She glanced at the clock atop the mantel. “Oh, I think we ought to leave the rest for next time. Ronan, why don’t you take the book and read the last few chapters on your own. We won’t have time to meet like this until the end of the week.”
He agreed, tucking it under his arm. But he held her back as she was about to walk out. “I’ll look for you at Lady Broadhurst’s musicale tomorrow night. You’ll attend, won’t you?”
She nodded. “Are you sure you can make it?”
“Where else would I be, but at your side, Queen Pea?”
Ordinarily, Dahlia would have been thrilled. But this was no ordinary time. Would Lady Melinda be there as well?
How would she respond when she saw Ronan paying court to her?
CHAPTER NINE
Dahlia adored her Aunt Sophie and Uncle John, and took comfort in the knowledge they would remain beside her throughout Lady Broadhurst’s evening affair, allowing her to cling to them like a child if ever she felt the need. However, she hoped she would not turn coward and do so. She wanted to stand on her own and keep her chin up proudly, whether she was to face Gerald and his Lady Alexandra or the determined Lady Melinda.
Her gown for the occasion was cream silk overlaid with lace at the bosom, and her hair was styled in a loose chignon with a few curled wisps to frame her face. She strove for a muted elegance, having long ago understood that understatement was far more pleasing to the eye than ostentation.
This belief had been confirmed by the book she and Ronan had been reading, for a man’s eyes were drawn to the female body, not the trappings surrounding it. Too many frills and bows and glittering gems only interfered with a man’s ability to see what his low brain compelled him to seek. “Ronan is not here yet,” she mentioned to Heather as they walked in and stood in line to greet Lady Broadhurst.
“He’ll be here. I know he won’t let you down.”
Her Aunt Sophie locked her arm in hers. “You have nothing to prove to anyone, Dahlia. Just remember this. Besides, you look beautiful, and every young man here tonight will consider Lord Wainscott a great fool for ever letting you go.”
Dahlia shook her head and laughed. “Oh, I think Lady Alexandra’s dowry is too much temptation for any man to resist.”
There were very few men such as Ronan, ones who would be led by their heart and not swayed by a large dowry. Of course, Ronan did not have a large estate falling into ruin that he had to protect for his ancestral line.
In truth, neither did Gerald. He just wanted the dowry and prestigious connection to Alexandra’s father.
Since her aunt and uncle were quite popular, they were immediately surrounded by welcoming friends. Dahlia decided to venture away from them. She walked over to the bowl of ratafia with Heather, for her throat was already strained and dry.
To her dismay, Gerald and Lady Alexandra were standing near it.
She grabbed her sister’s hand. “Heather, let’s go the other way.”
“Why? I thought you were thirsty.”
She glanced toward Gerald just as he happened to catch sight of her. The coldness of his stare shook her. He looked away and drew Lady Alexandra further into the room, turning his back to her and Heather. Of course, she expected no less from the fortune-hunting bounder. But it saddened her tremendously that someone she’d known and trusted for so many years could turn on her and hurt her without remorse or hesitation.
It shook her faith in herself because she had never seen the warning signs.
“Oh, what a wretched man,” Heather muttered.
“Look, there’s William.” Dahlia noticed their cousin chatting with Meggie Cameron. “Let’s go talk to them. He’s just back from his travels on the Silk Road. I’m sure he’ll have plenty of exciting stories for us. I enjoyed Uncle Rupert’s tales of adventure at the supper table the other night. Didn’t you? I’m sure William will have more for us.”
They spoke to him and Meggie for a little while, and even though Dahlia was facing them and paying no notice to Gerald, she could feel his malevolence toward her from across the room. What had she ever done to him? The evening had just started, and she was already desperate to escape. “Heather, I’ll be back in a moment.”
Her sister frowned. “Where are you going?”
She pointed to the doors leading to the balcony. “I know it’s cold outside. But I already feel the walls closing in around me. I’ll only be a minute.”
Heather gave a reluctant nod. “Don’t take too long, or I’ll come after you.”
“All right. I promise.” She stepped outside and immediately felt the chill wind bite against her cheeks. The temperature had dropped further since their arrival. The silk gown she had on offered no protection whatsoever from the cold.
Oh, crumpets.
Coming out here had been a mistake. Her family would give her no end of grief if she fell ill.
She took a deep breath and turned to walk back in when she noticed Gerald had followed her out. She frowned at him. “I don’t wish to talk to you.”
She tried to walk around him, but he blocked her path. “What are you doing? Gerald, get out of my way.”
Still, he said nothing.
His silence was far more unsettling than any angry words he might have spouted. She was already shivering from cold, but now a shiver ran through her for altogether different reasons. What did he mean to do to her? “My family is waiting for me. They’ll notice my absence and come out here looking for me soon. They know exactly where I am.”
His gaze was intense and unsettling.
“For pity’s sake, say something. What do you want?”
He was about to grab her when she heard a low, menacing growl from the opposite end of the balcony. “Get away from her, Wainscott.”
Ronan.
Relief washed over her.
He must have come out through the music room doors. She was never happier to see anyone in her life. Gerald, the snake, immediately slithered back to Lady Alexandra.
She cast Ronan an unsteady smile as he approached. “Thank you for that growl. You sounded like a magnificent lion about to pounce.”
But he did not appear at all amused. “What were you thinking, Dahlia? Why are you standing out here on your own?”
She rubbed her hands against her arms to fend off the cold. “I would not have come out here if I thought he would follow me out. He’d already walked away from me earlier.”
Ronan did not appear impressed. “Come with me, Queen Pea. You’re shivering.”
She felt it important to defend her actions even as he held out his arm to escort her back inside. He did not release her once they were in but led her along the periphery of the crowded room toward...she did not know where he meant to take her. “I did nothing wrong, Ronan. He was standing across the parlor in conversation with Lady Alexandra and her father when I last noticed him.”
“You were outside on your own.”
“Heather knew where I was. I did not sneak away. She and our cousin, William, would have come looking for me in another moment.” She wanted to insist that she was never in any real danger, but something stopped her.
She had been scared, and Ronan would not have believed her if she had said she wasn’t. “Don’t be angry with me, please. I’m having a hard enough time getting through this evening, and it has only just started.”