Page 20 of The Lady's Forbidden Marquess
“I’m not desperate but I’m open to suggestions,” Pere admitted softly, her eyes continuing to scan the room.Her attention landed on Woodbury again.“Maybe I can convince him.”
Henley started to speak, then paused, his mouth snapping shut with a barely audible noise.
Pere’s gaze shot to him, and noted the way his fists balled up, and his shoulders straightened as his attention focused on a point over her shoulder.
Rather than spin around like she wanted to, she moved slowly and scanned the place her brother’s attention had lingered.
“Ramsford.”Her brother bit the word just as she saw him.He was meandering through the ballroom, his eyes scanning the room.
“I think he’s looking for me,” Pere muttered as she turned to her brother.
“He’s not getting near you.”
“Yes, he is, for only a moment though.I’ll end it myself.”Pere tugged her gloves on tighter, squeezing her hands and feeling the urge to bounce on her toes, like her brother did when shadow boxing at home.
Was this what it felt like to anticipate a fight?Interesting.Not that it would come to blows—and if it did, it certainly wouldn’t be hers.She glanced to Henley, who was still wearing that furious glare, but this time it was aimed at her.
“Pardon?”
Pere blinked.
“You’re not going near him so you can’t exactly end anything… especially since there’s nothing to end—”
“Wait.”Pere held up a hand gently and spoke calmly.“Hen, let’s consider this rationally.”
Henley’s eyes widened.
“No, really, hear me out.”She took a breath and waited for her brother to listen.He narrowed his eyes but nodded, so she continued.“If you approach him and forbid his suit, then it could be easily misunderstood that you are acting in spite of my wishes.A forbidden love.However, if I, with you nearby, make the point clear, then there can be no misunderstanding.You can affirm it after, but if I initiate it, then there’s no reason for a man of his caliber to wonder if I would entertain a secret romance.Does that make sense?”Pere asked, hoping her fumbling words were articulated well enough to get the point across.
She didn’t trust Ramsford, and anyone who had seen Henley’s face whenever she danced with Ramsford could deduce he was displeased.She wouldn’t go around her brother’s authority, but she wanted it to be clear, on every level, this was her rejection, not just her brother’s.
Henley twisted his lips.“I see your point.But when you speak with him, it’s with me close by, and it will be only a precursor to my words.”
“Agreed,” Pere replied.“There’s no time like the present.”She gave a humorless laugh, and turned, searching for Ramsford.
A tingling sensation ran up her spine as she tipped her head and turned for the source.She studied the faces of those around her and then searched deeper into the crowd, almost missing the dark figure by a pillar.
Hawthorne.
Her lip curled slightly, and she narrowed her eyes and turned away.No, she’d not deal with that problem now; she had other issues to deal with first.Irritated, she turned back toward the refreshment table and locked eyes with Lord Ramsford.His gaze warmed with a charming smile as he took strides toward her.
“I’ll be a few feet away.”Henley’s words were whispered and she felt him give her a little space—as much as a London ballroom could afford.
In a few short moments, Lord Ramsford was near.“Lady Peregrine.”He took her hand and kissed the air above it, lingeringly holding her fingers before slowly releasing them.
His gaze swept across her face, his expression soft, inviting, warm, and alluring.
“You are very good at what you do, my lord.”Pere glanced down, steeling herself with a breath.
Odd how his warm gaze was ineffectual, irritating even.She knew it was a ploy, a trick to engage her emotions.It was a farce, and she wasn’t a fool for it any longer.
“I’ve been told I’m exceptional at a great many things,” Lord Ramsford murmured softly, his tone all honey and charm.
Pere wanted to spit on his Hessian boots.“You misunderstand me.”She glanced up, making her expression cold.“Often, most talented actors seek the stage at Drury Lane, yet you found your own captive audience in a London ballroom.I applaud your ability to draw weak prey, however, I’m not weak nor am I prey, and I think it would be wise for you to expect that anything done in the dim lights of White’s will come to be known in the bright illumination of a London ballroom.”
His eyes narrowed, and he blinked in confusion before his eyes widened slightly, and he took a step back as she felt someone come stand beside her.
“What my sister is saying in her delightfully charming way is that we see you for what you are, and are not impressed and wish for you to keep your distance.Of course…” Henley took a step toward Lord Ramsford, his tone low and so soft Pere almost didn’t hear it.“If you refuse, I’ll find my own charming way to communicate my point.”Henley grinned then, and Pere almost felt sorry for Lord Ramsford.Almost.
