“You know Mr. Harrow.” Lizzy grinned, less than subtly prodding her brother.
Arabella frowned at Lizzy to stop such talk. “I know that man is nothing but trouble.”
“What do you mean by saying such a thing about our friend?” Lilly had come up behind her, the girl’s angelic face screwed up at the insult.
Edmund interjected. “You mistake Lady Iliffe’s meaning, Lilly.”
“I must, for she does not know him at all.” Nose in the air, the beauty shared her own opinion. “Where he is genteel, she is admittedly unpolished.”
In a quickly spoken reprimand, Edmund whispered, “Lilly, you will apologize to her ladyship this instant!”
“There is no need for an apology.” Arabella had caused the row and she would forgive it. “But be cautious of him, Miss Jenkins. He is not always as he seems, and can be quite rough if provoked.”
It was such a pity so pretty a face could be ruined by so ugly a sneer, but the sour expression did not last. Eyes a glow, the beauty saw her suitor, mouth curving into a pretty smile to find the one she’d been waiting for had arrived.
Mr. Harrow.
Arabella did not need to turn to confirm it. She could feel the force of him before he came into view. Just as she’d felt the lack of it each night of the past week, while waiting for him to step out of the shadows within Crescent Barrows.
But he’d never come.
Otherworldly, he approached their party, the shine of obsidian eyes laid upon a woman that was not her. “Mrs. Jenkins, do not you and your two daughters look fine this evening.” A moment later Gregory darted a glance the baroness’s direction, casually remarking, “And Lady Iliffe, I see your train is pinned up. It could not be that you intend to dance.”
Feeling foolish for finding him beautiful, Arabella replied, “Only the first set, Mr. Harrow. Afterward, I shall go into hiding in the card room.”
“Mr. Jenkins must be the daring gentleman.” Gregory smiled tightly at the handsome landowner. “How unfortunate for you, sir. She will spoil the polish on your boots.”
The dark haired bully turned toward the blushing Lilly. “Miss Jenkins, would you do me the honor of standing up with me, for I wish to witness something so ridiculous as closely as possible?”
Giggling, Miss Jenkins offere
d her hand and walked away with her suitor, her head high, thoroughly satisfied to see the baroness ridiculed.
The first dance was called and Edmund escorted Arabella to the floor. Rich music began, all dancers moving in unison to bow or curtsy.
Her partner made it easy, his smile steady, and hand reassuring. They separated in the figure of the dance and it was Mr. Harrow who took her fingers for the short exchange.
“You have been practicing.” His voice was nothing but displeased.
Relieved to see he was not fool enough to wear the silver ring, Arabella replied, “And why should I not?”
There was an unsatisfied grunt from the devil, while nearby Edmund complimented her profusely.
“Yes, yes, she is quite good,” Gregory stated, smacking his lips and behaving like the entire thing were horribly boring. “It seems your company has improved her, Miss Jenkins, for I cannot imagine your brother could possibly handle the woman alone.”
Lilly laughed as loud as she dared. “I pity my brother if he believes he could domesticate Lady Iliffe.”
Mr. Harrow smirked, venomous and challenged, “Do you not prefer her with a little fire? I find the most interesting phrases pass her lips when she is provoked.”
“As do I.” Lilly glanced toward the baroness, the two women linking hands briefly in time to the music. “But do not let her low opinion of you color your regard for her new found skill in dancing.”
“Low opinion?” Gregory cocked a brow. He looked at the woman in question, meeting defiant emerald eyes.
“I simply spoke the truth of your character,” Arabella admitted, deeply sincere. “Shall I repeat it aloud?”
“No.” They came together in the figure again, parted, and he went to Lilly, purring , “I shall guess. Lady Iliffe described me as a villain.” Every syllable was pronounced with pride. Voice low and seductive, he continued, “And she was right. I am a soulless despot bent on the destruction of any who stand between me and what I want.”
No matter his words, it was the tone and beauty that excited Lilly, for the girl looked on the handsome demon with eyes full of longing each time they moved together in the dance. Wondering if this were all a show, a staged drama to bully or offend, Arabella decided the best thing to do would be simply to ignore Gregory’s bad behavior.