to avoid Winthrop. And no one should be subjected to Winthrop. It was normal, after what they’d shared, for Tony to feel protective of Maggie.
I want her.
Carstairs slapped him on the back, startling him out of his thoughts. “I see Miss Turnbull.” He pointed to a far corner of the ballroom where the young lady was holding court amongst a small group of young gentlemen. “I would like to apologize to her for leaving town in such haste. It was terribly rude of me after our fishing trip.”
“Are you always so fucking nice?”
Carstairs blinked his eyes at Tony, confused. “Why, yes. What good would it do for me not to be?” He nodded before going to the side of Miss Turnbull.
Tony cursed beneath his breath. Carstairs was undeserving of his foul mood. He was a good, if not-too-bright, friend. He’d left town to inspect an estate as a favor to Tony without a second thought, asking no questions, because he’d been asked to do so. Tony turned his attention from Carstairs to his stepmother’s ballroom, taking in the glittering display of titled wealth before him. The room was full of beautiful women who were, even now, casting looks in his direction. In the not so distant past, Tony would have taken advantage of so much bounty, but not tonight.
Damn her.
“You look bloody angry at Carstairs. I can’t imagine what he’s done to provoke your ill-temper. Isn’t being mad at him rather like kicking a puppy?”
Tony turned to Leo, who lurked in a dark alcove next to a statue of some Greek god.
Leo tilted his head toward the piece of marble he leaned against. “Who’s this bloke?”
“Apollo, I think. They all look the same to me. I don’t dare ask Amanda, or she’ll bend my ear for the next hour. What are you doing, Leo, hiding? I hadn’t expected you’d be here tonight.” Tony knew Amanda had asked Leo to attend, as she did every other ball, dinner party, and fete held at Averell House, but he rarely did so.
“I promised Amanda.” Leo grimaced. “Why couldn’t she be like any other woman when confronted by her husband’s bastard son and just dislike me? Keep me at arm’s length? It’s not right, I tell you.”
Tony laughed at his brother’s discomfort. Amanda had never treated Leo any differently despite Leo being born on the wrong side of the blanket. Most titled ladies would never even acknowledge Leo’s existence, let alone welcome him with open arms. Her treatment of Leo and, indeed, Tony, was a testament to Amanda’s generous and loving heart. She was far too good for the Duke of Averell. But she loved Tony’s father, deeply and unconditionally. Amanda wasn’t unintelligent. She knew of her husband’s sins and loved him anyway. Tony thought his father underserving of such devotion.
“Christ. There’s Winthrop. Don’t let him see me,” Leo said in a low tone, sinking back further into the shadows. “I’ve extended his credit again and he’s already close to the new limit. Insists he’ll pay me back the enormous sum he owes Elysium when he marries. Says the heiress has accepted his proposal and the contracts are to be signed as soon as the legalities are ironed out.” Leo shrugged. “Apparently, the bulk of the girl’s fortune doesn’t become his upon marriage automatically, and he’s seeking to have that overturned with the support of the girl’s guardian. Still won’t tell me who she is. He’d better be successful, though. All he has left, besides the entailed family seat, is a small, isolated estate and I’ve no desire to have that foisted upon me. Nor his mistress, though he’s offered her up.”
Maggie hadn’t exaggerated. Her aunt had already auctioned her off just as she had Walter Lainscott’s hunting dogs. “He has nothing else?” Tony could smell the desperation on Winthrop’s sweating body from across the ballroom.
“No,” Leo assured him. “Why do you dislike him so much?”
“I have my reasons.” One very small, delicate reason.
When Winthrop moved aside, Tony saw Maggie, Lady Dobson clinging to her side. His foot actually took a step in her direction before he stopped himself. She looked beautiful. The gold silk had been an inspired choice. He’d never purchased so much as a decorated fan for a woman before, let alone such an expensive gown, but it had pleased Tony to do so for Maggie. The gold silk brought out the streaks of blonde in her otherwise dark hair, making her shimmer in the light of the chandeliers. Tony’s only