Chapter 5 #3
Darius frowned as Meredith and her current dance partner twirled past again. When the young fellow met Darius’s black gaze, he stumbled the second step and hastily recovered.
Warren nudged Darius with an elbow. “Careful man, your green is showing.”
“He was holding her too close,” Darius muttered. “It’s not a bloody waltz.”
“You know, Darius, she would make a good wife, assuming you are interested in the lady, of course. She is beautiful, kind, and intelligent, according to Suzannah. She has been singing Miss Montague’s praises this evening.”
“Whether I’m interested or not does not matter,” said Darius. “Any woman I choose must have impeccable breeding and unquestionably respected family lineage.”
Warren narrowed his eyes in silent judgment at Darius’s words.
“Oh, don’t be like that,” said Darius. “It’s not snobbery.
It is because my bride will be judged by everyone.
If she is found wanting in the slightest way, rumors will grow, and her invitations will dwindle to nothing.
She would be without friends, without a circle of support.
I cannot watch a woman I care about whither from the loss of sunlight like that.
You know how cruel society can be if they think they have an interloper in their midst.”
Warren sipped his drink again. “So you hope to marry her off to a man who could offer less protection than you could from society’s cold reach?”
“No, it wouldn’t be like that,” Darius argued. “With a lesser man, she would not be seen as a schemer. She would be more than suitable for wealthy tradesmen, or the wife of a doctor or barrister. But a man of title? That would be more of a curse than a boon to her.”
Even as he said this, the words tasted like ash in his mouth.
He didn’t want Meredith to belong to anyone but him.
But because he cared for her and for his uncle’s memory, he could not turn her into his mistress.
Meredith deserved marriage to a kind, respectable man who would honor and respect her.
Darius would see she had that, even if it damn near killed him to keep his hands off her.
The dance came to a sudden halt and a wave of excited whispers announced that the Prince of Wales had finally arrived.
Darius grasped a champagne flute from a passing footman’s tray and downed it before he gave the flabbergasted servant the glass back. It was time to see Meredith make an impression upon the gentlemen present tonight.
George, the Prince of Wales entered the ballroom, flanked by a few well-dressed gentlemen that Darius knew were his close friends.
Darius intercepted Meredith on her way to form a line to meet the prince, threading her arm through his.
She gazed up at him questioningly, her cheeks flushed in a way that made him think of peonies at sunset.
He wished that he was instead whisking her away into the gardens to kiss her until she was flushed that shade of pink in other, more secret and delicious, places.
“Darius, I can’t breathe.” Meredith’s gaze darted between him and the prince as he made his way along the line, greeting guests.
“Yes, you can. Remember, you’re beautiful and you are brave. That is all you need to meet the Prince Regent.”
Meredith’s laugh held a hint of hysteria. “Is that all?”
He gave her arm a soothing rub. “Yes. All will be well.”
Prince George spotted Darius as he moved down the line of guests waiting to greet him.
When he reached them, Darius bowed. “Your Royal Highness. May I present my ward, Miss Meredith Montague?”
George’s gaze moved over Meredith as she dipped into a curtsy.
“Your Royal Highness,” Meredith raised her lashes and returned the Prince Regent’s gaze with a steady one of her own.
The prince’s lips curved into a smile. “It is quite a pleasure to meet you, my dear, quite a pleasure indeed. May I presume you have a dance free?” At this question, Meredith’s confidence faltered. She looked to Darius for rescue since her dance card was full.
“I’m afraid Miss Montague’s card is full. However, I hold the last waltz, Sir. I would gladly cede that honor to you if you would grant me to.”
George’s gaze showed he understood that Darius was helping Meredith save face.
“You may do me the honor then, Tiverton.” He waited as Meredith erased Darius’s name from the last dance and offered her card to the prince, who politely penciled his name in the now free space.
“We shall meet again for the last waltz, Miss Montague. Tiverton.” George inclined his head before he moved on to the next group of guests.
Warren chuckled. “You best be careful. It would be considered treason to be jealous of the Prince of Wales.”
Meredith looked away and blushed.
“Now, I believe it’s high time you introduced me, old boy,” Warren said, his green eyes now focused on Meredith.
“Of course. Meredith, this is Warren Burville. He lives next door to Kit and Suzannah. Warren, this is Miss Montague, my ward.”
Warren bowed over Meredith’s hand, pressing a faint kiss to her fingers.
“It’s lovely to meet you. I believe we saw each other before at the play but—” Meredith began.
“But Darius bustled you away so his wicked friends could not seduce you,” Warren finished.
“Yes.” Meredith laughed as she and Warren looked at Darius to see his reaction.
