Masquerade Secrets (7 page)

“Yes.” He looked at her and seemed to want to say something more, but Lady Elinor had taken the stage. Silence enclosed the room, signaling the beginning of the concert.

Aubrey took care to lean back into her chair, trying to look relaxed. Inside, she was anything but.

For a moment she had thought he had recognized her. It wasn’t possible to change her laughter. However, after that brief moment, he seemed to discount that she could be the woman from last night. Her heart fell in her chest. Perhaps he would never see her as that woman.

The masquerade woman didn’t exist. She would do well to remember that.

***

As Lady Elinor took her stance in front of the audience, Bradford focused his attention on her. The shock of hearing Lady Aubrey’s laugh, sounding so much like his mysterious lady, had almost brought him to his knees. But after looking at her, he knew that Aubrey would never be outgoing enough to be the masquerade woman. They were too different. Aubrey was reserved, shy, the complete opposite from the passionate woman he had held in his arms last night.

He wanted to curse the woman, whoever she was. Curse her for running away from him without telling him her name. He had never felt such a powerful connection with another person. A connection that promised that she was his other half. Nothing else mattered to him. Why couldn’t he have conveyed that to her? Why hadn’t he been able to stifle her doubts?

Lady Victoria. The viper that sat a few chairs away from him had been the main reason. Her timing in finding him the previous night had been detrimental. He could have sworn that the woman was about to reveal her identity, about to tell him who she was. But that interruption had cost him everything.

That was the second time Lady Victoria had come between himself and the person that he wanted. Although, for the scandal she had caused Lady Sera, he silently thanked her. If she hadn’t, he would have never met the woman from the previous night. But in regards to her interruption, he couldn’t be grateful.

“Excuse me,” Viscount Lawrence whispered before quietly exiting the room with a waiting servant.

Lady Victoria scooted into the vacant seat next to his and he wanted to cringe. “I’m sorry about that. My brother tends to get secret messages at all hours of the day that take him from his duties.” She blinked her lashes slowly.

He looked at her dispassionately. Outwardly, Lady Victoria was beautiful, but inside she was twisted and black. If she thought for even a moment that he would make an offer for her, she was out of her mind.

“Yes. I am quite aware that your brother is a busy man. With all of his business ventures, I don’t doubt that he is called away at inconvenient times.” He had tried to force his distaste for her out of his voice, but a bit still seeped in.

“Yes, well, it won’t deter us from enjoying the performance.” She sidled closer to him.

What nerve
. Unconsciously, he moved away from her, bumping into Lady Aubrey.

“I beg your pardon,” he whispered into her ear before looking into her startled eyes. Beautiful eyes. Why had he never noticed before? Unable to help himself, he dared a glance down her body. Her lush breasts were teasingly covered by a scrap of lace that matched the trim of her bodice. The feminine frill moved over her curves, tapering down to her narrow waist. How had he missed that?

Her breath sped up at his perusal. “It is not a problem, Your Grace. It is quite crowded in here.”

He couldn’t stop staring at her ruby lips as she spoke. They called to him to taste her, to see if they were as tart as a red apple.

What was the matter with him? He tore his gaze from her and focused his attention on the melodic voice that vibrated through the room. He was here looking for the woman from last night, the woman he had given a vow to. But here he was, ogling a lady he had known for many years and had never had any interest in romantically. The mystery of last night must be driving him mad. It must be making him see things in Lady Aubrey that he would have never noticed before.

He sensed Lady Aubrey’s unease throughout the rest of the performance and wanted to curse when she quickly dismissed herself after the final applause. That same curse formed on his lips when his body tightened at the sight of her swaying hips.

He needed to push Lady Aubrey out of his mind and focus on what he had come here to do.

“My brother should be back momentarily. I hope it isn’t too much of an imposition to keep me company for a few more moments,” Lady Victoria said silkily.

It was the last thing he wanted to do, but manners dictated that he was stuck for a few more minutes. Precious minutes that he could have used to discover the masked woman.

“It would be my pleasure,” he finally said, though it was the complete opposite from what he felt.

“Thank you. I hope you enjoyed the performance. You seemed rather entranced by it.” It wasn’t difficult to catch the edge in her voice. Had she sensed his attraction to Lady Aubrey?

“Yes I did. Lady Elinor has a singular voice.”

“Indeed. I wish I had half the talent.”

He felt a gentlemanly comment form in his mind, the comment that was expected of him, but he just couldn’t give it. “Few do.”

He felt a corner of his mouth quirk at the annoyance she tried to keep from her face. Did she think she could manage him? He wanted to laugh. People had tried to manage him since birth, and no one had been able to. A petty woman looking for a husband wasn’t much of an opponent compared to the greedy, self-serving men he often avoided.

“Ah, I see your brother has returned.”

Viscount Lawrence rejoined them, taking Lady Victoria’s vacant seat. “I apologize for my absence. I assume Lady Elinor was as spectacular as ever?”

Bradford nodded, grateful to have him as a buffer. “Quite. She seems to get better every time she performs.” He paused for a moment. “I hope all is well. I assume that no one is ill since you aren’t in haste to leave.”

