Page 79 of A Lovely White Christmastide
“Mr. Kaye,” a grating voice said from behind him when he neared the carriage.
He turned slowly, pasting a smile on his face. “Yes, Mrs. Barker?”
The last few days the bossy woman had become rather pleasant, but her voice still rallied his defenses faster than Napoleon’s troops.
“I am Lady Careless this evening, and it is a good thing too, for if not I would be required to tell you that you have left your betrothed to the company of a most disagreeable character.”
Daniel glanced around, realizing he’d lost sight of Julianna. Down the row of carriages he saw her enter with the same black masked gentleman from earlier. Recognition made his chest seize. It was Mr. Caleb Waverly. But before he could chase after them, Mr. Adam Waverly stepped up and the conveyance set off.
Certainly the eldest Mr. Waverly would keep his brother in line, would he not?
Mrs. Barker huffed. “You best take the next one if you wish to keep her from his clutches.”
Daniel did not need to be told twice. He rushed to the barouche that waited next and offered to be the fourth of their party, only realizing a moment too late that two of the Crane sisters and their mother were the other occupants.
By the time he reached the assembly hall, his ears were ringing from their shrill laughter as he’d been required to play his part of court jester the whole way. Someone should outlaw such irritating laughter; it was neither pleasant nor genuine, butmany young ladies employed the false tones with the hope of catching a man’s attention.
Nothing but relief filled Daniel as he left their presence and entered the hall in search of Julianna. While Mr. Caleb Waverly had played the part of a gentleman during the musicale, there was no guarantee that he’d continue to do so. Past experience had proven that he could turn devious at a moment's notice.
Why had Julianna’s father not confronted the fellow before now like he’d once threatened he would do? Then again, with what she had relayed of her father’s hatred of gossip, he’d probably not wished to cause a stir and fuel Society’s wagging tongues.
Revelers already lined the dance floor, colorful skirts swishing and polished shoes stomping. Daniel searched the crowd.
“You seem a bit distressed, Kaye.”
An icy chill slithered down Daniel’s back at the Duke of Rothes’s words. He never showed concern for anyone, especially not one of James’s friends. His Grace’s malevolent smile confirmed Daniel’s fears. The man was not here out of a need to socialize and celebrate.
Finally a flash of white caught Daniel’s attention. Surely Julianna knew who she was with; Mr. Caleb Waverly could not fool her so completely. Could he?
Daniel pushed through the gathering crowd and passed through the dancers following the chalk pattern on the floor. A lady with a feathered mask huffed at the interruption, but he ignored her.
Julianna stood with her back to a tall pillar at the edge of the room, a glass of punch in her hand. She did notappeardistressed as she spoke with the man before her.
Several more guests stared at Daniel as he moved briskly toward her and he realized how much of a stir he was creating.Best to slow his pace and approach the pair inconspicuously. When he came within speaking distance, Julianna glanced at him and gave a covert smile but kept conversing with the man in front of her.
Daniel paused. She seemed well enough. Then Mr. Caleb Waverly spoke and he nearly laughed. The voice that should have been low and menacing was pitched higher with several familiar inflections on his words. It could not be.
He slapped a hand over his mouth. Was Mr. Caleb Waverly trying to imitate him?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Julianna locked eyes with Daniel, but quickly returned her gaze to the man before her. Caleb was not fooling anyone, and while he made her nervous, it entertained her to see him trying his hand at play acting.
From the very moment he'd approached her in the entryway of Haverton, he’d kept up this charade. Did the man not realize he was a full hand shorter than Daniel? If that had not given him away, his curved cheek bones and stiff walk would have.
Daniel had a spring in his step that spoke of his buoyant personality.
Julianna tried to focus on what Caleb was saying, but moments after Daniel stopped, he readjusted his stance to exactly mirror Caleb’s, even down to the way he tucked his thumb into the lapel of his coat. When Daniel raised his hand nearly in tandem with Caleb, his green eyes sparkling with mischief, she had to duck her head to keep from grinning.
“Can you not see why now would be the perfect time?” Caleb asked.
Julianna glanced up. “Please forgive me, I must have been woolgathering. Perfect time for what?”
“To leave. Have you not heard a word I have said?”
“Yes, you relayed how the Duke of Rothes is acquainted with your friend, and therefore more than happy to help.”
Daniel’s face screwed up in confusion and he glanced across the room. Julianna followed his gaze to where said duke watched the whole exchange, a glower on his sharp angular face.
