Chapter Ten
Marina
Standing at the side of the ballroom with her friends, Marina surveyed the room, looking for the right gentleman to pursue. She only had two days left until her father made good on this threat.
Hannah and Tabitha engaged in conversation next to her, and she pretended to listen while she watched the crowd.
She caught Lord Weatherby’s eye and flashed him a smile before glancing away, pretending to be embarrassed.
She might not have liked the pretense and fakeness that so many of her gender used to catch a husband, but she knew how to execute it.
“Lord Weatherby is heading this way,” Tabitha said, keeping her voice low.
“So he is.” Marina smirked behind her glass of ratafia.
“Good evening, ladies.” He bowed before them.
In the ballroom’s candlelight, his golden blond hair transformed into a rich amber hue, and his bright blue eyes held a tantalizing glimmer of mischief.
Despite his reputation as a rake, he surprised everyone by announcing his plans to marry this season.
As a marquess, he outranked Minto, which should make her father happy.
At least the thought of a life and children with Weatherby didn’t make her physically ill. It didn’t make her happy either, but she pushed that thought aside. He would be the one. He had to be.
“Lady Marina,” he asked, “might you have room on your dance card for me?”
“Of course, my lord. I would enjoy a dance with you very much.” She held her wrist up to him and smiled under her lashes.
Accepting that she had been reduced to this level was a bitter pill for her to swallow.
Playing the part of the sweet debutante to win a man’s favor.
It didn’t get any lower than that. Well, anything is better than Minto, she reminded herself.
It was the only notion that might see her through the feather-brained behavior she would display tonight.
He signed her card and then bowed over her hand. “As would I.”
Once he had moved away from the group, Tabitha grabbed her shoulder. “What was that?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.” Marina pretended to adjust her gloves.
“Oh, you do. You were flirting with him and being…sweet. What is going on?” Tabitha asked.
Marina huffed. “Well, if you must know, my father is pushing Minto’s suit. I am worried if I don’t seek another option, and with haste, I am going to find myself as the new Lady Minto.”
Hannah and Tabitha both gasped.
“Oh, you can’t marry that beast of a man,” Hannah said.
“Precisely,” Marina replied. At least her friends would agree with her on the matter.
“I can’t believe your father would do that to you. Haven’t you told him of Minto’s advances?” Tabitha asked, taking her friend’s hand in hers.
Marina squeezed Tabitha’s hand. “It wouldn’t matter. I don’t think he would believe me or that it would be enough to change his mind. Papa only listens to my brother.”
“Perhaps it is time you wrote to Arthur and had him come to Town.” Hannah offered a small smile.
“You might be right.”
“You ladies look—” Marina’s heart flipped at the familiar baritone and then she scolded herself for it “—like you are plotting something. And you are quite lovely doing so, if I might add.” Evan winked at her. He must know what that wink did to her.
“My lord. You flatter us so,” she said, her sarcasm barely disguised.
“I assure you, what I speak is completely in truth, my lady.” He looked at each of the ladies. “Might you all have a dance with me this evening?”
The ladies all held up their dance cards, and Evan signed each one. “I need to speak with Jude. I shall see each of you later.” He bowed and moved past them to join Jude and Hudson.
“I see why Diana thought the man might suit. He is quite charming and handsome, too,” Tabitha said, glancing toward Evan. Her eyes lingered on his form longer than Marina thought proper, and it irritated her. “Perhaps he could save you from Minto.”
“I don’t think so.” Marina’s tone was a little too clipped.
Tabitha narrowed her eyes. “He seems like an amiable gentleman. Why do you dismiss him?”
Marina shifted on her feet and looked out toward the dancers, attempting to find a response Tabitha would accept. She paused too long, and that was all Tabitha needed.
“Do tell. There’s a story here.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Marina still didn’t look at her friends.
Tabitha grabbed her hand again. “Marina.”
“His country home is adjacent to mine. We are already well acquainted.”
Hannah jumped into the conversation. “Acquainted how?”
“It does not signify. He just wouldn’t be trustworthy in this endeavor. I have set my cap at Weatherby.”
“We’re not done talking about this,” Tabitha said. “I will get it out of you.”
“I don’t think Weatherby would be a very faithful husband, even if he is quite handsome,” Hannah said. Marina appreciated the shift in topic away from Evan.
