Chapter Three
Evan
Evan searched the crowd for Marina and her friends once he arrived at the opening ball of the season.
This ball would work in his favor, since Marina must let him sign her dance card as long as she had a space for him.
It was the polite thing to do, and she wouldn’t dare decline him in front of their group of friends.
He just had to ensure he found her before her dance card was full.
It was the only way he could get her attention so he could warn her about Jude.
She wouldn’t give him the time of day otherwise.
The man was a rake, and she couldn’t let herself get caught up in his charms. It was Evan’s duty to ensure that she was aware when she was at risk.
It was the least he could do after the way things ended between them.
It wasn’t because he wanted to be near her or feel her touch. He wanted nothing to do with her.
In truth, he also needed to secure a dance with Diana.
He learned from her brother how she was skilled in estate matters.
He could only admit to himself how his pride wouldn’t allow him to ask a gentleman of his acquaintance for advice, but she might share some of her knowledge and ideas with him, and maintain discretion.
Diana was a kind, caring woman, and he had every reason to believe she would help him.
He had done what was necessary to ensure they could sustain their income, but he needed to grow his fortune. He had some ideas, but if she had knowledge she could share to help him, he could ensure their coffers overflowed for years to come.
Spotting the group of friends, he navigated the crowd and appeared in front of Marina and the other ladies. “Might you ladies have room on your dance cards for me?”
Her friends, Tabitha and Hannah, held their wrists out for him to sign his name. Marina huffed but held hers out to him, too.
He brushed his fingers along her wrist while he wrote his name next to a waltz, smiling to himself at his victory.
Winking at her, only because he knew it would drive her mad, he then relinquished her wrist. Her nostrils flared, and he knew he had won that round.
She should be equally vexed by him as he was by her.
Still needing to procure a dance with Diana, he sought her out next. With ease, he ensured he would partner with her. Pleased with himself, he took off to find a drink before he would need to collect his first dancing partner. He had no intention of signing any other dance cards for the evening.
“There you are, my lord.”
Evan cringed and scowled, recognizing the voice behind him. By the time he turned around, he wore a tight polite smile. “Good evening, Lady Theodosia.”
She held out her hand to him, and he took it and bowed over it. He did his best to avoid her at all costs.
“I am so glad you have joined for the season. I was just telling Rebecca that I don’t think there is a better match than the one you and I would make.
And I saved a waltz just for you, my lord.
” She offered him a sweet smile, which he saw right through.
She held up her dance card to him as if she had just won.
And perhaps some gentleman might find her pretty if they could get past her horrid personality and hateful spirit. That gentleman would never be him.
Even though she was way too forward, he didn’t wish to make a scene and refuse her.
He signed his name next to a country dance, the first dance of the ball.
Better to just be polite and suffer through a dance with her.
But certainly not a waltz. “I’m afraid I’m already promised for that dance, but I signed my name to your first dance. ”
She smiled at him, and he fought the urge to roll his eyes.
The first notes of music filled the ballroom as he offered his arm to lead her onto the dance floor.
As they danced, each minute felt like an eternity, making it the longest several minutes of his life.
The only saving grace was the lively nature of the dance, so he didn’t have to pretend to enjoy extended conversation with the chit.
Once the dance ended, he deposited her with her friend and made his escape as fast as he could.
He ventured to the card room and found Jude, Elias, and Hudson gathered together. Evan grabbed a tumbler of brandy and joined the group.
“Evan! You wouldn’t be interested in my sister, would you?” Elias assessed him.
Evan took a sip of his drink. “No. I shall not be seeking a wife this season.”
“Hear, hear.” Jude raised his glass.
“I’m surprised you haven’t pushed Hudson, here, to marry your sister, Elias,” Evan said. “Haven’t you been friends most of your lives?”
“It’s because we’ve been friends that I don’t push him toward Diana.” Elias smacked Hudson on the back.
Hudson scowled. “You and Jude are the rakehells.”
“Were my good man. Were,” Elias corrected.
“I still am,” Jude offered, before taking a sip of his brandy.
“Besides,” Hudson continued, “Diana is as impertinent as my own sister. I’d never get a moment’s peace.”
