Chapter 17
Chapter
Seventeen
T he ducal carriage rolled to a stop before the Wilcox masque ball, the lineup to alight from the carriage taking several minutes due to the size of the ball and the number of guests partaking in the grand event.
Evangeline waited for the duke and duchess to descend before following them, their gowns of fine silk and gold and blue satin were elegant and among the most beautiful dresses and dominoes she had ever worn in her life. She felt like a princess, and the excitement that bubbled through her veins at the forthcoming event could not be doused.
A small part of her could also not wait to see if Lord St. George would attend as planned. After their stolen kiss in the carriage yesterday, she had thought of little else.
He had stated that he’d kiss her once and that it would not occur again, but the memory of his hands over her person, his ability to make her lose all sense of control… Well, she could not believe they would end their one interlude at that number.
Surely he had been jesting. There was no reason why he could not kiss her again. She wasn’t asking him to marry her.
They entered the house and slowly made their way toward their hosts where they paid felicitations to Lord and Lady Wilcox before entering the ballroom.
Evangeline gasped at the sight that beheld them. The ceiling was decorated with black tulle, the hanging candelabras unlit, and only standing ones surrounded the ballroom floor, giving the room a dark and mysterious air. The night’s theme was dark and decadence, and Lady Delacroix had outdone herself in capturing the very essence of that vision.
"How marvelous, Evangeline," Rosalind said, smiling.
Evangeline chuckled, almost too eager to join in the revelry. They made their way through the throng of guests, stopping to speak with friends of the duke and now her sister as well.
Evangeline stood beside them but did not engage in the conversation. She was far too busy admiring the beautiful gowns and sparkling jewels the ton was showcasing this evening and the masques that gave an air of mystery.
"This is too magical," she said.
"As are you," a deep, seductive voice said at her side.
Warmth ran through her veins, and she turned to meet the eyes of a gentleman. The masque he wore covered half his face, leaving only his lips visible, but she knew those lips—and the voice that accompanied the words.
"My lord, I did not think you would be so forward with your compliments, not after telling me your aversion to courtship only yesterday, even after our kiss,” she whispered.
His eyes narrowed, and he tipped his head.
"Remember, St. George? One kiss and no more. You therefore should not be so forward with your compliments."
He nodded. “Ah, of course,” he said remembering finally. "A mistake, my lady. One that I intend on remedying immediately. Come, take a turn about the room with me."
She set her hand on his arm and allowed him to guide her away for their stroll. A mistake? He certainly seemed confident of his words yesterday. How was it that he was having a change of heart. Unless…their kiss had sparked a truth within him and now he could not live without her. They moved about the room, and Evangeline struggled to tell who anyone was at the ball. Not even Lord St. George at her side was easily discernible, nor did he appear to be as tall as she remembered…
He covered her hand with his, holding her at his side, and as much as she liked his lordship showing affection, he really ought to know better than to be so forward at a ball.
"Shall we dance?" It was not a question that he waited for her to answer. Instead, he swooped her out onto the dance floor just as the first notes of a waltz started to play.
Evangeline forgot about the few doubts that plagued her mind and threw herself into the dance, wanting to enjoy her time with Lord St. George, especially when he was in more of a congenial mood to the possibility of them courting.
"Did you enjoy our kiss, Lady Evangeline?" he asked, dipping his head to whisper the words against her ear.
She nodded and felt heat kiss her cheeks at the memory of just how much she had enjoyed their moment of madness. "I did, but you said you would not kiss me again, so I must admit your interest here tonight is a little confusing, my lord."
"I thrive on chaos, my lady. What is life if it's not filled with a little danger?"
"I did not know kissing me was dangerous, my lord."
"Oh, it's very much so—for you at least." He paused, placing the appropriate space between them once more. "At least in terms of what society expects from a woman such as yourself. I speak of those dangers, of course."
"Of course." Evangeline studied Lord St. George and trepidation twisted in her stomach. Perhaps the gentleman she was dancing with was not whom she believed him to be.
She studied his lips, hating herself for not being more certain. Had she inadvertently told a stranger of her and Lord St. George’s inappropriate actions in the carriage? She could be ruined. Her sister would be devastated. The duke and duchess would be ashamed. Her chances at a happy, loving marriage would be taken from her.
"Hyde Park is very beautiful. Did you enjoy our picnic there yesterday?" she asked, hoping he would correct the location of their luncheon.
"I did indeed, and I was pleased to escort you home, as short as the carriage ride is from Hyde Park to Mayfair."
Evangeline tore herself from the gentleman’s hold, but before she could move away, he clasped her tight against him again, forcing her to continue the dance.
"Shshsh, Evangeline. My sweet—or perhaps I ought to say wicked—little minx. Do not make a scene. I would hate to have to hurt you."
"Pardon, my lord?" Evangeline did as he said, not wanting to cause a scene, but everything within her told her to run, to flee.
"So, you enjoy kissing Lord St. George. Or me, as it were assumed."
She stilled, her blood running cold. "You're not Lord St. George?"
He laughed, and the sound was sinister and far from amusing. "No, of course not. But there is something you can do for me so I shall not have to hurt you—or your family. I know all about pain, and as much as I’m willing to inflict it, I’d prefer not to, you see."
She swallowed, her mind racing at his threat. Would this man hurt her siblings? Her brother-in-law? Lord St. George? Who was he, and what could he possibly want with her? She was a nobody and knew nothing.
"I do not understand, my lord."
"Well, let me explain." He spun them about in the dance and laughed, all pretense now gone. The man was an actor of the highest quality and had even fooled her.
A stupid mistake. One she should have been more heedful of.
"Lord St. George took something from me, and while I cannot have it back, I can make the playing field even. An eye for an eye, if you will."
"You seek revenge?" she asked, not wanting to be part of this ploy. Not in any way. Nor would she help this man hurt Lord St. George. His lordship had already suffered in his past, and while she did not know what that suffering entailed, she would not add to his hardships.
"I will not be part of anything of the kind. If you wish to settle a debt, whatever that debt may be with Lord St. George, you should seek him out yourself and remedy the problem you face."
The gentleman grinned down at her, and his eyes—which she had thought were Lord St. George’s—now looked foreign and unknown. Cold and distant.
"Oh, I will remedy the debt, you may be sure of that. But if I were you, I would keep my distance from his lordship. Death follows him wherever he goes, and innocent lives are stolen because of it. I would hate for the same to happen to you. You're such a pretty little thing, too." The pressure of the gentleman’s hand on her back increased and he pulled her closer. "You remind me of my sister. How sad you make me."
Evangeline bit her lip. At a loss as to who this man was or why he was being so cruel. "While I do not know what happened between you and Lord St. George, I do not think whatever you have planned is an intelligent choice."
He laughed. "Lord St. George will get his comeuppance, and you shall help me achieve it. Or you too will face the pain I have suffered."
"I cannot," she said, standing firm.
"But you will, as you must."