Page 134 of The Viscount's Seduction
Hollister started on a meandering speech about the Hollister family.
“A ball,” Bakeley murmured. “A ball seemed like such a good idea. What was I thinking?”
“I shall move him out of the way myself if he doesn’t shut up soon.” Charley had come up next to him. His stage whisper made Hollister flinch.
“He’s killing time to put his plan in place,” Sirena hissed.
“Yes.”
He exchanged a glance with his father.
The doorways were covered. The house, garden, and mews had been swept through by every agent and runner they could come up with and many of them had suited up as footmen. Not everyone was here though, not the highest flyers. The new king was hosting an impromptu event that had peeled off the highest ranking peers.
“Lord Liverpool,” Lloyd intoned over Hollister’s speechifying.
Hollister halted, looked toward the new arrival and bowed.
Liverpool gestured that he should continue. Shaldon signaled the musicians and the opening strains of the waltz called them to order.
Bakeley tucked his bride a little closer than was considered polite for theton. He didn’t care. This was their dance.
What had it been since that first country dance together, a tumultuous two or three weeks?
She looked about her while they twirled, that pulse at her neck beating just above the ribbon that hid her bruises.
“You should smile at me,” he said. “Do not worry. Not everyone is watching us.”
She lifted her eyes to his.
“You are the only woman for me.”
That coaxed a smile, but no comeback. They turned in the dance.
“She’s doing it,” Sirena said.
Jocelyn had cozied up to Sterling Hollister.
“We must not look. You must only have eyes for me.”
“We make terrible spies, Bakeley.”
He pulled her closer. “Thank heavens.”
“Well, I do have a blade in my pocket. Madame gave it to me.”
And it was his job to make sure she didn’t have to use it. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I wonder, will the blade be on her bill? Now smile and stop watching the crowd.”
She pulled her lips back dutifully. “We can’t have Barton take business away from her.”
“Hmm. Would they be amenable to a partnership, do you think? Ah…a real smile. Very good. Now, keep looking at me like I’m the center of your universe.”
If only Sirena would truly see him that way. He spun her into a series of energetic turns.
Sirena danced with Charley, with Bink, and even with Fox, dreading the moment her cousin stepped up. At the edge of the ballroom, Shaldon mingled with Liverpool and the few of his ministers who were attending.
Hollister hadn’t disappeared to pick up Lady Arbrough’s list. He still roved about, chatting and mingling, angling for introductions to the rich and the powerful.
He was waiting for something, and it made her uneasy. Lady Arbrough was nowhere in sight. Her brother would be outside somewhere, ready to confront their cousin when Lady Arbrough led him out.
