London, 1832
ONE
“I havearranged a marriage for you.”
The wordsthundered in Alexandra Dunforth’s head, echoing so loudly they made her teethache. Her uncle’s breath, smelling of port and ill humor wafted over hercheek. Try as she might, she could not stop cringing in disgust from theman. Oliver Burke squeezed her upper arm and shook it, as a cat would doto a mouse in its jaws.
“Stayhere.” One fat, ham like hand pushed Alexandra against the wall.“Don’t try anything.” His moon-like visage, sweating as a piece of cheese doesin the sun, leered at her. “If you do not, your precious friends at HelmsbyAbbey will all be out on the street with no references.”
Alexandra’sback bumped against the smooth paneling that covered the wall of Lady Dobson’sballroom. She took a deep breath to calm herself and nodded mutely.
Lord Burkesnorted, smiling in approval at her compliance. He waddled away towardsthe gaming tables.
Alexandrasighed in relief. She squeezed her eyes tight, wishing the noisy,crowded ballroom could be nothing more than the result of eating too muchtreacle the night before. Cautiously, she opened her eyes.Dozens of the titledtonswirled about Lady Dobson’s parquetballroom. This was no dream.
“Bloodyhell.” The words flew out in a whisper. She looked around to see ifanyone noticed her language but no one was paying the least attention to her.
Invisibilitysuited Alexandra well. Left alone in Hampshire since Aunt Eloise’s death,she ran the family estate, Helmsby Abbey, blissfully forgotten by OdiousOliver. Lord Oliver Burke steadfastly ignored his wife and niece,much too busy with spending the vast Dunforth fortune as fast as hecould. He never paid the least attention to his family inHampshire. Until now. How she detested OdiousOliver.
“MissDunforth!” The shriek came from behind her left ear.
Alexandraturned to face her erstwhile sponsor and chaperone, Lady Agnes Dobson.
“Stand upstraight. Try to look attractive.”
Lady Dobsonreminded Alexandra of a praying mantis. Tall and thin, her armsoverlong, she looked about to pounce on unsuspecting prey. Namely,Alexandra. For tonight’s festivities, Lady Dobson wore an enormous purpleturban, a spray of feathers anchored to the center held firmly in the middlewith a large ruby. She looked down her thin pointed nose at Alexandra and gavea sniff as if Alexandra were spoiled pudding.
“Stopslouching! Attempt to look demure.” A boney finger wagged atAlexandra. Lady Dobson’s lip curled. Her duty done, she dismissedAlexandra. Lady Dobson spun in a neat semi-circle, her purple skirtsfluttering around her stick-like finger, and faded back into the glitteringcrowd.
Alexandraclasped her hands in front of her and pressed herself deeper into an alcove,wishing fervently she could simply disappear. Dread, suffocatingand thick, rose up in her breast. The insane notion to run as fast as shecould for the front door and hail a passing hackney made her legs twitch.Lady Dobson’s home nearly burst with the glitterington; surely, no onewould notice one slight spinster from Hampshire running for her life. Shechuckled ruefully.I am very neatly trapped. Outsmarted,and outmaneuvered by a man who has all the intelligence of a turnip.
“A greendragon tattoo? How positively scandalous! “
Alexandralooked to her left. A beautiful brunette waved her fan and gesturedtowards the ballroom. Lady Martin licked her lips as if she had justeaten a sugar biscuit. She didn’t look the least scandalized. She looked…hungry.
“Richard hasseenitat the club. Satan Reynolds took off his shirt after afencing match. His opponent scratched him,accidently.” Thebuxom blonde standing next to Lady Martin wiggled her eyebrows as she relayedthe information. “Then his opponent had the unfortunate notion to make anassumption about Lord Reynolds’s mother. Hisrealmother.”
Lady Martingave a small gasp. “What type of idiot would insult the Marquess of Cambourne?The very wealthy and powerful Marquess of Cambourne?”
The blondeshrugged. “Lord Reynolds nearly beat the man to death. Some baron’sson. He’s now recuperating at his father’s country estate.”
Intrigued,Alexandra took a step out of the alcove that sheltered her. She lovedlurid gothic novels when not running Helmsby Abbey and avoiding heruncle. The hero of her favorite series, Lord Thurston, sported a tattoo,and he often engaged in swordplay with unsavory characters. Listening togossip was much better than worrying about when her uncle would arrive with herunwanted suitor.
“Richardsays the tattoo is actually quite beautiful. The dragon’s head takes upthe whole of Lord Reynolds’s back. The tail,” the blonde pauseddramatically, “winds around hisnavel.” She said in awhisper.
Lady Martintwittered behind her fan.
Alexandrastood on tiptoe. Her height kept her from all but a peek of a tall manwith glossy blue-black hair making his way across the ballroom. Thearistocrats parted as if they were the Red Sea and the dark haired man wereMoses. She doubted though, that Moses had sported a tattoo.
“He’s thisseason’s biggest catch in spite of his rather dubious character. Do youremember that business with Lord Ranson’s wife? I’m told Reynoldsdid the honorable thing by firing into the air and allowing Ranson theopportunity for a clear shot. Ranson, the idiot, became so startled byReynolds’s actions that he put his gun down and shot his own toe off.”
Alexandrarolled her eyes. Duels sounded very romantic but they rarelyturned out well. She found it a stupid way to settle anargument. Aunt Eloise instructed Alexandra that the honor of men,particularly a titled gentleman, was questionable at best. ‘Just lookat the man I married with his immaculate pedigree,’Aunt Eloise sighedasif in pain, ‘for an example of how perfect breeding can equal a foulnature.’Alexandra agreed with Aunt Eloise on that point.
“SatanReynolds –“
“Watch yourtongue, Lady Norris!” Lady Martin looked around, saw Alexandra, anddismissed her. “It would not do well to run afoul of the DowagerMarchioness. She does not care for her grandson to be calledSatanReynolds or for the reputation he has garnered.”
What aridiculous nickname! Alexandra gave a small snort. Oh, shesupposed it sounded very deadly and all, but really, she mused, Lord Reynoldslikely came up with the moniker for its seductive quality on women. LadyMartin practically salivated as she studied the man.
