Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,62
and blatant insult was flabbergasting. She resolved not to open her mouth again and didn’t, even when he spoke to her. But she endured until the end of the dance.
Even then, he would not let her escape at once. “Some champagne to celebrate your new fortune,” he said, retaining her hand and placing it on his sleeve. Stiffly, she walked off the floor with him and was handed a fresh glass of bubbling wine.
She wanted to throw it in his face. She contented herself with murmuring thanks to the waiter and removing her hand from his arm at last.
“Another dance, Lady Juliet?”
She stared at him. And, again, was reminded of a cat playing with a mouse. He was torturing her for his own entertainment. Well, that was not a game she would allow him to win. He was relying on her good manners. Since people must have heard him ask, and two dances in one evening was unexceptionable, he thought she was obliged to accept.
She tilted her chin. “I am a little fatigued. I would rather sit this one out with—”
Before she could add her mother, sister, or any other member of her family, he interrupted. “Excellent choice. I am happy to sit with you. Here, perhaps?” He indicated the vacant chairs closest to where they stood, still well within the hearing of other guests where she could not deliver the blistering set-down on the tip of her tongue. He smiled, offering his arm once more. “Or perhaps my lady would rather dance after all?”
She didn’t want to be anywhere near him, and he knew it. She could plead a sudden headache and flee to her mother, but such spiritless conduct appalled her. It would still let him win.
“Don’t be a hog, man,” a familiar voice said at her elbow. “The lady is promised to me.”
Chapter Fifteen
Dan. Her relief was dizzying.
“Really?” Barden drawled, amused. “Since when?” He still thought he had won.
“Since dinner,” Dan said.
Blindly, she took his arm before he offered it and walked away with him.
“Juliet, you’re trembling,” Dan murmured in quick concern. “Where can we go?”
“Out of here,” she said intensely.
He let her lead them toward the open drawing room door. Flicking the fan dangling at her wrist, she tried not to waft herself with too much agitation. Other people, mostly the older men, were standing around in the gallery, talking. On the other side, a small salon was being prepared with extra refreshments and supper.
“More food?” Dan said. “Where on earth will we put it?”
“The evening is young,” she babbled, leading the way in.
The servants were busy there, of course, but at least there were no guests to see as she pushed open the connecting door to the salon beyond and closed it with a gasp of relief.
“Juliet, what is wrong?” Dan demanded, urging her away from the door toward the window seat. The moon through the window was the only light in the room. “What did he do?”
“Do? Nothing, I suppose. It’s what he says. He assumes I will marry him and be grateful because there are no other options!”
“There are always other options.”
“Jeremy,” she said in despair, sinking onto the window seat. “Or ruin.”
“Oh, no, that card is played. If your ruin is declared somewhere, no one’s paying any attention. Your life is not over, Juliet. You don’t need to choose between the weasel and the snake.”
She gave a shaky laugh and dashed the back of her hand across her eyes. “You’re right, of course. Barden has done his worst, and I’m still dancing.”
“That’s my girl. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get near you again this evening, and then you must tell your father about his behavior. Nothing, surely, would induce any father to give his daughter to such a man.”
“Barden looks upon it as justifiable revenge because my father won most of his fortune from him. But you are right. I do need to talk to Papa. I don’t even know what was said between them, though they went into the library together this afternoon.” She straightened her shoulders and cast a quick smile up at him. “I’m sorry. I’m not usually such a-a drippy person.”
He grinned and put his arm around her shoulder in a brotherly hug. “I know you are not. You have an indomitable spirit and brighten everyone’s life.”
“Even yours?” she teased.
His lips quirked in an expression she didn’t quite understand. “Even mine.”
“Nonsense. It’s you who always brings cheer, even when I know you’re not cheerful yourself.”