Notorious (Rebels of the Ton #1) - Minerva Spencer Page 0,64

sit beside Eva while the marquess came toward his wife, exchanging a glance with her that appeared to contain entire conversations. “Lemonade, my dear?”

“Thank you, Adam. I would love a glass.” When he turned to go fetch her drink, she gestured Gabriel closer. “We will slip out during supper, Jibril.”

“You needn’t stay, Mama. The first rush of fascination is over. People are beginning to lose interest. Eva can stay with us and I will bring her home. We will be fine.”

“I know you are fine, my son, but how is Drusilla? This cannot be easy for her.”

“No, but she is a strong woman.” He smiled. “Like another woman I know.”

Again her gaze flickered over his shoulder, but this time her smile was cool rather than melting. The hairs on Gabriel’s neck rose as he turned.

“Ah, and this must be Lord Visel,” the marchioness said, her tone like an arctic cold front.

The tall blond man flashed her a smile of genuine amusement as he took her hand and bowed low over it. “And you must be the famed Lady Exley.” He lowered his mouth over her gloved hand but—wisely—did not touch it with his lips. Even so, Gabriel bristled at the sight of this man touching his mother.

As if sensing the incipient violence, Lady Exley pulled her hand away, cutting Gabriel a mildly repressive look.

“You are even lovelier than I’d heard, my lady.” Visel didn’t appear to notice his mother’s frosty expression. Instead, his eyes moved on to Eva and Drusilla. “Lady Eva, Mrs. Marlington, please let me take this opportunity to apologize for my behavior the other evening.”

Drusilla eyed him with a cool, unruffled stare that made Gabriel proud. “I’m ready to put the entire affair behind me, my lord.”

“As am I,” Eva added, her face almost dangerously composed. Gabriel felt a twinge of apprehension as he looked at his sister’s tight expression, but Visel’s smile only grew.

“You are indeed generous in your forgiveness. I hope it extends to a dance with each of you? Perhaps the next set, Mrs. Marlington?”

“I’m engaged for the next set but free the one after that.”

Visel nodded and turned to Eva, his air expectant.

“I only have the supper dance free, my lord.”

Gabriel knew that was a lie. In fact, it would surprise him if there was even one slot filled on her dance card. What was she doing? By dancing the supper set with Visel, she was dooming herself to dining with him.

The earl grinned as if well pleased. “I’m honored.” He dropped a bow, cut Gabriel a glance that was sharper than a razor, and took himself off.

Just as at White’s, it was not until the conversation was over that Gabriel realized just how quiet the ballroom had gone around them.

* * *

Drusilla was glad to be sitting down. The confrontation, although clothed in civility, had been the most tension-filled minutes she could remember.

Seeing Visel and Gabriel a mere foot apart, and under the bright light of the chandeliers, had made her realize the men were almost physical equals. If Visel was a hair taller, then Gabriel was a little stockier. The men had reminded her of an animal trainer she’d gone to see when she was a girl. The man had exhibited a mongoose and a cobra, the animals such inherent enemies they’d been frozen with ire—until one of them had struck, moving faster than the eye.

She’d had the same feeling tonight—although it would be difficult to say who was the cobra and who was the mongoose.

“Drusilla?”

She pulled her gaze away from Visel’s departing back and looked up into the concerned face of her husband.

“Are you committed for this set?”

She shook her head. She’d only told Visel the next set because she knew she would need some time to prepare her wits.

“Would you like to take a stroll on the terrace?”

She stood immediately. “Yes.”

The way the crowd parted told her everyone had been listening and watching the exchange with Visel. The murmur of voices right now was like the hiss of the surf as the gossip made its way to the far reaches of the ballroom.

“Ah, this is pleasant,” he said, once they stepped from the sweltering room. He glanced down at her. “Would you like me to fetch your wrap?”

“No, the air is lovely.”

“Shall we follow the lanterns? They seem to have been placed out here for that purpose.” He led her down the steps into a sizeable garden, following behind several other couples, most of whom would need to remain