Disgusted, she rounded back on her cousins, only to find both in conversation with her older brothers, John and Joseph.
“Looks like you’re going to end up a wallflower tonight, Jojo,” John told her with a wink. “We’ve just asked these ladies to partner us.”
“I’m sure I’ll do fine,” Josie said, trying to manage a smile. Couldn’t her brothers find other partners? Josie wanted to grasp her cousins’ hands and beg them not to leave her, but they were already allowing her brothers to lead them onto the floor.
Wonderful, she thought. Now she was partnerless. Surely the earl, who appeared to suffer no shortage of female companionship, was across the room laughing at her lonely state.
The dance began, and Josie watched John and Maddie and Joseph and Ashley execute the forms. She knew she could have danced if she wanted. A smile in the right direction would have brought several men running, but what was the point when they’d be the same overbearing, conservative-minded men she already knew?
She stepped back and allowed the milling crowd to obscure her from the eyes of potential dance partners and the gaze of Lord Westman. She hadn’t glanced in his direction again, but she swore she could feel those blue eyes on her. She was probably imagining it. He’d made his disinterest patently clear last night.
Josie drifted through the crowds, not even bothering to look for eligible men anymore. Not withstanding Westman, who was trying to reform, the rakes didn’t come to Almack’s. She’d have to look elsewhere to find a man suited to her purposes. She’d have to look elsewhere for a way to repair her grandfather’s reputation as well. Westman was not going to help, that much was clear.
Josie paused at the far end of the assembly room and turned back to watch the end of the dance. Westman wasn’t going to voluntarily help her find the other half of the treasure map either. Perhaps she could watch his house for a few days, ascertain his movements and his schedule, and sneak back when he was not at home. She knew that treasure map was in his house somewhere. A safe? The attic?
“Now what mischief are you planning?”
Josie spun and looked directly into the stunning blue eyes of Lord Westman. “I’m not planning any—”
He held up a hand. “Don’t bother. I can see your brain churning and plotting from across the room. Still scheming how you can get your hands on the treasure?”
Josie blinked, caught off guard. Good Lord, was she really that transparent? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she finally managed. “Excuse me.” She began to move away, but he stepped in front of her. A few people looked in their direction.
“Sir, kindly step out of my path.”
In response, he gave her another of those lascivious smiles and reached for her hand. “Will you grant me the pleasure of the next dance?”
Josie had no intention of allowing him to touch her, but something about that smile rendered her knees and her self-control a bit wobbly. When she had it back, he was leading her toward the dance floor. Oh, Lord, help her! If her mother saw this, Josie would never be allowed out of the house again.
She dug her heels in, but that didn’t slow her progress whatsoever as the floors at Almack’s were notoriously slippery. “Sir, cease. I cannot dance with you.”
“Haven’t you heard? I’m reformed and eligible. One dance won’t hurt your reputation.”
“No!” Something in her tone must have finally touched him because he paused and looked into her face.
“Goddamn it,” he muttered and began dragging her back toward the edge of the room. There was a potted palm in one corner, and he pushed it aside and thrust her behind it. Then he released her and stood, hands on hips, appraising her. “I can see there’s no point in arguing with you. You’re stubborn as a mule, aren’t you?”
“A mule. How romantic. And I’d heard you had a silver tongue.”
“Not everything you’ve heard about me is true.”
“Oh, I realized that last night. Now, move out of my way.” Please, please, please God don’t let Mother have seen us.
“Not unless you agree to dance with me.”
“Are you mad?” she hissed. “I cannot dance with you. I cannot even be seen with you.”
“Funny you should say so after crawling through my window last night.”
“The fact that we cannot be seen together was precisely the reason I climbed through your window. Now, I must go before my mother hears of this.”
“A brazen girl like you worried about your dear mother?”
Josie snorted. “You would worry too, if you knew her. Good evening.”
He took her arm again. Josie suppressed the shock that went through her at his touch. Oh, what was wrong with her? She didn’t want him anymore.
Westman leaned closer, his breath tickling her cheek. “Miss Hale, we need to talk.”
