…
Lady Ellington’s annual ball was a crushing success. Lucan stepped out tonight for the first time in weeks, wanting to observe Constance’s reception for himself. He had been careful to ensure he was not seen at the same social gathering as her over the past few weeks, not wanting their names to be linked. After only being inside the glittering ballroom for a few minutes, the soft whispers of voices referring to her as the Untouchable One reached his ears and infuriated him. He drifted through the crowd, skillfully staying in the background listening. While he was angry at her new moniker, he felt pleased with the other whispers he heard from Lady Prescott to a group of other high society ladies lounging by the refreshment table.
“Lady Constance is a most extraordinary young lady. In character and in her mind. So elegant and well poised,” Lady Prescott murmured.
“Indeed,” the Countess of Blade affirmed. “I have always thought her well-mannered and intelligent.”
Lucan made a note to forgive Lord Prescott his debt at Decadence, and to gift Lady Blade’s daughters horses sired from his much coveted thoroughbred champions. Heat rippled over his skin, and instinct had him slipping behind a column as he discreetly scanned the crowed room. When he spied Constance, need drove the air from his lungs. Draped in a silver gown, low cut enough where he could see the swell of her breasts, the lady looked exquisite. Floral designs embroidered the hems of her dress and sleeves, and similarly in her hair that was plaited to appear like a crown on her head, and rubies dripped from her ears and throat. She was oblivious to the many admiring and envious stares of young ladies and gentlemen. In fact, the look on her face was sheer boredom.
“Beautiful isn’t she?” an intense voice asked from beside him.
Lucan glanced at the Viscount of Belfry, trying to ignore the flare of hot jealously that filled him at the look of hunger in the man’s eyes. But Lucan needed to do better in masking his emotions. The only reason Belfry could possibly have to mention Constance was because he must have seen the naked desire Lucan stared at her with. He needed to be more discreet, but to look at her without being able to touch her hurt.
“She is,” he agreed, forcing his limbs to relax.
The man gave him a probing look, and Lucan could see the knowledge of the rumors in Belfry’s eyes. Lucan could also see the speculation.
“Lady Constance has yet to favor any man with a dance, perhaps she is waiting for a request from you,” Belfry insinuated slyly.
Lucan forced himself to chuckle disarmingly, very much aware of the way several ladies and lords were suddenly attentive and trying not to be obvious. A few even had the temerity to step closer. “I have tried, but the lady refused me. Said I am not fit to lick her shoes,” Lucan drawled.
Everyone went quiet and a young lady gasped.
“And as she should,” a hushed voice carried to him. “He is a libertine. I always said she was a young lady of good sense.”
“A very rich libertine with a dukedom. A fine catch I would say,” another voice rebuffed. “But it is evident she is a young lady of good sense, despite circumstances that were certainly not her fault.”
Lucan’s lips curled in disgust. This was what he wanted, opinions of her shifted, but society was all too fickle. He walked toward the terrace and was surprised to see Belfry ambling beside him.
“Then you have no intentions toward the lady?” Belfry asked.
The look he dealt the man had Belfry tugging at his cravat in agitation.
“I meant honorable intentions,” he muttered, face scrunched in discomfort. “I mean no dishonor to Lady Constance, Mondvale. I merely wondered if the lady is free for a twirl in the garden,” Lord Belfry said.
Lucan smiled. “You may have better luck than everyone else. The lady is generous, I am sure she will afford you a dance.”
Belfry nodded eagerly and strolled over to Constance.
Lucan discreetly watched as she spurned the advance of the fifth man to seek her hand in a dance. She gave Belfry a vacant smile and after a few seconds the man departed, his face flushed in obvious embarrassment. What was the minx doing? Was not this what she wanted? She had railed at him that she had no friends, saying he had torn her from all she held dear, so why was she not basking in her restoration? Lucan needed her to be happy. He needed to know that he had brought good into her life, more than he needed his next breath.
He slipped onto the terrace, keeping her in his line of sight. She had yet to see him and he wanted it kept that way. Ainsley stepped from the shadows and walked over to him, and they stood in silence watching her reject partner after partner.
“What the hell is she doing?” Lucan growled in frustration, though he felt a deep sense of admiration in her actions.