Marina shrugged. “And Minto would?” Of course, Hannah was right.
Weatherby was sure to keep a mistress. Even more so since there would be no affection between them.
She wasn’t na?ve enough to believe they might have one dance and fall in love.
Especially when she would forever be thinking about a certain viscount who was trapped within her fractured heart.
Once the dancing started for the evening, Marina danced with Jude and then with Matt.
Both amiable dance partners but not options to save her from the mess with her father.
Weatherby was way more likely to marry her than Jude, even if they were friends.
Jude had no intention of ever marrying and never hid that fact.
Matt would be a perfect husband to the woman lucky enough to win him, but he never so much as expressed a hint of attraction in her direction. Besides, she was almost certain that notion would break Hannah’s heart, even though Hannah would never admit to it.
Weatherby was the choice. She had a good feeling about Weatherby.
“I believe this is our dance, Lady Marina.” She glanced up from her thoughts to see the handsome marquess standing before her.
She shifted her features to the most charming countenance she could muster. “Indeed, my lord. I have looked forward to it all evening.” She could do this.
He led her to the center of the ballroom, and they were in motion as soon as the music began. She glanced into his eyes and felt nothing. Not feeling the urge to be ill was at least a start. She had to set reasonable expectations when pursuing a man she knew she didn’t care for.
“You look beautiful tonight, Lady Marina,” he whispered in her ear when he pulled her in for a turn.
“Thank you, my lord. I appreciate the kind compliment.” She glanced up at him with the sweetest smile she could muster.
“Indeed.” They switched partners, and when they returned to each other, he spoke again. “Are you enjoying the season thus far?”
She shrugged. “Perhaps it will become more interesting.”
“Lady Powis is your friend, is she not?” he asked. “Didn’t she just marry?”
“She did, my lord. I am quite happy for her, but I still find myself without an intriguing suitor.”
He laughed. “Outspoken, I see. I enjoy that, especially in such a stunning woman.”
Marina fought the urge to roll her eyes but maintained her sweet visage.
She glanced around the ballroom and caught Evan watching her from the side of the dance floor.
Glancing back at Lord Weatherby, she pushed herself to continue on her mission.
“How about you, my lord?” she asked. “Are you enjoying the season?”
They were separated in the dance, and he answered her when they met again. “It is much improved dancing with you.” He focused his gaze on hers. “Might I call on you tomorrow?”
“I would enjoy that very much.” The dance ended, and she looked up at him through her lashes.
“I find I am quite warm.” If she could get the man to continue to escort her, it would send the right message to her father and to Minto if they were watching.
With any luck, the rumors of a courtship would start among the ton.
Perhaps she wouldn’t have to marry the man if the rumors did enough to dissuade Minto.
Weatherby took the bait. “Please allow me to escort you to the terrace for a breath of fresh air. It gets quite stuffy in these ballrooms.”
“Thank you, my lord.” She rested her hand on his arm and let him escort her to the terrace.
It was much less stuffy, and she found the cool night air refreshing.
She hated Minto even more, since he drove her to reduce herself to a simpering miss in order to pursue a man she cared nothing for.
And all of it to avoid a marriage to a disgusting man.
The injustice of it all was maddening. Women frequently found themselves in such situations because society valued a man’s desires more than a woman’s.
Marina contemplated what she desired and Evan’s lips flashed in her mind. She closed her eyes, willing the devil of a man to get out of her head. The memories wouldn’t relent, and she shivered.
“Are you cold, my lady?” Weatherby asked.
He pulled her to face him, and she noted his eyes on her lips.
She bit her bottom lip upon notice, not thinking how it would entice the man.
The corners of his lips curved upward, and he pulled her closer to him.
He was going to kiss her. This was it. If she were going to allow the man to pursue a courtship, she would allow his kiss.
She closed her eyes and prepared for his lips to brush hers.
“Marina,” Evan called to her. “Your father sent me to fetch you.”
The man was a menace. Marina spun and shot daggers with the expression she cast at Evan.
There was no chance her father sent him, and Evan was merely interfering.
She would appear churlish if she accused him of lying.
She returned her attention to Weatherby.
“Please excuse me, my lord. I must see to Papa, but I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”