Chapter Eight
Making Acquaintances
“It took you long enough to hear it,” I retorted.
His shit-eating smirk never left his face, even as he bowed. “Ezra Alansia at your service, my lady.”
Ugh. I didn’t want to show him any respect, not after he’d left me hanging for so long, but I didn’t have a choice.
I offered the smallest curtsey possible. “Alicia Vermillion, my lord.”
“Call me Ezra. What may I call you?”
“Lady Alicia.”
“Ooh, you’re a tough one, Lady Alicia.”
“Are you surprised? That’s how I convinced you to meet with me, after all.”
“Convinced? I believe the law views it as blackmail.” He waved his hand over his head, and a faint red glow emanated from his palm.
I tensed. “What did you just do?”
“Relax. It’s a mere deterrent spell. Anyone who approaches these doors will quickly forget why they were coming this way.
I don’t like to be interrupted when I’m talking to clients.
” He stepped closer to me and dipped his head so his lips were close to my ear.
“Even less so when that client is as beautiful as you.”
I reached up and pushed his face away. “If you wanted your sweet talking to work on me, you should’ve accepted my first request to meet.”
He sighed dramatically. “Are you sure? I’m warning you—I have a complex about wanting things I can’t have.”
“Then you should make sure not to want me.”
“Impossible. I already do.”
“I’m not a cake, Lord Ezra.”
“Just as well; I’m not a fan of cake.”
I spun to face him.
God.
He was irritatingly handsome as well.
I took back my thanks to the author of this world. This was torture.
“You are aware I wanted to hire you, yes? Not engage in this peculiar banter that only you seem to be enjoying,” I said curtly.
“My lady, it pains me to hear that you think my flirting is peculiar.” He clutched his chest. “But yes, I am aware of the fuss you kicked up when you put the fear of the god Khimos himself into my poor aide.”
“Then your so-called poor aide should watch his tongue in future.”
Ezra’s lips curled up again, and his lavender eyes sparked with amusement. “You’re quite something. And absolutely nothing like the rumours.”
“Pray tell, what are the rumours about me?”
“That you’re weak in the face of your stepmother and half-siblings who, apart from Lord Vincent, bully and abuse you into submission.”
Ouch.
“You’re cruel and spoilt and look down on those below you, which is why you barely have any friends.”
Ouch.
“You send your half-sister, Sophia, to events you’re invited to because you don’t think they’re good enough to grace with your flawless presence.”
Ouchy ouch.
Wait.
“The first two may have been true in the past, but for someone who runs the most infamous information guild, your knowledge is quite lacking on the third point.”
“Ah.” He held up a finger, leaning in close. “I said that was the rumour, not that it was the truth.”
I tilted my head back so I could meet his eyes. “Then what do you think the truth is?”
“Marchioness Vermillion is in charge of your letters and has been taking out the best invitations, sending your sister in your place without your knowledge.”
Hmm. It seemed there was a rat in House Vermillion.
“Aren’t you clever,” I said dryly, touching my fingertip to his chest. “Then I suppose you’re aware of how my sister was utterly humiliated at your estate this week.”
“There’s nothing I enjoy more than petty revenge.” He clasped his hand around mine and pulled it away, peering down as if my palm were something to be studied. “I’m also interested in what you know about me, my lady.”
“A lady never reveals her secrets.”
“Oh, you will.” He brought his face close to mine again. “Now what could the eldest daughter of House Vermillion need so desperately that she can only speak to me about it, hmm?”
I stepped back, extracting my hand from his grip.
“I need a list of bachelors between the ages of twenty-two and thirty-five who are looking for their first wife. They must be either a first or second son of a marquess or higher, but a count’s household would do if they were high enough in the Imperial Family’s estimation. And I need it within a week.”
Ezra stared at me, shock flashing through his eyes, breaking through his usual cocky demeanour. “You… want me to find you a husband? Forgive me, but isn’t that your father’s job?”
“Yes, but he’s open to my input. I promised to present him a list of my choices for his perusal.”
“And why do you need me to get that for you?”
“I’ve recently learnt of a marriage proposal that may be coming my way,” I said vaguely. “One my father would find hard to turn down, but one I wish to avoid at all costs.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Let me guess; you’re trying to enter a marriage arrangement before that happens.”
I nodded. “If I’m officially engaged, it will be hard for my father to agree, especially if my fiancé is from a duke’s family. However, I simply do not have the means to obtain information about the bachelors of the empire as quickly as necessary.”
