Margaret,” Amelia managed, taking the offered hand. “I wasn’t aware Charles had family attending tonight.”
“Oh, it was a last-minute decision,” Margaret replied. “I’ve been in Bath for the Season, but I couldn’t resist coming to town for Lady Bancroft’s masquerade. They’re always so deliciously scandalous!”
As the women conversed, Amelia became acutely aware of Charles watching her, his expression a mixture of amusement and something warmer, more tender. When Margaret was momentarily distracted by another acquaintance, he leaned close to whisper in Amelia’s ear.
“Still not jealous?”
She turned to face him, finding him closer than expected. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“I am,” he admitted without a trace of remorse. “Though not nearly as much as I’m enjoying the knowledge that you care whom I ‘converse’ with.”
“I—” she began automatically, then stopped herself. “You’re an arse.”
“And yet you want me anyway,” he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “Enough to glare daggers at any woman who dares touch me. Even my cousin.”
The truth of his observation was mortifying, yet Amelia couldn’tbring herself to deny it. Something had shifted between them in recent weeks—the careful boundaries of their arrangement blurring into something more complex, more emotional.
“Perhaps,” she admitted finally, her voice barely audible, “I find I don’t particularly enjoy sharing your attention.”
His expression softened, triumph giving way to genuine warmth. “Then it may please you to know that my attention is entirely yours, Amelia. Regardless of whom I converse with or dance with, it always returns to you.”
The simple admission made her heart race. Before she could formulate a response, Lady Margaret rejoined them, linking her arm through Amelia’s with easy familiarity.