The woman was adorable. When had she become so? Darius frowned as Meredith turned her focus once more to Warren.
“I understand you have no free dances, Miss Montague. Pity that. I would have happily claimed several if only to scandalize Lady Hazlitt’s guests and win a smile from you.”
Meredith blushed. “I shall take that as a compliment, Mr. Burville.”
“You should. And it’s Warren, if you please. Only strangers and enemies call me Mr. Burville.”
“Warren, then.” Meredith’s hazel eyes were full of mischief, but before she could say anything, she was claimed for her next dance. Darius could only watch, feeling bereft of her glowing presence and suffering Warren’s teasing.
* * *
Lady Hazlitt’s ball was everything Meredith hoped it would be, except she didn’t get to dance with Darius.
She was more than thankful that the evening had distracted her from most of her worries and that strange scream she’d heard.
The sound still echoed in her mind, but she was able to push it away whenever she was escorted back onto the floor by a new dance partner.
The final waltz was announced, and she anxiously waited for the prince to claim her. She curtsied low when he approached and accepted his hand.
As the Prince of Walves escorted her onto the dance floor, he pulled her close.
“Shall I make your Tiverton wickedly jealous, Miss Montague?”
“What?” Meredith gasped and then hastily apologized. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand what you mean, Sir.”
George chuckled. “Oh come now. The man’s mad for you.
Never seen him like this before in all the years I’ve known him.
He’s always been the best sort of man. Good-natured, polite, but right now he’s throwing daggers with his eyes at me.
Which makes me wonder why. Just who are you to wield such power over a man like him? ”
Meredith turned in the prince’s arms, her tongue tied. “I…”
“Come now. You must keep no secrets from me, Miss Montague. But I can assure you, whatever you tell me will remain a secret. Tiverton called you his ward. How did this come to pass?”
“His uncle Benjamin St. John raised me as his ward and recently died. It was his last request that the duke take me in and assist me in finding a suitable match. It is why he brought me here tonight.”
“You have my deepest condolences,” George said. “Pardon the bluntness of my question, but were you St. John’s by-blow?”
She winced at the crass phrasing. “Was I Mr. St. John’s child?
No, Sir, although I dearly wish I was. My mother had me out of wedlock, and I barely remember my real father.
He is dead, too. My mother was once beloved by Mr. St. John, and he agreed to take us both in and care for us. So you see, I am simply… no one.”
The prince’s eyes narrowed. “No one is no one, my dear. We put much stock on birth here, but it wounds me to hear you say that about yourself. You are a beautiful woman, and you seem kind and humble. Does that sound like no one? I dare say that many decent men would throw themselves at you for husbands, regardless of your past. Tell me who you desire, and I will aid you in your conquest of him, my dear.”
Meredith was stunned by the offer. “But why?”
“You feel doomed because of how you were born. I wish to assure you this is not the case. I know this because I am doomed because of how I was born. I have wealth and privilege, but you possess more freedom that I ever will. So I will use what power I have to aid you. Now, tell me, who do you desire?”
Meredith’s gaze strayed to Darius, who prowled at the edge of the dance floor like a wolf, his eyes locked on her.
“Ahh, so the desire flows both ways, does it?” George mused. “Tricky… but not impossible. If you want him, we must be clever about it.”
Meredith gasped at his words. “Sir, I cannot…”
The prince laughed. “My dear, do you, or do you not, want Tiverton for a husband?”
She did. Even though she and Darius were strangers in so many ways, she already felt safe with him.
She felt such a strong desire for him too.
She wished she could ignore it, but the truth was…
she did want Darius for a husband. To belong to him, to call him hers in return, and be a part of his world, not because of wealth or status, but because she could be herself around him and his friends.
That simple thing meant everything to her
“I see.” The prince’s voice softened even though she hadn’t answered him.
“You’ve chosen wisely, Miss Montague. Tiverton isn’t simply noble of blood, but noble of heart.
Damned rare to find these days in my court.
However, the task ahead will not be easy.
Tiverton has never courted anyone seriously, nor given any indication of a desire to wed.
We must discern the reason for that. I give you leave to write to me at the palace, and I shall write to you in return.
Between the two of us, we will find a way to trap this fellow for you. ”
“Oh, but I don’t want to trap him.”
“Nonsense. Men are the only creatures who prosper in the captivity of a good marriage to someone they love. He will be quite content once the marriage license is signed and you are the willing captor of his heart.”
Meredith blushed at the prince’s words.
The waltz ended. George inclined his head at Meredith and she curtsied as the room applauded the end of the ball.
But Meredith couldn’t focus on that at the moment. Her mind was spinning. The Prince of Wales wanted to help her catch Darius as a husband!