Page 16 of The Baron’s Halo

Fortunately, the orchestra was in the middle of a spritely Scottish reel. Sandy led Isabelle behind the jumping dancers, all the way around the dance floor to the retiring room, a small receiving chamber behind the orchestra that had been set aside for that purpose. “Please stay inside until I return for you, my dear.”

She shot him a look—half gratitude, half hope.

Through sheer dint of will, Sandy turned away. More than anything, he wanted to take her in his arms and assure her everything would be all right. Because it would be. He would see to that.

Clutching her little dance card in his hand, Sandy hurried over to a group of gentlemen laughing and talking to the side of the dance floor. By good fortune, one of their number was his cousin, Ulysses Quartermain.

“Sandy, well met.” Yule slapped him on the back, his eyes lighting with sincere pleasure.

“Well met, cousin. Gentlemen.” Sandy bowed to the crowd, all of whom he enjoyed a passing acquaintance with.

“We were just marveling over the return of Captain Grey.” Yule’s brows rose. “You’re courting his daughter, aren’t you?” His cousin’s grin broadened. “Going to have to come up to scratch now that she’s got a protective father to deal with, won’t you, old chap?”

In that moment, when it was on the tip of his tongue to tell Yule what a monster the miracle man actually was, Sandy comprehended that he could never expose the truth about Miss Devereaux’s dance card. At least, not now. The scandal would be every bit as heinous as if he called the man out. Better to make the reason less of desperation, more of a kindness.

“Indeed, Yule, I’ve got to mind my manners even more particularly now. It’s quite the nine days wonder, don’t you know?” He peered at the faces surrounding him. Four of the gentlemen he knew very well, plus Yule would do nicely. There were two gentlemen he knew but slightly. Still, he could make the introductions when necessary. Even standing up with a stranger would be preferable to dancing with her brute of a father. “I need to enlist your help, gentlemen. All of you.”

His cousin’s face changed from jovial to concerned. “What’s the matter, cousin?”

The other men perked up at the summons, their complete attention on Sandy.

“Miss Devereaux, while elated at her father’s return, is feeling somewhat left out of the celebration.” Improvising wildly, he hit on the very thing to gain the men’s cooperation. “They arrived late to the ball and her dance card is sadly empty because of it. I’ve given her three dances and would give her more if the ton allowed it. So, I decided I would fill her card for the night so that she’s never without a partner. That way she will feel special for herself amidst all the fanfare for her father’s return.”

Before he’d even finished speaking, Yule reached for the all but blank card. “Of course, Sandy. I am free for several dances still. I will be happy to stand up with Miss Devereaux. Gentlemen…” He finished signing his name with a flourish, and held it out to the others in the circle. “Will you help make the lady feel appreciated this evening?”

His friends nodded and murmured in agreement. Then one by one they took the card and wrote their names again and again until there were no blank spaces left.

“My great thanks, gentlemen.” Sandy took the card back, taking care the pencil markings didn’t smear. “Miss Devereaux will be thrilled.” He turned to go, then stopped and turned back. “If I may beg another boon of you, gentlemen. I’m sure you would all like to ask Miss Devereaux about the return of her father, but I beg you not to. We wish to make the lady believe you are interested in her, not her father.”

A murmur of agreement went around the circle of gentlemen.

“Thank you.” He bowed and looked to his cousin. “Yule, I will bring Miss Devereaux to you before the next dance begins as I believe that is your name there?”

“So it is, cousin. I await Miss Devereaux eagerly.”

With a grateful nod, Sandy hurried away, back to the ladies’ retiring room, calmer and more secure in the knowledge that his Isabelle was safe from the clutches of that monster.

His Isabelle. In his mind she was his. Now all he needed to do was make it so.

Chapter Seven

Briskly, Sandy approached the ladies’ retiring room, Isabelle’s full dance card in hand, then stopped, flummoxed. How was he to fetch her out of the room? He couldn’t very well barge in, and there were no other ladies lurking about he might send in to get her. Shouting her name would only draw undue attention. Of course, he could knock…but oh, this was embarrassing.

Luckily for him, as he was raising a hand to the door, it opened and two young ladies, Lady Emily Lane and Lady Elizabeth Currie, came out. Sandy stumbled back a pace, then bowed, hoping his face hadn’t gone red. “Lady Elizabeth, Lady Emily, good evening.”

Both of them giggled, as only young ladies could, and curtsied. “Lord MacKay, good evening.”

“I trust you are enjoying the ball?”

“Yes, my lord, very much.” Lady Emily, the elder of the two cousins, batted her long dark eyelashes at him as she smiled broadly. “May we help you with anything, my lord?”

Blast it, this was not the time for a flirtation. He knew her brother, Lord Benington, well and he’d not take kindly to any such nonsense with his youngest sister. “Indeed you may, my lady. Did you happen to see Miss Devereaux in the retiring room?”

“Yes, my lord,” Lady Elizabeth spoke up. “She’s sitting just inside.”

“Would you do me the favor of telling her I have returned to escort her to her next partner?”

“I’d be happy to do so, my lord.” Lady Emily spoke up quickly. She opened the door, glanced back over her shoulder and gave him another flirtatious look. “Wait right there.”