The words, uttered in a voice she recognized, broke their kiss, shattered the magic. Blinking, peering back along the terrace, Amanda saw Edward Ashford escorting Emily, Anne and their friend Miss Ffolliot out from the ballroom from which music still wafted.
Martin swore softly; she felt the same. He set her back on her feet; the loss of his heat only added to her irritation. They were in the shadows, as yet unseen, but they weren't sufficiently screened to ignore the interruption. Setting her hand on his sleeve, Martin turned her; as if they'd been doing nothing else, they strolled out from the branches' shadow.
Having led the way from the ballroom, Edward was standing waiting for the girls to join him. He saw them first; he stiffened, then adopted an even more supercilious expression than usual.
The girls, juggling shawls and reticules
, saw them, smiled and came bustling forward. Edward hesitated, then fell in on their heels.
"Hello! It's quite mild out here, isn't it?"
"Edward thought I looked peaked, so he brought us out here."
"Good evening, my lord."
All three girls had met Martin previously; all were in awe of him, but Amanda's presence gave them courage.
After greeting the girls, Amanda looked at Edward. He was observing Martin narrowly, then he noticed her and inclined his head. Somewhat more stiffly, he nodded to Martin. "Dexter."
Martin nodded back.
Amanda felt like throwing her hands in the air. They were first cousins, for heaven's sake! At least Luc had conversed reasonably. Edward's stiffness, his uneasiness, projected the clear impression he'd be happier gathering the girls and her, too, and retreating from Martin's contaminating presence.
Martin's eyes had narrowed; Amanda gave him credit for not reacting further to Edward's irritating attitude.
Taking Martin's arm again, she smiled at the girls. "We'll leave you to your perambulation. But don't remain out too long-people do notice."
"I can't believe it-they haven't lectured, they haven't growled. Demon even smiled at me!" Amanda stared narrow-eyed at her cousins, currently standing with their wives on the other side of Lady Hamilton's ballroom.
Beside her, Amelia stared, too. "And Devil's given his permission… but surely they've guessed? Perhaps the others haven't heard?"
"According to Patience, they were all there when Martin spoke with Devil."
"Well, then, they've all met him, which means you're right-it's not believable. I'm surprised he's unmarked. They must be up to something."
"Maybe…" Amanda's gaze grew distant. "Yes, that has to be it. Martin must have convinced them that, as what's done is done and he does wish to marry me, to let him manage me-my resistance-on his own." She refocused on her cousins. "He knows how I feel about them and their interference."
"Maybe they've realized that our lives are none of their business."
Amanda glanced at Amelia; Amelia met her gaze.
Amanda shook her head. Stared again at her cousins. "They're up to something. But what?"
Whatever their plan was, it didn't include discouraging Martin's suit. Giving permission was one thing; in the circumstances, it might have proved difficult not to grant. But actually approving…
As she whirled through the first waltz in Martin's arms, Amanda saw both Vane, and then Gabriel, notice them, then turn away, apparently unperturbed. She refocused on Martin's face. "When you spoke with Devil, did you or he touch on the… degree of our relationship?"
Martin met her gaze. "If you mean did we discuss the fact of our intimacy, no. However, my interpretation of the discussion was that that aspect was understood."
She stared at him. "Taken for granted?"
"Let's say 'assumed.'"
"Humph!" She wasn't sure how to react-relieved her cousins had apparently accepted her right to manage her own life, or wildly suspicious, certain they never would. She settled for being watchful, wary. Looking before she leapt.
"This is bedlam," Martin muttered as the music ended and they halted. "Let's stroll in the foyer. At least we should be able to breathe out there."
She was willing enough; Lady Hamilton had invited more than double the number of people her rooms could actually hold. Unfortunately, her ladyship's guests were still arriving; the foyer, although less packed, was still crowded.