“Marina is a feisty one,” Jude said. “Perhaps she could remove that permanent frown from your face, old man.”
Evan flinched at Jude’s words and only hoped the other men hadn’t noticed.
“I am far from ready to take a wife,” Hudson replied. “Nor do I need to flaunt my bed partners. Unlike some people.” He nodded toward Jude. “I have to ensure my sister marries well.”
Evan released a quiet breath that Hudson wouldn’t pursue Marina. He was all wrong for her. He was far too serious and seemed generally unhappy with life. And then he reminded himself that he didn’t care what type of man Marina ended up with. As long as it wasn’t one of his friends. Or Minto.
“Perhaps we should rejoin the ladies,” Jude said, setting his glass aside. “I believe we owe them all dances.”
The gentleman departed the card room and returned to the group. Until it was time for them to collect their dance partners, they joined Matt and the new Earl of Powis, who were chatting nearby.
For Evan’s next dances, he partnered with Hannah, Hudson’s sister, and then Tabitha. Both lovely ladies and close friends of Marina’s.
Hannah spoke of some frustration with her brother.
Hudson was the brooding sort when they were at university, and that hadn’t seemed to change, so Evan assumed he didn’t take well to his sister’s attempts to manage him.
Not that Evan knew anything about what it meant to have a sibling.
Over the past year, he often found himself longing for a brother or sister to share in the challenges he faced.
Tabitha was a bit of a gossip and commented on what people were wearing and who they danced with.
She asked him questions about different people he knew, and the dance went by quickly.
The ladies’ friendly demeanor toward him suggested Marina’s friends were unaware of all that had occurred between them.
Once he delivered Tabitha back to the group, he approached Diana for their dance. She was graceful and kind, just as he remembered when he danced with her last season. The conversation was pleasant, so she couldn’t have been aware of his connection to Marina, either.
He delivered Diana back to where Elias stood and sought Marina. He fought his irritation when he noted that she was talking to Jude. He interrupted their conversation a bit too hastily. “Sorry to steal the lady away, but I believe this is my dance.”
“Oh, I had forgotten.” She shrugged with one shoulder, not feigning to look in his direction.
“Jude, surely you jest,” she said, continuing her conversation as if Evan hadn’t approached. She grinned at Jude through her lashes. Evan fought not to drag her away from the man.
“My dear Marina, I do not,” Jude said, glancing at Evan. “But I have already said far too much.”
Evan thought he saw the man wink at her and if he didn’t get Marina away from him, his desire to plant his rakehell of a friend a facer would only grow.
Evan extended his arm to Marina and narrowed his gaze on hers. “My lady.”
At least she took it, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor in silence.
Once they were in their places, he took her hand in his and wrapped his arm around her back.
“You shouldn’t set your cap at a rakehell like Jude,” he seethed, gritting his teeth.
Better than he got right to the point, since the polite niceties would be next to the possible where Marina was concerned.
“Who said anything about setting my cap at him? Can’t I just enjoy his company?” She winked at him.
The gesture stoked the fire that simmered below the surface, though he was loath to admit it. If they weren’t in the middle of a dance, he would have pulled her off the dance floor to shake some sense into her. “No. You can’t.”
“Unless I missed the ceremony, I don’t believe you are my husband. You have no right to tell me who I can be friends with.” She gazed off toward the other dancers and didn’t meet his eyes.
“As a gentleman,” he said, “it is my responsibility to save you from being taken in by a rake.”
She laughed louder than she should, based on the glances they received from the surrounding couples. “Oh, I wasn’t aware that you had suddenly become a gentleman of honor.”
He’d walked right into that. She’d won that round. “I didn’t force you to do anything, and you know it.”
“What I know,” she said, “is that you aren’t the honorable man you are pretending to be. And not that it is any of your business, but there is nothing between Jude and me. He’s my friend. Much as he is yours. So, you may cease with your jealous warnings.”
“Ha. Jealous. I feel obliged to see you are all right, but I assure you I am not jealous.” He wouldn’t use the word jealous, at least not out loud. Driven to distraction and on fire from everything she did and said, yes. But not jealous.
She responded by rolling her eyes, which only irritated him more.