Thomas managed a tight smile. “I shall be quite all right. Please, do not worry on my account. Go to whichever charming young lady it is that you are tied to.” The music for the next dance began to wind its way across the room, and Thomas gestured for Lord Henderson to step away. “Please, Lord Henderson.”
His friend grimaced, nodded, and then stepped away, leaving Thomas to take in a long breath before turning around to face his adversary.
Lady Reid was as beautiful as ever, her face lifted to his as she drew near. Her blue eyes seemed darker this evening, framed by her dark eyelashes. Her cheeks were a delicate pink, and her fair curls were wound around the top of her head like the halo of an angel. Had it been any other night, Thomas would have admired her gentle curves and the way her gown fell in a most pleasing manner, but tonight, he felt nothing but fury.
“Lady Reid,” he muttered, as the lady came to a stop just a few steps away from him. He could say nothing more, his tongue sticking to the roof of his mouth as he tried to find a way to say what it was that he felt but finding that the words did not come easily to him.
Lady Reid smiled and batted her eyelashes at him, as though everything was just as it ought to be. “Lord Weston. Good evening. I am glad to see you in amongst society again. I have been looking for you these last three days.”
Thomas, who had not given Lady Reid even a moment’s thought, did not smile.
“I even wrote to you the very shortest of notes,” Lady Reid continued, as though this was something that, ordinarily, was a little below her. “But you did not reply to me, Lord Weston.” She laughed softly and touched his arm. “Most likely, you were too busy dealing with the matters that have arisen after the news of your wager was made known.”
Thomas’s mouth set hard. “A matter which you have complete responsibility, Lady Reid.”
She laughed again, and Thomas felt it grate against his skin.
“Indeed,” she trilled, as though he should have expected as much. “I am just glad that the whole farce has been brought to an end, for finally we can progress with what is to be between us.” Her hand reached out and brushed along his arm, towards his hand, but Thomas stepped back so that her hand dropped to her side. Lady Reid frowned, marring her beauty, as she looked at him with apparent anger.
“You spoke to Miss Wells so as to bring an end to the wager?” Thomas asked, his voice low. “Why would you do such a thing?”
Lady Reid shrugged. “I did warn the creature to stay away from your side, although I did not have any particular thought to the consequences that I threatened her with. How fortunate that I was able to use the news of your wager as such a consequence!” She laughed again, the sound burning Thomas’s anger all the hotter. “And, of course, I could tell by the way she looked at you that she cared deeply for you. It was easy enough to convince the other gentlemen who knew of the wager that you ought to be considered the victor.”
Thomas’s anger began to fade, as he stared at Lady Reid in astonishment. He did not understand the lady in any way, only realizing now just how manipulative and coercive she could be.
“You are the one who had Lord Wiltshire declare himself to be the loser in this wager,” Thomas said hoarsely. “You used your wiles and your schemes to convince those of our acquaintances who discovered the wager – or who knew of it prior to this – that Miss Wells was in love with me and would have accepted my court should I have asked.”
Lady Reid pouted, batting her eyelashes. “Well, I would not have had you lose the wager and therefore have to give your funds to Lord Wiltshire now, would I?” she asked, as though this was to be expected. “I would not have said a word to Miss Wells if I was not confident that I would succeed.”
“But why?” Thomas asked, taking a step closer to her, tension building through him. “Why did you go to such lengths, Lady Reid? Why did you speak to Miss Wells of it in the first place?”
Lady Reid laughed softly and put her hand on h
is arm, and such was his confusion that Thomas did not immediately brush her off. “Come now, Lord Weston,” she murmured, her eyes alight as she looked at him. “Surely you cannot be as foolish as to pretend that you do not know the reason for my actions.”
“I assure you, Lady Reid, I am entirely at a loss,” Thomas replied, his eyes narrowing and his lip curling. “I beg of you to tell me the truth in its entirety, before I lose my patience.”
After a moment, Lady Reid took her hand from Thomas’s arm, her expression flattening. She no longer batted her eyes nor attempted to flatter him with her coy smiles. Instead, she held his gaze firmly, her shoulders lifting slightly with the strain of what she was to reveal.
“Lady Reid,” Thomas said, his voice filled with warning. “I would have you tell me the truth in all of its entirety.”
“I have been pursuing you,” Lady Reid told him calmly, which had Thomas frowning heavily. “I have sought you, as well you know.”
Thomas shook his head. “No, Lady Reid. When you first approached me, I thought my chances of having your affections were slim. It was only when you continued to encourage me that I thought that I might be in your considerations. It was never you who pursued me.”
Lady Reid sighed heavily and shook her head, as though he were being deliberately foolish. “You are quite ridiculous, Lord Weston. Yes, I allowed and encouraged your attentions, but only because I sought to have you for my own. That has been my intention throughout, but I could not make such a thing plain to you for fear of what you might think.” She sighed and looked away from him, as though he were the one being ridiculous. “Should you discover that I was pursuing you instead of you pursuing me, then what would become of me? Your arrogance would have overcome all sense. You would not have needed to make any effort in order to acquire me. Therefore, I played you, as I do with every gentleman.”
Thomas shook his head, wondering how he had ever allowed himself to become so caught by this lady. “There are plenty of others who would wish to take you under their care,” he told her, not understanding why she had chosen him directly. “You had no need to pursue me.”
Lady Reid held up one hand as though to silence him. “That is not quite true, Lord Weston,” she declared, her words a trifle hesitant. “For it is not your affections nor your protection that I sought, but rather your title and fortune.”
It was as if he had been punched hard in the gut, for Thomas rocked back on his heels with the shock of what Lady Reid had just declared. She did not want his protection or simply to be his mistress. She had wanted to marry him.
“I know that I have often stated that matrimony is not what I have sought,” she continued, somewhat airily. “But the truth is that I have decided that the time has come for me to wed, and therefore, I chose the gentleman who I felt to be the most worthy of me.”
Swallowing hard against the revulsion that rose in his chest, Thomas shook his head and looked at Lady Reid, as though for the first time. She was not beautiful. She was ugly and uninviting. The darkness of her character shone through her outward appearance and made him realize just how black it truly was. He could never go to her now. Not when he had the wonderful Miss Wells in his heart. Miss Wells brought a joy to his heart and a smile to his face, with her firmness of character, her decisiveness, her honest way of speaking, and the kindness and forgiveness she had shown him. She might not claim the same beauty as Lady Reid, but how many times had he caught himself getting lost in her eyes? When he had kissed her, had he not felt such an explosion of emotion that it had fully taken him over? It could never be the same with Lady Reid.
“You think I am worthy of you,” he muttered darkly, “but I know that there is more to your decision to wed than you speak of, Lady Reid. What is your true reason for seeking to marry?”