“And that of half the gentlemen in the ballroom. I think you must be mistaken, Adelia. I saw his attentiveness to you at the theater. At any rate, your display of bosom this evening is surely enough to keep him in line. It is exceptional.”
Adelia preened before leaning forward. “I caught him walking in the park with Miss Higgins. Miss Clare Higgins. The future Lady Pendleton.”
“Caught him? Dear, I understood your relationship to be of a casual nature. You aren’t following him about, are you? That would be very unbecoming for a lady such as yourself. Even so, I can’t believe for a second Nighter is interested in Miss Higgins.”
Adelia’s lips pursed. “True. The girl is a complete milksop. I expected her engagement to Pendleton to be announced, perhaps even spoken about tonight, but his mother,” she whispered to Marissa, “had an unfortunate accident. My understanding is Lady Pendleton is a complete sot.”
“So I’m given to understand, poor dear.” Marissa managed to sound sincere.
“At any rate, I confronted Nighter the moment I saw him enter the ballroom this evening, but the brute declined to give me an explanation for his attentions to Miss Higgins. He did promise we would speak later. Tonight.”
“Adelia, do you have an assignation at Lady Ralston’s ball?”
“I do.” She gave a half-smile. “Oh, I know I’m being ridiculous. I’ve no future with Nighter. But I’m not ready for things to end yet.” She shrugged and her nipples raised so dramatically Marissa had to restrain herself from pulling up her friend’s bodice.
“He’s a soldier and used to scouting hostile terrain,” Adelia pointed out. “So he’s found an appropriate meeting place,” she said with a tilt of copper curls. “A quiet corner for him to explain himself to me in due time.” She glanced up at the clock. “I think he’ll appreciate the dress for our . . . discussion.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Marissa assured her.
Nighter hadn’t deviated from the plan in the least, which didn’t surprise Marissa. He was a soldier, albeit a very tortured one.
Miss Higgins stood across the room with her parents, Sir Richard and Lady Higgins, eyes firmly fixed on the crowd filling the ballroom. Viscount Pendleton stood just to her left, surrounded by pandering supporters, as he often was. Simon ignored Miss Higgins, barely sparing her a glance while holding court, his handsome features flushed with his own self-importance. It wouldn’t be difficult for Nighter to coax Miss Higgins down one of the darkened hallways to her ruination. The girl would probably sprint into Nighter’s arms.
Once Miss Higgins was ensconced with Nighter, someone had to walk in on them. And that person needed to be a recognized member of the ton. One who would be outraged, draw attention, and immediately go to Higgins and his wife. Who better than Lady Waterstone, a woman already engaged in a sordid affair with Nighter?
Miss Higgins’s betrothal to Viscount Pendleton would be dead within the hour.
“I’ve seen your Lord Haddon,” Adelia said from beside her, drawing Marissa’s attention from her perusal of Miss Higgins and Simon. “That atrocious girl’s sister, another Miss Higgins, is clinging to his arm. Lady Christina Sykes has been glaring at them nearly all evening. It’s the only amusement I’ve had thus far tonight.”
“Haddon is here?”
“Yes, everyone is. I was disappointed to see him arrive alone because I thought you two had come to some sort of understanding after his”—she paused dramatically—“abduction of you on Bond Street. Carrying you off in his arms.” Adelia fanned herself. “My goodness, I wish Nighter would do something like that for me.”
Haddon was here. Somewhere in this seething mass of pomade, talc, and an overuse of perfume, the man she loved was wandering about, waiting for her to ruin his life. What had made him come tonight?
“What in the world did you do to Haddon to warn him off?” Adelia’s eyes grew concerned. “The way he looked at you—well, I found myself quite jealous, I admit. Especially after we got to know each other when he called on me.”
Marissa immediately tensed. “Haddon called on you?”
“Now, don’t be jealous, Marissa. We only had tea. I didn’t give away all of your secrets. Only some of them. He just wished to know your favorite flowers and what type of whisky you liked best.”
At least now I know how he discovered my age.
“I didn’t try to seduce him if that’s your fear,” Adelia continued. “He’s in love with you; it’s so plain I can’t believe you tried to pass him off as a dalliance.”
He’s not a dalliance.
“We had a disagreement. A rather terrible one.” Her glance landed on a broad pair of shoulders marching through the crowd with military precision, a path which would take him directly behind Miss Higgins. Nighter’s hair shone like a newly minted guinea as his chin dipped just slightly in Miss Higgins’s direction.
Marissa’s gaze shifted to Miss Higgins, who flushed immediately when Nighter glanced her way. Her parents didn’t notice when she drifted off toward the path Nighter had taken. Simon didn’t either.
She held her breath, the noise in the ballroom fading as she focused on the disappearing Nighter and Miss Higgins, her gaze drifting over the crowd.
Don’t do this, my love, Reggie whispered. You won’t be able to live with yourself.
“I do adore your gown, Marissa. Is that a design of Madame Fontaine’s?”
Marissa barely heard Adelia. She’d caught sight of Haddon standing near the refreshment table. He’d been watching her, for how long, Marissa didn’t know. He’d certainly seen Nighter. And Miss Higgins. Still, he did not take a step in Marissa’s direction.
She inhaled sharply.
He's not going to stop me.
It wasn’t until that moment Marissa realized how much she’d been counting on Haddon stopping her.
Adelia placed a hand on Marissa’s arm. “Are you well, darling? You’re so pale.”
“I’m fine, Adelia. You might want to freshen up a bit before your assignation.” Marissa finally tore her eyes from
