Page 20 of The Viscount's Daring Cinderella
Her cheeks burned, and she was thankful they finished their dance in silence. There was a secret thrill inside Beryl that he was similarly haunted by their illicit encounter. After their set, Lord Bowden led her back to her cousins. Beryl realized that Grace was not dancing, but before they could start a conversation, she saw Lady Wilford walking purposefully toward them. All heads were turned in Lady Wilford’s direction. She escorted quite a dashing young gentleman, and Beryl thought he would surely catch Grace’s eyes. Her heart lurchedwhen Lady Wilford stood before her to make the introductions. She quickly cast a glance at Lady Ellsworth, who wore a smile, but her eyes were filled with anger. Beryl recognized the look, and she knew Lady Ellsworth was not happy.
Beryl barely heard the words that were exchanged and dared not glance at Grace when the Earl of Stanmore spoke.
“Lady Beryl, may I have the next dance?”
“Certainly, my lord.” Beryl had long decided she would take advantage of every opportunity she got, even if it made her cousins furious.
The earl turned to Grace. “May I reserve the next dance with you, my lady?” He did not address Grace by name and asked her to dance as if it was an afterthought.
“It would be my pleasure, Lord Stanmore,” Grace replied with a stiff smile.
Lord Stanmore bowed and led Beryl to the dance floor.
The orchestra started up, and soon, they were twirling and swirling across the floor.
“Is this your first season, Lady Beryl?” Lord Stanmore asked. His eyes seemed to be on Beryl’s cleavage.
“It is, my lord,” Beryl replied.
Lord Stanmore finally gazed at her face and raised a brow. “A bit late, is it not?”
Beryl drew in a sharp breath. She was not expecting such a direct question, for they had only just been introduced. His familiarity was off-putting.
“Family commitments waylaid me, Lord Stanmore,” Beryl said.
“I see,” he said, although Beryl knew he did not. He could not know. “I am certain I would have remembered such remarkable beauty.” The compliment seemed hollow.
They twirled across the dance floor among the other graceful couples.
“Thank you, Lord Stanmore.”
“Although we have not met, I know of your father. Such a sorry state of affairs after his demise,” he said with a sniff, implying distaste.
Beryl thought he did not sound sorry but rather perfunctory. She cleared her throat. “We all deal with death at some point in life, Lord Stanmore.”
Although Beryl had employed some diplomacy, it fell on Lord Stanmore’s deaf ear. “It is not only that he died, but it is the sorry state that he left you in.”
Beryl felt herself stiffen. She wondered why the earl was being so rude. He was certainly arrogant. That may be putting it lightly.Insufferable.
Beryl felt the need to defend her father. “My father wanted me to have a season, Lord Stanmore. It was I who delayed it to be with him at the end.”
“How dutiful and admirable. So, you still wish to find a husband, do you?”
He may not have said the words, but his tone did. He was reminding Beryl she had limited prospects, and it hung in the air between them. Beryl wondered why Lord Stanmore would ask her to dance and behave in such an ungentlemanly way. He had no genuine interest in her if he was being so crass, surely? Beryl decided she would not stoop to his level. Whether she was seeking a husband or not was none of his damned business.
“I am here as a chaperone for my cousin, but I will keep an open mind.” Beryl would at least be polite, although she did not feel like it.
Lord Stanmore stared at her with a smug smile. “You have been groomed for marriage but will not achieve it. I am a wealthy man, and I can provide you with property, perhaps in St. John’s Wood, servants, a new wardrobe, and an income. Youwould want for nothing. You would, of course, have to be faithful to me. There could be no other.”
Beryl was aghast. Such utter disregard for propriety. He dared to insult her by voicing such a corrupt and immoral arrangement. For his financial support, she was to become his mistress. He must think her desperate to suggest such a thing. Beryl was so shocked that she was at a loss for words.
He gave a nasty chuckle. “Your expression is one of affront, but I will tell you this arrangement is much more common than you think. Quite a lot of gentlemen have mistresses. Most, I would say.”
Beryl gasped. “This conversation is entirely inappropriate, my lord. Surely, I did not give you cause to think that I would be open to such an arrangement.”
“I will not apologize because it was your beauty that beguiled me. I am confident that I can speak for other gentlemen here. You will unlikely receive a marriage proposal, but I guarantee you will receive other proposals like mine,” Lord Stanmore announced with a flourish.
Beryl wished that she could kick him in the shin.
