Chapter 5 #2
She made a show of fluttering her lashes and gazing at him as though he had hung the very moon shining outside. “Do you mean it, my lord? Oh, please say you are not teasing me!”
“On my honor,” he said firmly. “Shall we say ten o’clock? Or would that be too early for you?”
“Ten is absolutely perfect.” She added a grand smile and could see him further falling under her false spell.
Although Astara had not had much experience with men, she had observed women who had and watched various interactions.
It was readily apparent that other than their own brand of flattery, men preferred to be championed as a hero.
They were all quite ready to come to a lady’s aid, sword drawn and prepared to fight the menacing dragon.
This whole intrigue thing really was quite simple.
Once the dance concluded, Astara was intent on finding the duke. But her arm was quickly caught as soon as the viscount departed her side. She glanced down at the hand restraining her. “Excuse me, sir. I was just heading for the ladies’ retiring room.”
“Surely you will not deny another one of your admirers a brief audience.”
She expected the owner of the firm tone to lead her back to the floor for another dance, but instead they headed for the open terrace doors. She yearned to dig in her heels. She did not want to be alone with this man, and yet, he was not appearing to give her much choice.
“Sir, I must protest—” She made the attempt to be affronted.
“I do not believe that you are in any position to do so,” he snapped in return. “Because I have known the duke for years and do not recall any country cousin. Certainly not one as comely as you.”
Astara could feel warning prickles crawling up her spine. While Midvale seemed perfectly harmless, this man was anything but that. She tried to remember his features for future reference when she recounted the interaction to Hampton.
He released her when they were outside, and she glared at him with what she hoped was a mutinous gleam in her eyes. “Then you are not very well informed, Lord…?” She allowed the question to hang in the air where he easily dismissed it.
“You would like me and the rest of society to believe that, would you not, you little pretender? My curiosity wonders for what purpose would you wish to infiltrate society in such a brazen manner?”
She lifted a brow. “You seem to know everything. How about you tell me?”
His expression darkened and she wondered if he might actually strike her.
Instead, he stepped forward and set his face directly in front of hers.
He was so close that she could see the dark pupils of his eyes dilate when he spoke.
“I would be very careful if I were you, my lady. Lest you find yourself on the wrong side of this war.”
Astara immediately stilled. She forced her courage to remain strong and lifted her chin slightly. “And which side are you on?”
He gave a snort and then spun on his heel and walked away.
It wasn’t until he was gone that Astara found herself sagging against the terrace railing. Her hands were shaking and she wasn’t certain her legs would carry her back into the ballroom in that moment.
Deciding it was best she remain to restore her equilibrium; she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths of the bracing night air.
It carried the hint of warmth of the coming summer, but there was still a bit of chill from the spring that yet lingered.
It was this that she clung to in an effort to stop the sky from spinning.
“There you are.”
She jumped, her heart lurching into her throat when a deep voice spoke up behind her. She spied the duke and immediately her racing pulse stuttered to a halt. When it came to fright, at least. It wanted to hammer for another reason, but she did not want to dwell on that. “Oh, it is just you.”
“I am glad to be so uneventful,” he returned dryly.
Feeling as though she could speak without her voice wavering, she said, “I had a rather terse interaction while you were galivanting about.” She waved a hand to emphasize her point.
She recounted the invitation she’d received from Lord Midvale to go riding the following morning followed by the brief, but disturbing meeting while Hampton listened without interruption.
“He had dark hair and cold black eyes. I did not catch his name, but I could tell he was someone of the gentry by his manner of speech and dress.”
“Indeed.” He murmured. “Could you identify him again?”
“In my nightmares.” She shuddered, the reaction far from fabricated. “I do not suffer threats very lightly. I have found them to be too real more often than not.”
His face darkened. “I would be inclined to agree with you.” He held out his arm to her.
“Let us take a walk about the perimeter of the room. It sounds as though this is the gentleman we have been looking for, although he does not meet any of the characteristics of our current suspects.” He glanced down at her. “Well done, Lady Astrid.”
Astara despised that name more than ever.
She wanted to hear her name cross his lips with that seductive tone, instead of some falsified persona.
However, she pushed aside her personal preference for want of the chance to remain employed by the Lion’s Watch.
That was her current priority and sole purpose for being there.
As they meandered through the crowd for a full loop, she shook her head. “I do not see him anywhere. He must have already departed.”
The duke inclined his head. “Then we should do so as well. I think that was enough damage for this evening. I would not wish to tire you unnecessarily on your first performance when you have managed to accomplish what I set out for you to do.”
He escorted her outside and once he’d helped her into the carriage, he did not join her. “You are not coming with me?”
He offered her a crooked grin. “Intrigue never sleeps, dear cousin. I have someplace I need to be but be assured that Mr. Hutchins shall oversee your safe return to Mayfair.”
With that, he shut the door and hit the side of the carriage.
As it jerked into motion, Astara could not resist glancing out the window to see Hampton’s silhouette framed by the glimmering lights beyond. He stood there for a time and then turned and walked away. It was only then that she allowed the curtain to fall back into place.