engaged elsewhere and then attended the masquerade? What was his intention in seeking her out? And had he remembered that she should have been wearing a rose pink domino?
‘Oh, I am nothing so exciting as either of those,’ she said, with a smile, playing for time. ‘I am only a young lady who has but recently come to Town!’
‘Then it seems I must be formal, madam, if that is all the help you will give me.’ Alex’s gaze was warm with appreciation as it dwelt on her face. ‘A young lady I could have guessed-a beautiful young lady, perhaps…Does your mama know how dangerous it is to allow you to wander unattended at a masquerade ball? There are plenty of gentlemen less scrupulous than I who would be eager to take advantage!’
Jane could see that this might well be true. Before they had arrived that night she had wondered at the appeal of a masked ball. Now she was experiencing it for herself. Freed by the disguise of a mask and domino, one might pretend to be whomever one pleased and flirt as one chose. It was strangely seductive, even to so level-headed a girl as Jane.
‘I prefer to keep my name a secret, sir,’ she said, ‘just as you do yours, so you must call me what you will!’
‘Ah…’ she could see that he was smiling now ‘…but then I might offend you by having to call you sweetheart! Such endearments suit you well!’
‘I thank you, sir, that is quite enough!’ Jane realised that a strategic retreat was necessary already-he moved far too quickly. ‘I said that I was a young
The gentleman inclined his head. ‘Your point is well made and well taken, ma’am! And that being the case, may I not keep you from her side a little longer? It is seldom one has the chance to match wits with a diamond of the first water!’
‘A diamond, sir?’
‘The sharpness, ma’am, as well as the beauty-do not tell me that you do not understand me. Diamonds cut diamonds, they say.’
Jane caught her breath. She could not deny that this was an intriguing skirmish, but it was hardly wise. She remembered her mama’s strictures that ladies should never appear to be too clever, ‘For you have a distressingly
Yet the Duke of Delahaye had always expressed himself delighted to have the chance to pit his wit against hers, just as he was doing now.
‘Have we met before, sir?’ she asked innocently, testing how far he might take the pretence.
‘No, indeed,’ the Duke said smoothly, ‘for I should not have forgotten!’
‘How odd! I could have sworn…Then it is strange-’
‘To feel such recognition, ma’am? I am flattered that you should think so!’
‘I was about to say that it is strange that you should seem to presume on a longer acquaintance, sir!’ Jane finished sweetly, and heard him laugh.
‘Do you know, ma’am, I have the oddest feeling that the more time I spend in your company, the more I shall have to accustom myself to such set-downs!’
‘Then pray do not put yourself through the experience, sir,’ Jane concluded gently. ‘My chaperon is just a few steps away and may take me off your hands!’
There was a silence. The pillars cast long shadows and Jane suddenly experienced the illusion that they were quite alone, rather than within feet of a ballroom full of four hundred people.
‘Your suggestion holds little appeal, I fear, ma’am,’ Alex said silkily. ‘I would far rather dance with you!’
Jane opened her eyes wide. ‘A most autocratic invitation, my lord!’
‘You attribute a rank to me, ma’am?’
‘A high one to suit your manner, sir!’
He laughed. ‘Come and dance with me, if you please!’
The music was just striking up.
‘A waltz!’ Jane hung back.
‘I collect that you must have danced at Almack’s?’ Jane realised that he was teasing her. Who would know that better than he?
‘As you know, sir! But-’ Jane was suddenly wary. It was too late. He had swept her on to the floor with an expertise that was very familiar.
There was also a difference between verbal fencing and this altogether more disturbing intimacy, Jane thought breathlessly. Clasped so close to the Duke, the dancers around them dipping and swirling, she felt frighteningly powerless. The awareness that was flooding her body was familiar and exciting, threatening to sweep her beyond common sense. The atmosphere of the masquerade, daring and raffish, could only encourage such abandonment.
‘The supper dance is next,’ Alex remarked, reclaiming Jane’s attention from her wayward thoughts as the last strains of the waltz died away. ‘You will not be wanting to miss that.’
‘No, indeed.’ Jane blushed at the memory of being caught with her mouth full of chicken pie. ‘I am promised for that dance, sir. I must beg you to return me to my chaperon.’
‘A pity. Remember to hurry into the supper room at the end of the dance and you may be able to take another piece of pie before anyone notices,’ her escort said smoothly. ‘Otherwise there will be endless speculation on who the mystery eater could be-one of the servants may even be dismissed as a result!’
‘You are unchivalrous to remind me, sir,’ Jane murmured. She could see her partner for the supper dance approaching Mrs Brantledge. ‘What could be more humiliating than being found stealing the food?’
‘But it shows an interesting trait of character, perhaps…’
‘That I like food?’
‘That you will take risks to achieve what you want, ma’am.’
Their eyes met again, a quizzical expression in his. Jane wrenched her gaze away. What was this peculiar affinity that threatened her, this attraction that was like nothing she had ever experienced before? She had told herself that it was only common sense to try to keep out of his way, but the shaming truth was that she had no wish to do so. She was not at all certain of his next move. It was like an engrossing game of chess, but with an added edge of sensual awareness between the two of them. Jane frowned. His Grace of Delahaye might well be accustomed to playing such sophisticated games, but she was not at all sure that she would be able to carry it off!
‘Lord Harvey is waiting for me, sir,’ she said, a little at random. ‘Please excuse me.’
He bowed. ‘Certainly, ma’am. I shall see you later, perhaps.’
Jane, trembling inside, hoped that that was unlikely. Now that good sense had reasserted itself, she intended to do everything in her power to avoid him. From the dance floor she watched the green domino skirt the edge of the room and take up a position by the door of the supper room, resting his broad shoulders against the wall as he watched her with undisguised interest. Jane shivered a little. She was becoming too entangled in this! Her feelings were hopelessly engaged and it seemed that Alex did not intend to allow her to withdraw.
Lord Harvey’s bland presence was soothing. He made few conversational demands upon her and Jane began to relax as the country dance progressed, although Alex’s continued scrutiny was unsettling. It was only as they progressed through the set that Jane realised that Philip and Sophia were also dancing, Sophia resplendent in the pink domino that should have been Jane’s own. Jane risked another glance across at Alex and saw with a sinking heart that his gaze was also following Philip and Sophia. She knew that he would not be slow to put two and two together.
Jane realised that Simon had abandoned the card tables and was also dancing, his partner being a slender girl with very fair hair. Jane did not recognise her and wondered who she could be. There was a look on her brother’s face that arrested her attention, for all that he had the protection of the mask. Jane sighed silently. So Simon was also succumbing to Cupid’s arrow! It seemed that she was surrounded by romance and her own foolhardy heart had to choose an entirely inappropriate subject for its affections!
For once Jane did not enjoy supper, not because she was worrying about the piece of pie but because she was like a cat on hot bricks trying to locate the Duke of Delahaye. It seemed, however, that the green domino had vanished and, once fortified by food, Jane felt a little better. Her dance card was full and the rest of the evening
