Chapter 24
KENDRICK
Satisfaction filled me as I entered Almack’s. The emotion wasn’t one I’d ever expected to feel, but tonight I wasn’t alone. Heads turned when the seven of us—the six Legends and Victoria, Moreland’s new bride—walked into the building as a group.
Rexford had carefully crafted the affectation several years ago to draw the maximum amount of attention whenever the Legends attended an event together. And it succeeded every time.
Conversation stopped, and every eye turned to watch our progress. The scene would have been annoying if it wasn’t so comical.
We made our way to the base of the stairs before turning to scan the people loitering in the area.
When confronted with our perusal, they averted their eyes.
I was aware of several matrons sneaking glances at Moreland’s bride.
They were clearly shocked that she’d been accepted into our fold.
No doubt they’d assumed we’d only tolerate her and never expected us to include her in one of our rare joint appearances.
We turned and proceeded up the stairs.
The onlookers probably thought we’d made an exception for her because she was Rexford’s sister. But the truth was that we all liked Victoria. She wasn’t silly or vain and had blended seamlessly into the group, even if there were some things we could never discuss in her presence.
To be honest, I couldn’t imagine the same welcome being given to the women the rest of us dallied with. But perhaps once we married as well… I forced my thoughts away from that line of thinking. The rest of us wouldn’t be marrying for some time, so why was I thinking about future brides?
When we reached the next floor, we made our way to the ballroom. As if my thought of future wives had summoned her, my gaze fell immediately on Caroline and her aunt when we entered the large room. The space was, of course, already packed with glittering guests, all dressed in their best finery.
Rexford greeted the patronesses and thanked them for the vouchers they’d supplied. Despite their advanced ages and stature in society, they turned into simpering women when subjected to his charm.
I took in the men hovering near Caroline, a smile curving my lips when I saw that her brother wasn’t among them.
When Rexford had secured the tickets and vouchers for tonight—after Fairfax had convinced him an appearance at Almack’s would be amusing—he’d only obtained extras of each for Caroline and Lady Fredricks.
Caroline saw us right away, of course. A quiet arrival was impossible when we attracted so much attention.
Our eyes met across the room, and I inclined my head in greeting. Her smile widened before she turned to say something to her aunt.
Fairfax nudged me discreetly. “That’s your cue.”
I spared him a frown, annoyed that he was enjoying this so much, before breaking off from the others.
Moreland was already escorting his wife onto the dance floor, and I imagined the rest, aside from Rexford, would be escaping to the card room before long.
They’d only come with me as a show of support.
A reminder to everyone here tonight that our bond was unbreakable.
Rexford would probably be returning to King’s soon. His appearance here served a second purpose—to help him uncover the identity of the anonymous author of the gossip column that reported on our exploits with alarming regularity.
One of the men standing near Caroline and Lady Fredricks moved to join them. No doubt his intention had been to ask Caroline for a dance. When one of the others caught his arm and inclined his head in my direction, the man wisely changed his mind and returned to his friends.
Apparently, Lady Fredricks was correct that my attention toward Caroline was hampering her ability to find a husband. I smiled in satisfaction at the knowledge. That meant our plan was working.
I joined them and addressed Lady Fredricks first, taking it as a good sign she wasn’t ushering Caroline away as though I was a villain in a bad comedy. “I assume it is safe to approach.”
She arched one brow. “You played your hand well, my lord.”
I tilted my head. “In what way?”
“The vouchers for Almack’s, of course.”
“I’m surprised the two of you weren’t invited by Lady Jersey herself.”
I’d asked Mr. Clarence, who was club secretary at King’s and Rexford’s right-hand man, to look into the matter. Between him and Rexford, the pair had contacts everywhere. It had come as a shock to learn that Caroline had yet to be granted an invitation.
She shrugged. “I asked my nephew to look into the matter, but his attention has been elsewhere of late.”
We both knew she was referring to his current campaign to gamble away his inheritance. I was surprised Lady Fredricks hadn’t possessed enough influence herself, especially since Caroline was the diamond.
When I turned to Caroline, I couldn’t keep my smile from widening. “I’m amazed you’re not already dancing, Miss Edwards.”
She sighed. “We’ve only just arrived, but I fear my card is almost full.” Her voice lowered. “I did manage to save a dance for you. But given how those gentlemen are looking at me, I don’t think I’ll be standing here for much longer.”
