“Either… both.” Her head whipped back and forth, searching the ballroom for Humphrey.
“I presume Mr. Venning offered lodging to his nephew as he did with his niece,” Levi said, eyes scanning the room. “Whether Mr. Drummond accepted, I don’t know.”
Ernest, his face pinched into a scowl, appeared at Levi’s elbow. “Your Grace, you have an obligation to fulfill.”
“Indeed, I do.” Levi grinned and clamped a hand on Miss Braddock’s wrist, dragging her toward the orchestra.
He silenced the musicians, waiting until a crowd gathered around them, then turned and addressed the room.
“Many of you have read the dreadful gossip printed about Miss Braddock over the past few days; I’ll not speak to those false rumors.” He lifted Miss Braddock’s hand, flashing the ruby ring on her finger. “What I will say is that when I asked Miss Braddock to become my wife, she agreed.”
A deafening cheer echoed through the ballroom. Levi and Miss Braddock were passed from couple to couple, each person congratulating them on their upcoming union.
“I do hope,” Levi said, leaning in, “that you’ve reserved a dance for your fiancé.”
“He may have as many as he desires,” Miss Braddock replied, turning toward him.
Her mouth was less than an inch from his.
“He,” Levi said, his gaze dropping to her lips, “desires to find a private location so that he may properly greet you after his long absence.”
Deep scarlet exploded across Miss Braddock’s face. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
Taking her hand, he spun her in a lazy circle, then led Miss Braddock around the edge of the dance floor toward the exit. He had no specific destination in mind and assumed they would wander the corridor until they discovered an empty room.
Mr. Braddock stepped in front of them, blocking the doorway.
“Dance with me, Eveline.”
He didn’t give either of them a chance to respond. Grasping his sister’s hand, Mr. Braddock dragged her onto the dance floor as the orchestra played the first strains of a quadrille.
“Does that happen often?” Grisham’s teasing baritone washed over Levi’s shoulder.
“He did catch me in his sister’s bedchamber.” Levi’s gaze followed Miss Braddock as she whirled past.
“And yet, here you stand before me?” Grisham chuckled and moved away from the exit.
“I announced my official engagement to Miss Braddock,” Levi replied, inching toward the dance floor. “Her brother has no grievance to present.”
Grisham grabbed Levi’s arm, his expression grave. “Are you pleased with the upcoming union?”
“I would that my wedding was tomorrow.” Levi turned and locked his eyes on Grisham. “However, I do have a request to make of you.”
“Shall we retire to a quieter location?” Grisham suggested, tilting his head toward the hallway.
After one final glance at Miss Braddock, Levi followed Grisham into the corridor. They wandered toward the marble staircase adorning the foyer and peeked into the room near the base of the steps, discovering Mr. Venning’s study.
“This will do,” Levi said, striding into the room and closing the door behind Grisham once he entered.
“Quite a bit of secrecy in your request, Lennox.” Grisham took a seat in an ornately carved wooden chair and folded his hands together. “Should I be concerned?”
Levi paced the study. “The rumors printed about Miss Braddock—or Miss Rowe—were true.”
“All of them?” Grisham leaned forward, a line creasing his forehead. “How are you engaged?”
“She refused the other man,” Levi said, stopping beside the fireplace. “Her brother negotiated the connection without her consent, and when she rejected the man, he attacked her, and she ran.”
“Where is this other man now?”
