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“Perhaps I should,” he said, transferring his attention to the other young lady on Hood’s arm. “Would you care to introduce us?”
The young lady’s hazel-green eyes widened in shock. She had a quiet beauty, although she was shorter than his tastes usually ran. Soft curves filled out her aquamarine dress quite nicely, though, and she had the kind of delicately pale skin that would easily redden under a stern hand. There was something familiar about her face. He frowned, studying her as Hood stiffened, and Arabella elbowed her husband’s side.
“Lord Hartford, may I present my husband’s cousin, Miss Mary Wilson,” Arabella finally said. Hood turned his nose in the air and clenched his jaw as though he was trying to bite back a rebuke, but once Hartford had requested the introduction, there was nothing he could have done. At least, not while maintaining Society’s niceties. “Mary, this is Lord Michael Seymour, the Marquess of Hartford, though he prefers to be called Rex.”
The look she gave Rex held a warning.
Ah, a cousin. No wonder Hood was in a snit. Once Rex had requested an introduction, not providing it would have been incredibly rude and attached the chit’s name to gossip… however, providing the introduction might also do that. Still, they were in the center of the ballroom, and the gossip mongers would understand he was twitting his former intended’s husband. There would be no harm to her reputation, only to Hood’s temper.
“Miss Wilson,” Rex drawled, taking her hand and bowing over it. Hmm... Yes, now he recognized her face. She had been on her cousin’s arm last year as well, although he could have sworn her hair was red. He hadn’t pushed for an introduction as his focus had been entirely on Arabella, and he had no wish to ruin an innocent young debutante’s reputation by speaking to her. Still, he had noticed her. She really was very attractive, a true Pocket Venus. “A pleasure.”
Kissing the back of her glove, Rex was sure he could hear Hood’s teeth grating. It was a satisfying recompense for his own frustrated state.
“I…” Miss Wilson glanced wildly at Arabella, apparently overcome and unsure how to respond. Arabella smiled encouragingly, and Miss Wilson took a deep breath.
Rake that he was, Rex could not help but notice how nicely her breasts filled out the low neckline of her dress as she did. Too bad she was clearly a cipher—pretty but no real substance, not like Arabella.
“Thank you, my Lord.” There was a slight lift at the end of her voice as if she was asking a question instead of making a statement, and she dipped into an awkward curtsy, cheeks flushing bright red.
Yes, physically appealing, but not at all what he was looking for.
“I must be on my way,” Rex said, releasing her, much to her cousin’s clear relief. “Perhaps our paths will cross again, and I can claim a dance.” He grinned at Arabella.
“I would enjoy that, my lord,” she replied mischievously. The sidelong glance she gave her husband said very clearly she was more interested in his reaction to the invitation than to the dance itself.
Hood gave Rex a short, sharp nod and quickly walked off, pulling the ladies along with him. Already moving on, eyes raking over the options before him, Rex didn’t notice Miss Wilson looking over her shoulder. He did, however, see Lucas standing by the refreshments table with Conyngham, and he changed tack to join them.
“I did not know either of you would be here tonight,” he said after greeting them.
Conyngham shrugged. “My mother likes me to do the pretty now and then. I have found it is easier to placate her with my presence at a few of the more significant events. Besides, Hartington and I have a wager going this Season. We are looking for a likely candidate for our attentions.”
The ruthlessly cheerful smile on his face promised some form of seductive mayhem. If Rex didn’t have his own agenda to pursue, he was sure he would have enjoyed watching the two compete. Perhaps he could find the time once he found the candidate for his own mission.
“What about you?” he asked Lucas, who had been the real target of his question, although he had been somewhat curious about Conyngham. Conyngham attendedtonevents semi-regularly, whereas Lucas almost never did and was much more inclined to spend his evenings among thedemimondeor the clubs. Lucas’ parents had passed on many years ago, and his aunt did nothing to push him toward matrimony, seemingly having hopes her own son would one day inherit the earldom. So far, nothing Lucas had said indicated he had any expectation of providing his own heir.
The sound of violins floated through the air. Lucas shrugged one shoulder, his eyes on the ton lining up for the first dance of the evening.
“I had nothing better to do,” Lucas said, seemingly as disinterested in conversation as he was in the ball. “Knew you and Conyngham would be here… and there is a card room.” He tacked on that last as an afterthought. Rex grimaced, but he could not say anything, not in front of Conyngham. He would not embarrass his friend like that but made a mental note to keep an eye on Lucas if he headed in that direction.
Lucas loved the cards, but the cards did not often love him. Rex had often intervened and paid Lucas’ debts more times than he could count. It was wearing and was, by far, the largest strain on their friendship.
“I suppose I should ask someone to dance,” Rex murmured, casting his gaze over the room and feeling very tired. To his amusement, the observation stirred Lucas.
“Still looking for that wild bride?” Lucas grinned, straightening up to a more alert posture. “Perhaps I can help you look for a bit.”
“Oh?” Rex was bemused, but he would rather Lucas maneuver through matrimonial options with him than disappear into the cardroom.
“I will leave you to it then,” Conyngham said, giving them a salute. “I have my own quarry to find.”
They sent him off with their good wishes, then Lucas began to make his way to the back of the room.
“The French delegation arrived half an hour ago,” he said. “Very pretty ladies they have with them this year.”
“Are any of them unwed?” Rex asked, slightly amused and vaguely frustrated. While it was not impossible, an envoy might have brought his daughter along with him to look for an English husband, he didn’t know how likely it was.
“Let us find out.” Lucas grinned widely, eyes alight with anticipation.
Well, Rex supposed it could not hurt to introduce himself. Especially if it would keep Lucas away from the card room.
