Chapter 10
KENDRICK
Rexford left, but the others chose to remain. They returned through the garden doors while I went in search of the side door Caroline’s friend had assured me was here. When I found it, I easily made my way back to the ballroom.
I was content for now to leave Caroline to her own devices while I thought about the impulse that had urged me to drag her out onto the balcony in the first place. At that point, taking her into the gardens had been inevitable.
It wasn’t the first time I’d disappeared into the gardens with a woman, but I’d never done so with someone who was on the marriage mart and looking for a husband.
Although I supposed that last statement didn’t apply to Caroline either.
She had assured me she didn’t want to marry.
At least not at this point in her life. But she would surely change her mind at some point.
That last thought shouldn’t have bothered me as much as it did. Despite her brother giving her to me in payment of his gambling debt, she wasn’t really mine.
I headed to the card room and was surprised Weston wasn’t there. He’d been absent from the ballroom since my arrival. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d already run out of money and been asked to leave, but then another thought occurred to me.
When I returned to the ballroom, I found the other Legends standing off to one side. Sans Fairfax, of course, who was dancing. He wouldn’t allow the opportunity to find a conquest for the night to pass him by.
But Greyson and Clifton were leaning against a wall, looking supremely bored. I suspected they were waiting for me to decide to leave. I scanned the guests and spotted Caroline off in the corner with the other young women who weren’t dancing.
I smiled as I remembered the way she’d blushed when I’d touched her foot. She wouldn’t be dancing again tonight, and the men who were hovering nearby were clearly unhappy to have missed their chance to try for the diamond of the season.
Caroline’s aunt was chatting with a group of older women, and I spotted Weston off in another corner with Penham. My teeth ground together as I saw the way Penham was staring at Caroline. I forced myself to look away and headed to where Greyson and Clifton were standing, watching me.
“Did you enjoy yourself outside?” Clifton asked.
I shrugged. “It was interesting.”
Greyson glanced to where Caroline was leaning over in her chair and laughing with Diana. “The two of them were here when we returned to the ballroom.”
That confirmed what I suspected had happened while I was in the gardens. “You spoke to Weston?”
Clifton nodded. “Rexford wanted to tell him in person that his membership has been revoked.”
I couldn’t fault Rexford for that decision. “Weston is lucky that’s all he did.”
Greyson was watching Caroline’s brother, his eyes slightly narrowed. “For now, Rexford is content to monitor the situation. Time will tell if we’ll need to take further action.”
I could understand Rexford’s annoyance with Weston, but that statement bothered me. It took me a moment to realize why. Rexford was acting as Caroline’s protector, but she wasn’t his to guard. She was mine.
I needed to tear up that promissory note, but I found myself reluctant to do so. For some reason, Miss Caroline Edwards intrigued me, and I couldn’t recall the last time I’d been interested in a woman outside of what she could do for me in the bedroom.
Clifton was watching me again. “What are you going to do about the girl?”
I shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“Are you going to ruin her?”
My mind went back to the kiss we’d shared.
I hadn’t intended for it to get out of hand, but the moment I’d touched her, all my caution had fled.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Caroline would be interested in exploring more with me.
She knew I wouldn’t marry her, and she wasn’t looking for a husband.
There was nothing to stop us from having a little bit of fun.
My mood brightened considerably at the thought.
Greyson clapped me on the shoulder. “We’re returning to the club. Are you joining us?”
My gaze drifted back to Caroline, and I couldn’t deny that I was reluctant to leave. But I nodded at Greyson. Whatever was going to happen between Caroline and me would have to wait.