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She did not miss the subtle emphasis placed on the word ‘proper’, nor did she think she imagined the sharp edge to the words themselves. Still, she forced herself to observe the correct behaviors of guests at Almack’s. “You do have advantage of me, good sir.”
“I beg your pardon. I am Daniel Thynne, Marquess of Salisbury.”
She dipped a curtsy to him, wishing with all her heart that she dared seize his arm and drag him from the room, from Almack’s entire, until she could explain matters to him and come to some sort of resolution. “I have heard of you, Lord Salisbury. But I confess, I am rather surprised to find you here. I had been under the impression that you were of a more solitary nature.”
“Things do change, Lady Henrietta, and I have had cause to rethink my former decision. But that is a matter for venues other than these august halls. And since we are both here, perhaps you might favor me with a dance?” He held out a hand.
She could not understand his purpose. A dismissal, a public airing of her deceptions, or any other sort of response, she might have understood, but an offer for a dance? Nonetheless, she could not let the opportunity pass her by. She nodded and took his hand, allowing him to escort her out onto the floor, amid the other couples lining up for the dance, preparing for an Allemande.
The opening strains of the music started up, and she followed his lead, entirely unable to concentrate on the dance, and for once uncaring if she stepped in error. They danced together, separated, and came back together, and her heart fell. Every move he made was perfectly correct, every response exactly as it should be, but there was so little warmth or passion within his eyes that she might as well have danced with her dressmaker’s modeling form, or one of the marionettes that were popular in shows down by the markets.
The next time their steps came together, she gathered her courage. “Daniel…”
“I have not given you leave to address me so, Lady Henrietta.” His tone was cold. “Unless you wish to give false impressions of our relationship, I suggest you address yourself to me with the proper formality, rather than such familiarity.”
The words stung, cut deep, but she could admit they were well deserved. “Lord Salisbury, I realize that you are...you have worthy cause to be aggrieved with me, for my impolite intrusion upon your home. I would only ask that you give me some time to explain my actions to you in full, rather than whatever you have heard thus far.”
The sound that escaped him could hardly be called a laugh, though she knew no other word for it. It was too deep and harsh to be mere scoffing, a sharp, ugly sound, like an unwary, unpracticed blade across marble. “And what need is there to explain? I have, I believe, gathered the facts of the matter, or enough of them. You wagered to match me with one of your associates by the end of the Season, regardless of my feelings on the matter. To that end, you gained entrance to my home and my life, through means of deception, which I must admit was masterfully done. And now the ruse is uncovered, what more is left to be said?”
Tears stung the back of her throat. “It is not so simple as that…”
“Is it not? You are a matchmaker of high society, one of the most notable, I have heard. Perhaps you enjoy managing people’s lives.” He spun her through the next steps of the dance, but his words cut like shards of stone as he spoke, low and intense. “Well, my dear Lady Henrietta, I am only a reclusive marquess, home from the battlefield less than a year, but please...do not let that stop you from enjoying the occupation that is clearly so dear to your heart.”
She would rather have been given the cut direct than to have heard such words from him, and it was an effort to swallow back the tears that wanted to sting her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. “I...it was not to such purpose...please, I know how it appears, and I do not deny that you might have had the right of it in the beginning, but—”
“Why stop at the beginning? Surely, it was your purpose to find me the perfect match, during the entirety of your game. You did not, after all, reveal yourself and your purpose before this.” He led her through the steps, then suddenly dragged her to a stop, causing her to stumble and more than one person around them to make hasty adjustments to their movements.
“It matters not. You have undertaken to match me, Lady Henrietta, and why then should I refuse the choice you have made for me? One should not be ungrateful when a premier matchmaker deigns to make efforts on his behalf, and so I am entirely at your command. Your wish is my delight to undertake. You have only to introduce me to the lady of your choosing.”
For all the courtesy of his tone, the words themselves were cold as ice, and the courtesy rang false, a thin veneer over a cutting and bitter rage, and his acquiescence to her supposed purpose sounded cruel and mocking to her ears. This was a side of him she had never seen and wished she did not see now.
Nonetheless, she gathered her courage and tried once more. “Please, my lord, while I do not dispute some truth in what you have said, I believe there is also some grave misunderstanding. I ask you to allow me a chance to speak plainly on the matter, in private or in public as you choose.”
“There is no need for it, Lady Henrietta. For, as I said, I am entirely at your service, and more than willing to accept the match you have presumed to prepare for me.”
With a single smooth movement, he stepped sideways, cutting into the dance of the nearest set of partners, and causing those around them to come to an uncertain halt. A moment later he had disengaged the young lady from her partner and brought her back to where she stood, aghast and beginning to tremble as the events unfolded around her. “Shall it be this lovely young lady?”
The young lady in question, whom Henrietta recognized as one of Baron Cameron’s daughters, looked uncertain and rather dismayed to find herself involved in the unfolding drama, but too well-bred and polite to disengage herself.
She shook her head. “No.”
Perhaps Eva was not on the floor, perhaps she was not nearby, perhaps Daniel would stop and realize the spectacle he was making of both himself and her, the danger to his reputation…
Daniel escorted Miss Cameron back to her erstwhile partner, offering only a perfunctory bow and an even briefer apology, before he turned and stepped up to another young woman, to bring her forward.
And thus am I repaid for my folly and my deceit.
The girl that Daniel returned with was Eva, looking bemused and not altogether certain of the proceedings as she was led into the center of a growing crowd, all eager to witness the unfolding events, the likes of which would surely keep the scandal pages and gossip networks busy for weeks.
“And this young lady, Lady Henrietta? Was this to be my perfect match?” Daniel’s tone was direct, and he might have been discussing business, or the purchase of new wines for his cellars from all the expression in his face.
“I...she was…” Any further statement she might have made was cut off as Daniel turned to Eva.
“Miss Eva Darnell, I believe?” Eva nodded, and Daniel lifted one of her hands with a bow and a kiss to the back of it. “I am Daniel Thynne, Marquess of Salisbury.”
“I am honored to make your acquaintance, Lord Salisbury.” Evan blushed, but managed to gather her wits about her, certainly faster than Henrietta herself could manage. “Though I will say, your manner of introduction is somewhat irregular.”
“I confess, it is in truth. However, I have a reason for such indecorous behavior. You see, it has come to my attention that Lady Henrietta, being a matchmaker of some skill and reputation, has wagered her occupation and her talents that the two of us are a well-suited pair.”