“Perhaps I should let it be known that I’m very unhappy with all the attention you’re receiving.”
“Don’t you dare,” Lady Fredricks said. “Not unless you intend to propose marriage yourself.”
I noticed an air of calculation in her eyes, but I chose to ignore it. We’d already discussed this matter, after all.
Lady Fredricks looked past me. “Oh, look, there’s Lady Henderson. I need to speak to her. I assume the two of you will be safe here until Caroline’s next partner comes to collect her.”
“Of course,” I said.
We were in the middle of a crowded ballroom, after all.
There wasn’t true privacy to be had at Almack’s, but there were several alcoves around the perimeter of the room that would permit us to escape unwanted stares.
They wouldn’t provide complete seclusion but would allow us to converse in private.
And since we would still be visible to anyone walking by, our retreat wouldn’t cause a scandal.
Lady Fredricks glanced at her niece, and something passed between them before she walked away.
I held out my arm to Caroline, who tucked her hand into my elbow. We progressed around the outer perimeter of the room, looking for an unoccupied alcove. This early in the evening, it didn’t take us long to find one, and the alcove was even partially obscured by a column.
Caroline sat on the bench and let out an annoyed sigh.
“My apologies,” I said, taken aback by the sound. “If you wish to return—”
“Oh, no, not at all. Please sit.”
I glanced at the space beside her. We wouldn’t be touching, but we would be very close. “Are you certain?”
“If anyone wants to gossip about the fact you are sitting next to me in a public assembly room, where it is quite evident we are merely conversing, they are welcome to do so.”
I nodded and sat next to her on the bench.
“What is the matter?” I had to admit I was concerned since it was obvious Caroline was unsettled.
She looked away, and I waited. Finally, she let out a breath and turned to face me again. “I think Auntie is under the impression that you’ll change your mind and decide you want to court me.”
I laughed, and she joined me.
“It is ridiculous.”
I shrugged. “I can imagine why she’d think so. After all, I will need to marry one day.”
She shook her head. “But not now.” She looked away again. “It matters not because I won’t be marrying either. Perhaps, several years from now, if we are both still unattached, we can have this conversation again.”
I frowned, but not because her suggestion was unpleasant. No, I realized that I very much hated the idea of not seeing her for several years after this season. “What do you plan to do when you leave London?”
“I’ll return home, of course, and I’ll do what I can to avoid all the local suitors.”
I was scowling now. “You have local suitors?”
She laughed. “Of course I do. They are everywhere. I cannot avoid them, and they are most annoying.”
I leaned closer. “Am I annoying?”
She met my gaze and shook her head. “You are the only gentleman who isn’t.”
The strains of a waltz began to play.
She sighed. “I believe I promised this dance to Lord Danbury. You were too late to save me from that ignominy.”
I stood and held my hand out to her. “Allow me to come to your rescue, then.”
She rose to her feet and glanced past me. Her voice was low when she said, “He’s hovering right there.”
I turned to face him. “My apologies, but I believe Miss Edwards forgot that I had already claimed this dance.”
“I was so overcome by your request, my lord. I completely forgot to write down your name.”
I turned back to her. “You can make it up to me now.”
She dipped into a curtsy, a small, pleased smile on her lips as she took my hand. I swept her into my arms and waltzed with her to the center of the room.
She laughed. “That is twice now that you have stolen me from an unwanted dance partner. If only you were around all the time.”
I didn’t reply, but I found myself wishing for that as well. Moreland and Victoria were near, and I couldn’t help but notice the way Victoria kept glancing over at us.
Caroline sighed. “My aunt has been playing matchmaker. She’s already tried to elicit Lady Moreland’s assistance.”
I shook my head. “Well, Lady Fredricks needn’t have bothered.
I wouldn’t be surprised to learn Victoria was already trying to play matchmaker for all of us.
” I nodded toward the other end of the room where Fairfax was dancing with a young woman.
“He usually limits his dance partners to widows. Victoria must have introduced them, and I’m sure he felt obliged to ask her to dance. ”
Caroline giggled, and I smiled down at her, delighted by her amusement.
“You poor man,” she said. “One woman admitted within the ranks of the Legends, and now you’re not safe from anyone.”
“Well, it’s not as though we dislike the company of women. I would say the opposite is true.”
She shook her head. “I’m sure it is.”