Page 31 of A Relentless Rake

Alec placed his hand over hers on his sleeve. “I know it’s unnerving for you to encounter him like this.” At her own ball, no less. “But we’ve all known for nearly two years that he was assigned to London.” For God’s sake, Aunt Agnes had chastised Wellington himself just last month for not giving Reed the field promotion he deserved at Toulouse, and Elizabeth kept asking Alec about their half brother and if she would ever be able to meet him. “He wants nothing from our family except to be left alone. I’m certain tonight will be his one and only visit here.”

“It’s just that… I’ve been thinking…”

“Yes?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.” She waved away whatever it was she was about to say with a nervous flick of her wrist. “It’s nothing.” She forced a smile and released his arm. “I just didn’t realize that you and he knew each other.”

“Only recently.”

“And you’re…on friendly terms?”

“We’re civil.”

That small admission brought color back to her face and faded the odd mix of worry and guilt lingering there. “Enjoy your evening, then. We’re all so very glad you’re here, Alexander.”

She placed a kiss to his cheek. He didn’t move away to avoid her touch, but the old pain resurfaced. How had she not known what Rupert Sinclair had done to him?

“Remember to dance with your aunt,” she called out as she retreated into the crush. “None of the other gentlemen are brave enough to reel with her.”

Thatwas the God’s truth, although Alec didn’t blame them.

Instead of looking for his aunt, though, he set down his unwanted glass and slipped quickly through the room to find Beth.

His sister stood surrounded by a group of young gentlemen and ladies, the brightest star of the bunch. She laughed and smiled at all of them, but her hand rested lovingly on Arthur Mullins’s sleeve.

Alec sidled up to Beth and lowered his lips close to her ear. “I sincerely apologize.”

She frowned, puzzled. “Whatever for?”

“I am about to ruin your dress.”

She blinked in confusion. “Pardon?”

On the other side of the ballroom, Reed threw his glass of punch at Olivia.

Eight

Ruined! All of it…justruined.

Olivia stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror in the retiring room as hot tears of humiliation stung at her eyes. Having removed her gloves before she could stain those, too, she dabbed futilely with a cloth at the large red spot that covered her front.

The dress was completely ruined. Most likely so was any remaining chance she had of finding new patrons for the school. She certainly couldn’t go back into the party looking like this! Her night at the ball had come to an end—a splashing, punchy end.

Her shoulders sagged. She’d been enjoying herself tonight, too. Even that waltz hadn’t dampened her excitement of being at such a grand ball…until everyone had seen her humiliation over the spill, including that blasted Earl of St James. From the way he’d seemed to delight in her ill luck when that man flung his punch at her, it was as if the scoundrel had found a way tocauseit.

Oh, the gall of that man! Obsequious with his compliments, oozing charm, flashing his smile—that routine might work with less unyielding women, butsherefused to fall for a rogue like St James. Not again. The first time had nearly destroyed her life and all she’d loved. A second time… Well, she wouldn’t survive it.

“At least I’ll never have to encounter him again,” she whispered reassuringly to herself. After all, earls didn’t frequent girls’ schools or any of the places she normally visited, and after her humiliation tonight, she doubted anyone would ever again make the mistake of accidentally putting her name on their guest list.

The door opened. Olivia glanced up to see Lady Rowland slip into the room with a concerned expression.

The young widow was beautiful, Olivia couldn’t deny it. Her sable hair had been pulled into a bounty of loose curls on her crown, and her eyes, which matched her forest-green dress, dazzled almost as much as the gold locket at her throat.Shewas the sort of woman with whom the Earl of St James should have been spending his time.

Olivia glanced back at her punch-stained reflection.Not me.

The baroness asked sympathetically, “Can I offer any assistance?”

“I’m afraid it’s beyond salvaging.” Olivia pulled at the bodice where the red punch had turned the blue satin purple, then gave a disappointed sigh. “And so is my evening.”