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Chapter Nine
Dash questioned hissanity in choosing a ball to confront Perdita. He hadn’t wanted to betray her morning escapade to Roddy by going to Clifton house. Now he was regretting his honorable choice. Only Perdita was capable of reducing him to question his judgment. He stood with a matchmaking mama who had found him hidden in an alcove. He’d rather be hung, drawn, and quartered than endure one more moment of this faked politeness. This was all Dita’s fault, and he planned to make her pay royally when and if she arrived. He wanted to wring her pretty little neck for placing him in this ridiculous situation. If he were honest, if he touched her, retribution wouldn’t be on his mind.
“My lord, I hope you’ll attend my musical soiree next week. Matilda and her sisters will be performing. With your absence from society, you’re probably unaware of Matilda’s rare talent.” And the pushy mother poked her daughter with her elbow. He assumed the chit with her hands clenched together and her gaze on the floor was Matilda. He hadn’t listened to the introductions as he plotted his escape and the punishment he planned to dole out to the woman who had no musical talents.
“It would be an honor, my lord, to play for you.” Matilda, a mere child, blushed to her hairline when he smiled at her. He felt sympathy for the poor lass who, like him, would rather be anywhere than having this conversation.
Where was Perdita? His valet reassured him that the Billingsworth ball was the event of the evening. Had she been injured or detained by other men in this morning escapade? He shouldn’t have allowed her to escape. He should have run after her and damn the consequences. He immediately recognized her graceful motions from the hours of practicing together as she delivered the blows to Cole. The woman deserved a good spanking for coming to Haversham’s. Visions of Perdita’s rounded derriere between his hands made it uncomfortably warm in the ballroom as the mama droned on like an irritating gnat.
Why was she taking a risk visiting Haversham’s? She would be ruined if anyone learned of her pretending to be a servant and that she had been exposed to the gentleman’s lowly appetites. If he hadn’t been there to stop them, Frankland and Cole could have pulled her into an alley and ravished her. The idea of those men touching her, hurting her, enraged him all over again. If he hadn’t wanted to protect Perdita’s reputation, he would have challenged them. No gentlemen should treat Perdita or a servant in such a despicable manner. He would eventually take care of Frankland and Cole.
Upon his arrival, he quickly realized that standing near the entrance to catch the wayward hellion forced him to greet each of the sundry guests. His position in a corner hidden by a blossoming tree and the dim candlelight didn’t stop Matilda’s mother from cornering him. And when did he resort to hiding? Since Perdita whizzed back into his life. And he had never felt more invigorated.
“Excuse me, but I’m committed to another engagement.” He strode across the room, not acknowledging the smiles and the greetings. He was done behaving the part of a gentleman. Tomorrow he would drive to Clifton house. She needed to learn the consequences of her behavior. He was wiping his hands clean of the damn woman who attracted trouble like bees to the flower. It was Roddy’s responsibility to manage her. Except Roddy didn’t manage her. In fact, it was the reverse. Perdita had run circles around Roddy since they were children. She had no one who guided her except the servants, who were devoted to her but held no power over her recklessness. And if someone didn’t intervene, she was going to be ruined or worse… unless she married. The poor fellow would need a great deal of stamina to keep up with Perdita. Envisioning Perdita’s stamina in bed had him tugging on his cravat, which seemed to have turned into a garrote. Lady Beaumont’s comments about another man assuming responsibility for Perdita had plagued him as he imagined the man introducing Perdita to sensual delights. He had to exit now.
His black mood must have translated to his fellow guests since he had a clear path to the door when he heard her laugh. It was joyous and floated along the notes of the music.
At the entrance, a beaming Perdita, radiating confidence and beauty, stood with none other than the preening peacock, Beauvoir, with his carefully arranged curls falling over his brow. Black spots flashed before his eyes as he reined in his unchecked lust and anger into a barely manageableI won’t grab and throttle her or ravish her.Every muscle tightened, his breath accelerated, and his vision focused on his prey.
