Her grandfather might be oblivious to their sly glances and coy asides, but Esmerelda was not. Although few of them deigned to address her directly, their discreet whispers and muffled laughter vied with the tinkling strains of the musicians.
Hoping to creep from column to column until she reached the French windows leading to the terrace, Esmerelda peeked around the pillar only to discover that a man had appropriated the next column. He stood with one ankle crossed over the other and one brawny shoulder braced against the marble column. The muted glow of the gasoliers burnished his hair to gold.
Unlike some of her wittier guests, he wore formal black evening dress and a stark black mask. His flawlessly cut trousers and the graceful flare of his tailcoat only emphasized the leanness of his hips. The dazzling white of his bow tie offset the sunhoneyed hue of his skin. A fluted glass of champagne dangled from his long fingers.
As he met her frustrated gaze, he lifted his glass in a silent toast.
Esmerelda had no desire to begin a flirtation with some randy young nobleman, no matter how unnervingly handsome. She leaned the other way just as Potter appeared in the vaulted doorway. She might have been alarmed by the butlers unhealthy pallor if she hadnt already suspected he slept in a coffin. Flaring his pinched nostrils, he announced another round of guests, his consumptive croak all but inaudible.
Groaning aloud, Esmerelda ducked behind the pillar. It was too late. Shed been spotted. The Belles came trotting across the parquet floor, the pitter-patter of their dainty slippers portending her doom.
Why, Esmerelda, is that you? trilled the boldest of them.
No, she replied glumly.
They surrounded her anyway, their heart-shaped faces aglow with excitement.
Annabel (or was it Isabelle?) clasped her lily-white hands beneath her pointed chin. How incredibly brave of you to show your face in public after being so scandalously manhandled by that rogue.
I, for one, nearly swooned when he swept you into his arms, chirped the shy little Belle named Belle. We were all afraid he was going to carry you off and ravish you.
They bobbed their heads in eager agreement, sending their elaborate clusters of curls bouncing. Esmerelda could do nothing to stop the flush that crept into her cheeks.
Slyly noting her heightened color, Isabelle (or was it Annabel?) crooned, Surely even a woman of your advanced age and limited prospects would be tempted to surrender her virtue to such a dashing villain.
Esmerelda couldnt bear another second of their smug pity. Leaning down until she stood nose to nose with the impertinent little vixen, she said, I already have.
A chorus of gasps greeted her announcement. Leaving them aghast with shock, she gathered her skirts and marched away. Thinking only to escape to her bedroom or perhaps to the darkest reaches of Africa, she veered right to avoid her grandfather, then swerved left to evade St. Cyr.
And crashed right into the arms of the stranger who had sought refuge behind the other column, nearly knocking his glass of champagne out of his hand.
Oh, Im terribly sorry! She dabbed at the damp spot on his crisp shirtfront with her handkerchief. I dont know what possessed me to be so careless, sir. Please do forgive me. Genuinely embarrassed by her clumsiness, she glanced up into the eyes framed by the narrow slits of his mask.
Gray-green eyes fringed with thick gold lashes and sparkling with devilish merriment.
Ill forgive you, honey, he drawled, capturing her hand and pressing it flat over his heart. But only if youll forgive me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Billys heart throbbed beneath her palm, much as it had that day in the jail when shed believed him to be some demon or phantom out to steal her soul. Only it hadnt been her soul hed ended up stealing, but her heart. As she gazed up into his dear, familiar face, she knew he still had the power to crush it with nothing more than a careless twitch of his fingers.
His appearance shouldnt have taken her breath away, but it did. Hed proved himself capable of such a transformation once before in Eulalie. His casual elegance made all the other men in the room look like graceless buffoons.
Painfully aware of the curious stares they were attracting, she snatched her hand out of his. You, sir, were not invited to this ball.
He lifted his shoulders in a laconic shrug. We Darlings dont get many invites to fancy shindigs such as this.
But that never stops us from making ourselves right at home.
Darlings? she echoed, her horror mounting. Darlings? Surely you didnt dare A desperate glance around the ballroom proved that indeed he had.
The entire Darling gang was in attendance, all attired in elegant black masks and formal evening dress. Jasper leaned against the mantel, looking nearly as striking as Billy. Despite his jaded sneer, the Belles had already began to bat their eyelashes in his direction. Enos lurked shyly behind a bronze bust of William the Conqueror, while Sam fidgeted nervously with his hair, trying in vain to drag a lock of it over his absent ear. Virgil was nowhere in sight, but Esmerelda could hear his voice drowning out the valiant efforts of the musicians.
She might have suspected her aunt of inviting the lot of them if she hadnt spotted Anne in the corner, arguing frantically with a man in a white mask. His flowing silver hair just brushed his shoulders, and the tips of his drooping mustache had been waxed to perfection.
Esmereldas panic grew when she remembered the guest in the Union uniform. She sighed with relief when she glimpsed his dark blue back retreating from the room. The last thing she needed was a war on her hands.
Another war, she amended, meeting Billys challenging gaze with one of her own. You can make yourself at home if you like, Mr. Darling, but that doesnt make you welcome.
I remember a time when you welcomed me, Miss Fine. Into your heart. Into your arms. He leaned down, making sure his next words would be heard only by her. Into your bed.
Her skin prickled with desire at the husky reminder. Before she could recover her composure, her grandfather materialized out of the crowd. Esmerelda nearly panicked, but the duke gave Billy a look that was more cursory than curious. Shed forgotten that he was doing an impressive imitation of an aristocratic gentleman.
There you are, my dear! her grandfather exclaimed, blinking behind his brown velvet mask trimmed in owl feathers. Ive been looking everywhere for you. I was hoping we could have our guests adjourn to the music room for a brief interlude before the dancing begins.
Esmereldas hands were trembling too violently to hold a champagne glass, much less a violin bow. Oh, no, Grandpapa. I dont think that would be a very good idea.
Why, I think its a capital idea, Billy said, his drawl sharpening to a clipped English accent.
The duke looked him up and down. I dont believe Ive had the pleasure, sir.
Before Billy could point out that the pleasure had been all hers, Esmerelda grabbed her grandfather by the elbow and steered him away with such haste he nearly dropped his cane. Nor should you right now. There will be ample time for introductions later. After I play.
Although her sweet smile remained fixed on her lips, she cast Billy a look promising revenge over her shoulder.
At her grandfathers urging, their guests eagerly crowded into the music room. Esmerelda supposed some of them were secretly hoping for a performance as riveting as the one shed given on Drury Lane. The Darling gang lined the right wall. Enos, Sam, and Virgil were beaming with excitement, and even Jaspers sneer was softened by a hint of anticipation. Andrew McGuire soon joined them, followed by a scowling Anne.