Aunt Elizabethwaspaying attention, and her sharp gaze followed Mary’s path across the room. She smiled at her aunt as innocently as she could, forcing herself to walk as normally as possible, pretending she did not feel Aunt Elizabeth’s watching her all the way out the door.
Safely out of the room, she looked around and saw a flash of movement at the end of the hall leading to the stairs. Hurrying down the hall, she slowed when she reached the corner, the low murmur of masculine voices confirming Hartford and Walter were just around it. This area of the house would be deserted right now, as Walter knew, so they clearly felt comfortable conversing. She crept forward, pressing against the wall until Walter’s voice became discernible.
“Roger and I can stay away tonight if it will cause difficulties—”
“No.” Hartford cut Walter off. “You are both welcome, and I personally guarantee Lucas will not cause another scene.”
“We do not want to cause you any difficulties.” Walter sounded almost apologetic. “You have made things possible that I never knew…” His voice trailed off, his tone becoming almost embarrassed.
“You two are not the difficult ones.” Hartford chuckled. “Besides, it is a masquerade. He will not bother you at future events, period, or he will deal with me, but tonight, he will probably not even know who to bother. I will see both you and Roger tonight at Hartford house, yes?”
Wide-eyed, Mary began backing away before she could hear Walter’s answer, her mind racing.
Her cousin reallywasa member of Hartford’s secret society!
Not only that, but there was going to be a masquerade tonight at Hartford house… this would be her chance.
But first, she had to get through the afternoon and find an excuse to skip Lady Farthingale’s ball tonight. And find a book to bring back to Lily that would not raise her aunt’s suspicions.
Fortunately, Mary had purchased three new books recently, although she did not think Lily was going to be particularly impressed with her selections. Mary’s tastes had recently taken a turn for the gothic and supernatural, both of which Lily thought were trite. It was not as though she would actually have to read the book, though.
Hurrying to her room, Mary snatched up the second book on her nightstand and flew downstairs. She was moving so quickly, she nearly ran into the Marquess of Hartford in the hall. With a little shriek, she managed to come to a halt just in time.
Looking down at her, a lazy, wicked smile crossed his lips. “Well, hello there, petal. I was wondering where you had disappeared off to.”
“Are you leaving already?” she asked before she could stop herself and inwardly grimaced at the disappointment evident in her voice. He heard it, too, and his smile grew a touch more wicked. When he took a step toward her, Mary immediately took one back, which ran her right up against the rail of the staircase.
“Would you like me to stay?”
Yes.
That was the answer that sped through her mind, although she dared not say it aloud. Her heart was fluttering madly against the book pressed into her breast, and her mouth felt suddenly dry. The way he looked at her… He leaned in, and her head tilted back automatically, eyes staring back into his golden gaze, trapped by it.
“Hartford.” Thomas barked out the title, and Mary had never been more relieved for her stuffy cousin’s interruption. Heat bloomed in her cheeks.
Good lord, she had been about to kiss Hartford in the middle of her aunt and uncle’s hallway!
Stepping back, a mild mask of an expression descending over his face, Hartford turned his head and nodded.
“Hood. I was just leaving.”
“See that you do,” Thomas replied, coming to a halt beside Mary. They both watched as Hartford made his way to and out of the front door. It was not until it shut behind him, she felt like she could truly draw a deep breath again. Thomas frowned down at her. “You should stay away from him, Mary.”
About to protest that he had not been there to see her but to visit Arabella, she quickly bit her tongue. That would hardly be a helpful argument to make to Thomas.
“I was making my way back to the drawing-room when I unexpectedly ran into him,” she said honestly. Thomas nodded, but the expression on his face was still dark, as though he was thinking.
“I will escort you back.” He proffered his arm, and Mary took it, feeling only a little wistfulness over what might have been if Thomas had not interrupted.
Rex
His second private encounter with Miss Wilson had only confirmed his thoughts after the first.
There was a secret side to the young lady, one which Arabella had not been aware of, even though she would have been delighted by it. She seemed close to Miss Wilson. He wondered if Miss Wilson’s friends knew. Regardless, he knew his attention was now fixed.
In the hall, she had backed away initially, yes, but then she had been waiting for him to kiss her… wanting him to. There was an attraction between them that could not be denied. He had to admit, the mystery of her appealed to him greatly, especially since he had been permitted to see a side of her she did not reveal to most others. Why he had been so singled out, he did not know, but he felt rather chuffed to be so.
Strolling along the streets of Mayfair, he began plotting his course.