Every second, every minute of the last hours that he had spent worrying about her, imagining her in another man’s bed, coalesced into a ball of hot fury. She was untouched by this morning’s escapade when he had been reduced to fretting like an old nanny. And more grievous was appearing at atonevent to maintain her reputation. His fists clenched at his side.
Perdita must have felt his fury directed at her. She stopped midsmile and midstep. She froze like a frightened rabbit, her eyes darting to the right, looking for an escape, avoiding to meet his eyes. He glowered at her, fully aware of the power of his intimidation skills. Wanting her to feel his wrath and the consequences that awaited her. And the damn woman had the gall to glare back at him, before she lifted her chin and turned to the Frenchman who he would tear apart after he was done with her.
“Lady Perdita, I’ve urgent news from your cousin and need a moment of your time.” The cousin she despised and thankfully rarely saw. Dash crowded between Perdita and her Frenchman. “I’m sure Beauvoir won’t mind.”
Beauvoir stepped back, widening the distance from Dash. Perdita was the only person who wasn’t cowed by hisI’m going to rip you apartstare.
“I’m sure whatever news you have can wait. You may call on me tomorrow to deliver the message.” Her eyes narrowed as she lifted her chin again with a hauteur worthy of the old dames.
Dash was in no mood for games. Did she know how close she was to being dragged out of the ballroom? He clenched and unclenched his fists to gain control. After spending hours in the ballroom, his long-admired calm vanished. He was about to cause a scene after his attendance had been explicitly intended to avoid any scandal. He took her arm and tucked it not so gently into his. “This cannot wait.”
She ground the heel of her dancing slippers into his foot as she attempted to whisper through her growls of outrage, “Unhand me or I will scream.”
“If you would like to call attention to us, go ahead. I’m beyond scandal, but I think you will be the one to suffer.” He bent to her ear. “Unless you want to be forced to marry me?”
“When the Thames dries up.” Her exasperated sigh was strong enough to blow the feather plumes tucked into her curls before she spoke loudly to make sure the people in proximity heard every word. “I’m all ears to hear of my cousin. I hope nothing horrible has transpired.”
Her green silk gown outlined her slender curves, and the tender skin above her bodice was mottled and fiery, as was her face. Magnificent in her fury, all his thoughts of retribution faded as he imagined pressing his lips to the heated flesh. She was the only woman who could distract him from his purpose. He exhaled deeply and led her through the crowd to the French doors, then outside to the balcony. It wasn’t a warm evening, but many gentlemen were gathered to escape the sweltering airless ballroom. A few couples also had escaped the confines of the ballroom to dally in corners.
“You’re insufferable. After the hours of worry that you and Roddy have put me through, I’m not to be dragged across the ballroom like some child.”
He kept his grip on her arm as he moved away from the men on the balcony and away from anyone who could hear their conversation. He pivoted so her back was to the gentlemen. He didn’t want anyone to witness her reactions. Unlike him, she was a hothead, and some buffoon might feel he had to intervene in her distress.
“Do not try to distract me. You were disguised as a servant at Haversham’s this morning.”
“I knew you were going to overreact, and somehow I would be found at fault.”
“You talk nonsense. Of course, you’re at fault. Do you know what could have happened to you?” He was back in the grip of anger and fear.
“I wouldn’t have to search…” She pulled her arm away. “I assume whatever crisis was abated…”
“Do not change the topic.” She was clever and quite adept at avoiding responsibility. “What feather brain idea drove you to appear at Haversham’s?”
“My behavior is of no concern to you.” In the dim light, he glimpsed a flash of hurt before she lifted her chin and regained that cool haughtiness that he was starting to hate. “Where is my erstwhile brother? I assume if you’re here, then he is too. I have a few words for him.”
“Roddy’s whereabouts are not my concern. But yours are since you seem bent on the need to ruin yourself.”
She snorted in a very unladylike manner, all vestiges of the grand dame gone. “Coming from a man who is known for his debauched life and nothing else, you have the nerve to speak to me about my reputation. If you’re finished with the insults, I’d like to find my brother. You may have a need to destroy yourself, but I won’t allow you to drag my brother into your downfall.” Her voice quivered and her chest heaved.