His lips curled up into his cocky smile. “Didn’t you tell Jinx that you’d have your father visit mine to propose marriage?”
“Only so I could threaten you into doing what I want.” I shrugged one shoulder. “Don’t misunderstand. I have no desire to enter into any kind of personal relationship with you.”
“Ouch. You just keep breaking my heart here tonight.”
“Can you do it or not?”
“It’s not a matter of if I can. It’s whether I will.” He tapped his fingers against the stone railing. “What do I get out of this?”
“I’ll pay you, obviously.”
He ran his tongue over his top lip. “You seem close to Lady Vivian, and I heard Leon ask you for a dance. Rumour has it he’s expressed his interest in you to Duke Trelawney.
Marquess Vermillion would find the Trelawney family a more than satisfactory match for you.
Why not pursue a relationship with him?”
“I do not desire to put my eggs all in one basket.”
“All right. I’ve never had someone so desperate for such an easy request to fulfil before, and you know what?” He leant in close again. “I like you, Lady Alicia. I find myself rather fascinated by you.”
“Is that a yes?”
“On one condition.” He touched his gloved finger to my lips. “I am more than qualified to be a marriage candidate for you. The list you present to your father will include my name, and you’ll give me a fair consideration.”
Balls.
I couldn’t help but appreciate a solid negotiation, even if I didn’t like the terms.
And I didn’t like this.
Because for the fourth time and the fourth man tonight, my heart was doing a little thump thump thump in my chest.
My heart was a shameless slut.
I jerked my head. “Very well,” I said, swatting his hand away. “In any case, I think it would be unreasonable not to include you on such a list, as you’re correct. Chances are that my father already has you as an option in mind.”
“It’s like you’re healing the heart you broke.” His smile was a little more boyish than cocky this time, and he waved his hand once more to remove his spell. “Then we have a deal, my lady. I will visit you at home in five days with your request.”
Ah, in the hopes he could run into my father and sway his opinion.
“I see what you’re doing there,” I murmured.
Ezra took my hand and brushed his lips over my fingers. “It was a pleasure talking with you, Lady Alicia.”
“I’m sure it was.” I took back my hand and turned, opening the doors to the ballroom and almost colliding with Lady Georgina.
She was the last person I wanted to see right now, given that I’d just had a little rendezvous on the terrace with her brother.
She looked at me, then over my shoulder, then back to me. “What did my brother do to you?”
Ezra scoffed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Why must you think I did anything to her? I saw her go outside and took the chance to speak to a beautiful woman.”
“Please unhand me,” I said flatly.
Lady Georgina clenched her jaw. “Do not mess with my friend, Ezra.”
He slid his arm away from my shoulders and stepped in front of me, drawing close to his sister. “I wouldn’t dream of messing with someone I could see myself marrying, little sister.”
“You—”
“Ignore him,” I said quickly, taking her hand and pulling her away. “Don’t let him rile you up, especially in public.”
She huffed but allowed me to drag her along. I glanced over my shoulder and caught Ezra’s gaze. He grinned, shooting me a wink that made my stomach flutter more than it had any right to. I turned back to face where I was walking with a little, “Hmph.”
“What did he say to you?” Lady Georgina asked, grabbing my hand with both of hers. “He didn’t actually propose to you, did he? You just met!”
I scratched my jaw, glancing away. “Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?” she squeaked.
“He said he was interested in me, requested that I consider him as a suitable match, and said he’d come to visit me in a few days.”
Hey—I wasn’t lying. I was just… you know. Omitting a few things.
Lady Georgina sighed. “Well, that’s more polite than he’s ever been to me. I suppose as far as things go, he’s not the worst option in the world, and being your sister wouldn’t be too bad, either.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“You’re garnering quite the attention tonight, aren’t you? First Lord Leon, then my brother, and both me and Lady Sasha had to fend off a couple of gentlemen asking after you when you went outside. Not to mention I could swear the Grand Duke was looking at you after he entered!”
My cheeks flushed. “It’s been a while since I’ve been out in society, so people are just interested after my accident. I’m sure everyone is aware that my father is quietly putting out feelers about a match for me, even if he isn’t in a rush to secure one just yet.”
“No doubt.” She looped her arm through mine and pointed across the ballroom. “Do you see that man over there? Next to Count Varshil’s son?”
“Isn’t that Lady Sasha’s brother?”
“Yes. He’s the one man you cannot entice with your looks tonight, Lady Alicia.”