It seemed a never-ending source of entertainment for James to vex the Marquis of St. Aldwyn and the Earl of Grey, Jo’s and Evelyn’s husbands, respectively. But Belle hardly heard their bantering. The timing of the meeting and her premonition of danger felt all too coincidental for her taste. An urgent gathering meant a risky project lay ahead.
“Belle? Are you all right?” Evelyn asked, her voice laced with concern.
“I am fine,” Belle murmured to her friend. “It’s just stuffy in here.”
“The event is quite the crush,” Jo agreed.
“Your knights in armor are glaring my way. I imagine they blame me for your pale disposition,” James murmured with a wink.
Belle shot him a glare. Her disposition was not weak.
“They are not fond of you, James, but you already knew that,” Evelyn replied.
James chuckled. “I am aware, Lady Evelyn. Their upset is just an additional boon of conversing with you three beautiful ladies.”
“You are incorrigible!” Jo exclaimed with laughter.
Belle’s gaze flicked to the men gathered across the room.
Unable to help herself, she glanced at Westfield. He was indeed glaring at James along with the other two men, all of their gazes sharp. At least, one could only assume they glared by the thin lines of their lips and the hard locking of their jaws. In any case, their distaste was clear.
This distaste greatly disturbed Belle. If they harbored so much discontent for the brothers and their ventures, how did that bode for her should they ever discover what she had done four years ago? The brothers, however unconventional in their ways, helped save people. What she’d done…it skirted more in the way of shameful, unspeakable,unpardonable.
Perhaps she was being overly dramatic. If her tormentor had returned, it might not even be for her. He wasn’t meant to know she even lived. But even so, he still had to be dealt with if he had indeed returned—whether it was for her or not. But how could she go about dealing with the man that left herfor dead?
Still observing Westfield, Belle realized that the obvious animosity he, St. Aldwyn and Grey were directing at James Shaw had begun to cause some eyes to wander their way.
“Your husbands are going to cause a scandal if they keep glaring this way,” Belle murmured.
“Oh, don’t be silly! Only speculation would arise from their broodiness, not scandal.”
“Speculation, right. And what will others assume to be the cause of their broodiness, I wonder? Certainly not that Mr. Shaw and I are both unattached.”
James choked on air.
Her friends only chuckled merrily.
Belle narrowed her eyes on them. Of course, it would have crossed their minds. They wished for her to beblissfullymarried, as well. She rolled her eyes heavenward at their obvious attempt at matchmaking. “Well, I for one would like to avoid such speculation, wouldn’t you agree, Mr. Shaw?”
“I do, Lady Belle.”
A smile tugged at her lips at the man’s obvious discomfort. To her friends, she only raised a brow.
“Oh bother! You are no fun!” Evelyn groused.
“I am plenty fun, but I also prefer plenty of discretion in any mayhem I cause.”
And Belle did enjoy stirring up the masses, mostly by designing scandalous gowns under the guise of Madam De La Frey.
“So James,” Jo began, “when is our assignation to take place?”
Belle choked back a laugh.
James shook his head. “Please refrain from using that particular word for our meeting in the company of your husband. I will send the details over tomorrow.”
“Then why did you seek us out tonight if you’re not to inform us of those details now?” Evelyn asked.
“To vex your husbands, would be my guess,” Belle offered.