“A small problem is all. It should be righted by morning.” He grinned, downplaying the urgency in which he left the performance. “I am glad I was able to return before you left, I had hoped to issue an invitation to you in person. It has been some time since I’ve had a gathering at my estate, and I was hoping to get a small party away for two weeks. May I count on you as a guest?”

The thought of leaving for the country appealed to him, but he had to find the woman. What excuse should he give? His search for the lady was not something he wanted Lady Victoria to find out about. He could only imagine the sabotage she would employ to deter him from his goal.

“Would you not miss the ladies?” Viscount Lawrence was as good looking as his sister and was known to be much favored amongst the women in the ton. With his raven hair and crystal blue eyes paired with his charming persona, there weren’t many women willing to turn away from him.

Viscount Lawrence grinned knowingly. He had no doubts as to his reputation. “I had hoped to include as many ladies as I do gentlemen. I don’t intend for this to be a hunting party.”

Those words had him postponing his regrets. Should he accept? It was just as likely that the lady would be included in Viscount Lawrence’s invitation as not. If he chose to stay in town, he could lose the opportunity of the intimate surroundings the country would offer.

It was more likely that if she were included, that he would recognize her in the relaxed atmosphere than in the large, formal gatherings of the ton.

About to give his answer, he heared the rustling of skirts followed by the crisp scent of apples. Good Lord, she even smelled like them. All thoughts of finding the other woman left his mind as Lady Aubrey took her seat beside him.

“Lady Aubrey, how well you look this evening.” Viscount Lawrence offered her a grin that had most women drooling. Bradford had an overwhelming desire to glare at the man, but quickly suppressed the urge.

A tinge crested her cheeks, making her appear more ravishing than before. “Thank you, my lord. You are most kind.”

“I speak only the truth.” He threw her one last grin, and Bradford decided to ignore it since the Viscount didn’t show any interest other than flirting. “Now, back to the house party. I thought it might be nice to get away from the constant musicales and soirees, no matter how delightful. Can I count you in our numbers, Wathersby?”

With a nod, he accepted. It was too good of an opportunity to find the woman and get to know her in such a relaxed atmosphere to refuse. “It would be my pleasure.”

“Excellent.”

The gleam that entered Lady Victoria’s eyes was enough to make him shudder. He had no idea what plans she was concocting, but he knew none of them would be good. Her interference could make his search more difficult, but he had no doubt that he could handle Lady Victoria.

Viscount Lawrence’s grin returned to Lady Aubrey. “Your family has been invited as well, Lady Aubrey. I expect your invitation will arrive on the morrow.”

“I’m delighted. I must confer with my family but I believe you may count on our attendance.”

The joy in her voice had his muscles clenching. Why her acceptance shot relief through him he couldn’t say, but it worried him slightly. She was lovely, but he couldn’t be distracted by her. He had given a pledge to another woman just last night. He was true to his word. There wouldn’t be another for him besides her.

Why, then, was his desire for Lady Aubrey so raw, so elemental, his mind teased.

Unable to stop himself, he looked at her, soaking her up one last time.

Her eyes met his. He thought he saw a flicker of longing in her eyes to match his own, but it was quickly snuffed out.

“If you will excuse me, I have an appointment that I must leave for,” he heard himself say lamely.

“Of course. I’ll see you at my estate in a week.” Viscount Lawrence bowed his head.

Whatever had been constricting his breath seemed to loosen as he moved closer toward the door. At least it did before he glanced back and saw the stricken look on Lady Aubrey’s face. He didn’t know what had caused it, but it moved something within him. Turning back toward the doorway, he rubbed the sudden ache in his heart.

CHAPTER 4

As Viscount Lawrence predicted, the invitation to his house party arrived at the Langston residence the next day. With the prospect of a large group of unmarried men under the same roof as her two unmarried daughters, Aubrey’s mother was in a frenzy. This was apparently the opportunity that her mother had been waiting for to find perfect matches for her daughters. At no other time was it allowed to have such close contact with members outside their family. And the close bonds that could form between a man and a woman at such a party had her mother completely occupied with overseeing the packing of their belongings with enthusiasm.

In fact, Aubrey was glad for the peace and quiet she would receive in the country. Just the thought of what she had been through to prepare for the two weeks of husband hunting this invitation provided, had her bending over with fatigue.

The only positive aspect of it was that she had been unable to dwell on what had happened, or rather what had not happened, between herself and Bradford. However, with several hours of travel ahead of them, there was little else to do but think of the upcoming meeting she would have with the duke.

She had already accepted how naïve she had been to believe he would recognize her and confess his undying devotion. One night couldn’t erase all of the years she had known him, all the years he had felt nothing for her.

Maybe her sister’s optimism had rubbed off on her. Charlotte was just entering society and would undoubtedly receive an obscene amount of proposals. But Aubrey couldn’t afford to dream like that. She had been out for several years and had only ever received one proposal from a fortune hunter that had made it clear he was forced to extend such an offer.

She had promised to stay a spinster if marrying someone like him was the alternative. In fact, she had become somewhat resigned to such a fate.