Chapter 4
Four
Andrew glanced around the room, hovering close to the edge of the swirling couples on the dance floor.
He didn’t want to get too close, to risk being eyed by one of the unsuitable women.
One of the ones who knew about his reputation and didn’t care because they were only looking for a bit of fun outside their marriage.
“Your Grace!” A woman in a pale blue gown swept over to him wearing a bright smile.
Would it be inappropriate to turn and run like I had never heard her?
It would be rude, and while that didn’t bother him, Eleanor had promised to help him find a wife. If he went around ruining her efforts, she would have his head.
“Lady Nottinburough, how is the Earl of Nottinburough this evening?” Andrew’s gaze scanned the room, looking for the woman’s husband.
The Countess trailed her fingers over his shoulder, her hand dropping to her side the moment someone passed a little too close to them. “I was wondering what kept you away for so long, Your Grace.”
He didn’t miss the sultry undertones in her voice or the way she looked at him from beneath her short lashes.
“Our affair is over,” he said, voice soft so the ladies and gentlemen passing around them couldn’t hear what was said. “You’re a married woman.”
Her bottom lip jutted out slightly. “Oh, come now, Your Grace, you simply can’t be so fickle. You hardly cared about my marriage before.”
Andrew shifted away from her when she reached for him again. “Enough of this, Lady Nottinburough. Your husband is a client of mine, and this is affecting my business. I will not continue whatever you believe to have existed between us.”
“Oh, Your Grace,” she said, a slight whine to her voice like she was on the edge of pleading him for more attention.
Andrew didn’t have time to deal with her nonsense, but he didn’t want to be cruel either. He should be the one to make her realize that what they had must end.
“Can’t you see, Your Grace? I adore you. I would leave Nottinburough for you. Happily.”
“I’d advise against that.” Andrew shifted to the side, glancing at the curving staircase to the right of the ballroom, waiting for the moment when that little feral creature might appear at the top of them.
He hadn’t been expecting to see the mystery woman again, but his time with her on the terrace was the most entertained he had been all evening.
And he still couldn’t get over the way those amber eyes glowered at him, shining bright even in the dim lighting. Or the way those strands of her honey-blonde hair felt when his fingers had brushed her cheek.
If we had a few more minutes alone…
It would’ve been all too easy to tease her until she gasped, to slip his tongue along her lip, twine it with hers, and show her all he was capable of doing.
“Your Grace, did you not hear me?” Lady Nottinburough sighed, her arms crossing. “You always do this. You speak with me and then you never listen to what I actually say.”
“You said you would leave your husband for me, and I have to say, that is ill-advised.” Andrew shifted closer to her, his voice low. “And you forget yourself if you think you can be so familiar with me.”
She took a step back, her eyes widening. “I don’t know why you’re acting this way. We enjoy being around each other, Fox—Your Grace.”
“I am sorry, but I have to think of my business now. While it was not my intention for you to be hurt when this came to an end, it would seem that it is unavoidable.”
She looked at him with glassy eyes, making guilt take up permanent residence in his chest. “I love you.”
“This was never about love for me, and I made that clear when we entered our arrangement.” Andrew tried to walk away from her but she stepped back into his path with her arms crossing over her chest.
He glanced around the room and sure enough, people were starting to stare. He needed to diffuse the situation as soon as he could.
He tucked his hands into the pockets of his breeches. “I suggest you return to your husband. I must do business with him later this evening and I can’t have our dalliance getting in the way of that. I am sorry.”
Even thinking about going to speak with Lord Nottinburough at that moment would mean more problems for his business. Whispers were starting around the ton about one of the few affairs he had that wasn’t public knowledge.
Lady Nottinburough stared at him for a moment longer, her bottom lip quivering like she was going to say something to him. Without another word, she spun on her heel and strode off, disappearing into the crowd.
Eleanor appeared at Andrew’s elbow, her hands clasped together. “Well, I see that went well. I hadn’t known about that particular problem, but I have heard the rumors about their marriage being for wealth alone.”
Andrew sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as a round of applause filled the room. The musicians began another piece almost immediately.
“Really, Andrew, I want to help you find a wife, but if your paramours are going to confront you in public, it’s going to be hard to present the fact that you’re available to women of good standing. Those potential fathers-in-law won’t be able to overlook the fact that you’re a rake then.”
“Is part of your intention in helping me find a wife to lecture me at every turn?” Andrew’s hand dropped to his side, and he looked around the room, catching the eyes of several young women.
“Someone needs to lecture you from time to time.” Eleanor nodded to the other side of the room. “Now, come with me. I have some women I would like you to meet.”
He wanted to turn and run. It would be nothing to handle the business he had left to do then leave. However, leaving a ball early wasn’t conducive to finding a wife.
Instead, he followed Eleanor around the room, meeting young women and their mothers, smiling and talking with them though none of the ones he met could sustain a conversation that revolved around anything other than the pianoforte or drawing.
“Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Elizabeth,” he said, dipping his head to a pretty blonde woman with bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks.
She bats her eyes and giggles far too much, as if she is trying to take flight instead of have a sensible conversation. Nothing like my darling.
Lady Elizabeth curtseyed. “The pleasure is mine, Your Grace. Are you enjoying the ball? I’ve heard that you rarely come to the first of the Season.”
“It’s pleasant.” Andrew glanced around the room again, still hoping to see a flash of the feral creature. She wasn’t there though. In the time since leaving the terrace, he had been looking for her and hadn’t seen any sign of her once.
Eleanor cleared her throat. “Lady Elizabeth, I’ve heard you’re quite the accomplished painter, are you not?”
“I’ve done quite well with some paintings, I do believe, but accomplished is open to interpretation I believe. Many people see art in different ways.” Lady Elizabeth turned her attention to him. “Do you have any talents, Your Grace?”
Andrew shifted to the side, thinking he saw a honey-blonde flash, but there was nothing there. “No, I don’t have any particular talents to speak of openly.”
Eleanor forced a laugh, shooting him a warning glare. “Do not allow the Duke of Foxdrey to fool you. He’s quite a pianist when he deigns to play.”
“If you would excuse me,” Andrew said, the last of his patience for the conversation running out. “I have business I need to attend to tonight. I wish you a good evening, Lady Elizabeth.”
Before Eleanor or Lady Elizabeth’s mother had a chance to intervene, he turned and disappeared into the crowd of people, easing his way around the edge of the dance floor.
Is she out there and dancing with another man?
For just a moment, his blood ran hot. His hands clenched into fists at his side. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t like the thought of his wild cat dancing with another man. Jealousy had seldom been a problem for him before.
When he entertained affairs with women, he made sure there were no emotions involved. And while he treated those women well, they were nothing more than a temporary companionship.
Andrew let out a deep breath as he stepped out of the ballroom and into an alcove to catch his breath.
Perhaps he wasn’t meant to be a married man. Even the thought of spending time with another woman, one who cared only for gossip and idle frivolities, made his skin prickle.
Eleanor appeared in front of him, her brows pulled together, her lips pursed, and with her hands on her hips. “I thought you were going to take this seriously and now you’re out here after being cold to more than one young woman who would’ve made you a good wife.”
“I know that they might have, but they are… dull, Eleanor. I cannot marry a woman who cannot think for herself.”
“They might not be as dull once you get to know them.” Eleanor stood off to the side slightly as a man passed.
Andrew smirked. “See, even you cannot say that they aren’t dull.”
The corner of her mouth twitched as she rolled her eyes. “Fine, those women were not the brightest, but not every woman you’re going to meet will be.”
“I have doubts about that.”
Though, there was the little spitfire he kissed on the terrace. She was far from boring. He could see the fight in her every time they spoke, the need to spar with him each time they disagreed.
The things I could do to her…
“Have you ever thought that perhaps what you need is a woman who is steady? Who wants to stay home and take care of the family, and that means she might not be as exciting as the women you’ve pursued in the past?”
“Have you considered that the more interesting women have already been whisked away by their fathers because the last thing those men may want is for their daughters to be taken by the so-called Fox.”
Eleanor studied him for a moment, her head tipping just slightly to the side. “You brought this upon yourself. You knew what you were doing when you decided to bed those women, and now you must pay the consequences. Finding a suitable wife for you is going to be quite the feat.”
“I don’t wish to talk about this further. Not tonight.” Andrew stepped out of the alcove, catching the eye of the man he had been waiting for all evening and motioning him over. “I have business to take care of.”
“There you go again, running from your problems,” Eleanor muttered before sweeping past him and heading back into the ballroom.
Lord Leyton was slow about making his way over, dragging his feet and looking like he was hoping someone else would call for his attention before he reached Andrew.
Nobody came to save him, and he stopped in front of Andrew, the color draining from the lord’s face.
“Lord Leyton.” Andrew stood tall, arms crossing over his chest. “Speak with me in the study over there for a moment. Lord Jameson has allowed me use of it for the evening.”
Lord Leyton swallowed hard, dark eyes darting back and forth, sweat beading on his forehead. Andrew strode down the hall, throwing open the door to the study and stepping inside.
He took his place in the center of the room, the warm glow of the fire in the hearth illuminating the otherwise dark place.
Andrew didn’t care for the dramatics of whisking Lord Leyton into another room, but he was sure the other man would throw a tantrum if this conversation was held in a more public arena.
Men always did when it was time to pay their debt.
As Lord Leyton shut the door behind him, he cleared his throat. “Your Grace, I can assure you, I’m going to be able to pay you—”
Andrew held up a hand, cutting him off. “Lord Leyton, it’s time.”