As he left her on the side of the dance floor by the Duke of Blackwood, he instructed, “Elizabeth, meet Blackwood. Blackwood meet Elizabeth. Will you two consider dancing together?”
Her eyes widened with shock as she took in the all-powerful duke. “I beg your pardon?”
Tom swung his gaze back and forth between the two. “If you wish this ruse to work, then dancing with the Duke of Blackwood is a better alternative than you returning to your father.”
She nodded. “I approve of the fact that you are letting me into your plans.”
Tom inclined his head to her, “We are a team, are we not?”
She smiled slowly at that. “It seems we are.”
The Duke of Blackwood extended his hand to her. “Lady Elizabeth, will you humor me with a dance?”
“My dear friend suggests it,” she said firmly. “So, I shall.”
The duke paused. “Your friend?”
“I think Tom the truest friend I have ever known.”
“Given the shortness of your acquaintance,” he replied with a sigh, “That is perhaps the saddest thing that I have ever heard. But you are a wise young woman to put your faith in Tom.”
“I cannot feel but he is good,” she said with a shrug.
“You feel correctly.” The duke eyed Tom. “I have known many a nefarious person from a low and high set, and Tom is the only true Galahad amongst us.”
“Galahad,” she echoed.
The duke inclined his head. “Indeed, I do not know a man with more honor than Tom. Even though he has known the darkest nights of all of us.”
“Please don’t,” Tom protested, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. “You are going to make me blush.”
She laughed. “Oh, I should like that very much.”
Tom let out a dramatic but weary sigh. “I have work to do, you two. Please make it look as if you are considering marrying her, Your Grace.”
Blackwood rolled his eyes. “If you insist,” he groaned with mock horror. “But it is a great sacrifice on my part. For all the mamas shall think that I’m willing to marry. Half of the mamas here will be marching my way, having their daughters drop handkerchiefs in front of me. It’ll be a sea of linen, which I shall have to part through.”
“Pretend you are Moses,” Tom drawled.
“Only for you, Tom, only for you.”
And with that Blackwood extended his hand to lady Elizabeth. She placed her hand in his and again, the room seemed transfixed.
As Blackwood escorted her out onto the waxed floor, Tom turned swiftly and headed for the hall.
He knew exactly where he was going.
And he did not want to hesitate. He wanted to know exactly who was trying to hurt her and quickly.
There was really only one way to do that.
And that was to make himself seem an utter and total villain.
Tom headed out towards one of the side chambers where gentlemen drank and smoked to avoid the ladies.
And there he spotted Lord Turnbridge.
The fact that the man had graced the walls of his establishment made him sick.