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Grinding his teeth, Rhys followed the direction of Winston’s arm to see Lady Irene dressed like Aphrodite as most of the ladies in the ballroom were. He gave Winston a nod and began to walk toward her. For now, he must put off his search for Athena until he had concluded his business here.
“Good evening, My Lady,” he bowed, and Lady Irene looked up at him with a pretty smile. “May I have this dance?” He held his arm out to her.
She curtsied and glanced at the gentleman on her right, saying, “Pardon me, My Lord, but I promised Lord Guildford this dance.”
The gentleman was displeased, but he bowed politely before walking away. She took the arm Rhys offered and smiled up at him.
“Is this your first masquerade, My Lady?” he asked as they walked to the dance floor.
“It is, My Lord, and I am very excited.” Her cheeks colored beneath her mask. She was indeed very beautiful. Rhys had a habit of bringing into his possession what many coveted, and the most desired lady of the season was no different. He needed a wife, and she seemed to be suitable.
“Then you should stay until midnight when everyone will reveal themselves,” he murmured as they began to dance the cotillion.
“Most already have, My Lord,” she replied. “Every gentleman I spoke to tonight told me who he is.” Rhys had intended to assess her intelligence with the question, and he was satisfied with her answer. She looked beyond the surface, and he needed his wife to possess that quality.
“My sister warned me about this. She said thetonhas ruined the mystery masquerades are supposed to carry,” Lady Irene continued.
Rhys almost rolled his eyes at the mention of Lady Elizabeth because he was not fond of her. They had never said anything to each other beyond greetings, but every time their eyes met, he received a glare from her. She disapproved of him, and she was not afraid to show him. But she was right. The mystery of masquerades had been ruined…until he met Athena.
Even as he danced with Lady Irene, his eyes searched the ballroom for her. He found her among the guests that circled the dance floor, and she was even more beautiful than she had been in the library. If he could leave Lady Irene at that instant without offending anyone, he would walk to Athena and ask her to dance with him. And Rhys disliked dancing.
The look in her eyes gave him pause because there was none of the desire he had seen earlier. Instead, therein lay all the contempt in the world.
Is that jealousy?He mentally shook his head. She could not be jealous because she had to know that he was allowed to dance with whomever he wished, and so was she. He was positively confused, and the feeling only increased when she turned and started toward the doors that led out to the terrace. It took a great measure of restraint not to abandon everything and follow her.
Reminding himself of his obligation, he smiled at Lady Irene and tried to concentrate on their dance. He could not converse with her as well as he should because he was distracted, and as soon as the dance ended, he returned her to her father and proceeded to ignore anyone who attempted to accost him as he made his way to the terrace. He needed to find Athena.
“Guildford!”
Damn!Rhys followed that thought with an audible curse before turning to face his cousin, Miles Danbury, the Earl of Mayton. “What?”
“Excellent manners you have, Guildford.” His cousin shook his head as he joined Rhys on the threshold.
“I was raised well.” Rhys looked around the terrace, hoping for a glimpse of her. She might be in the garden beyond, he concluded when he did not see her, turning to his cousin. “Did you need something?”
“I saw you dancing with the Diamond of the Season, and I came to ask you if you have decided to make her your bride,” Mayton said in a low voice. He was not one to preamble.
“You are too inquisitive for your own good.” Rhys moved onto the terrace and started walking down the steps that led into the garden. Mayton followed him.
“Well, you are my only cousin, and dearest friend, and I am curious about the choices you make and the reason for them.” Mayton kicked pebbles as he walked while Rhys’ eyes looked about the garden very carefully, glad the place was lit by lamps.
Rhys did not say anything until they arrived at a fountain that was a good distance away from the ballroom. Athena was nowhere in sight, and he was beginning to wonder if she was in the garden at all. “Yes, I wish to marry Lady Irene, and my decision will be final once I determine she is intelligent enough to prevent me from siring imbeciles,” he answered. “I cannot leave my legacy to fools.”
“Have you not determined that already? You have called upon her once and danced with her thrice since the season began,” Mayton observed. “Are you looking for someone?”
Rhys had interacted with Lady Irene several times, but he wished to know more about her. “No, I am not. Did you need something?” Rhys repeated the question he had asked earlier, so he would be left alone to find the woman he was looking for. Besides, he was not in the mood to talk about Lady Irene tonight.
“Will you take some advice from a friend and a relative?” Mayton asked.
“If it is good advice.”
“Perhaps you should seek a woman who will soften your hardened heart. Lady Irene might not be the best for you.”
“What do you know about my heart, Mayton?” Rhys asked, momentarily abandoning his search to study his cousin’s expression. There appeared to be some concern in his gaze.
“I know that it has changed for the worse. Most gentlemen keep their mistresses for a while, but you cannot keep a woman for more than a month.” Mayton’s brows furrowed. “I am worried about you.”
Rhys smiled, appreciating his cousin’s concern. “You do not have to worry about me.” He did not keep his mistresses for long because he always found another woman who captured his attention. As for his heart, he had to encase it in ice to find the measure of success he had in his life.
