Page 30 of The Rogue’s Offer

“Indeed,” Percy murmured with raised eyebrows. The mockery in his friend’s gaze made Mathias grunt with disgust, but his churlish mood didn’t abate.

He turned away from Percy and saw Chelmsford reach for Ophelia’s dance card. The man scribbled something on the small square of paper then returned it to Ophelia. She glanced at the card then jerked her head up to stare at the man in surprise. The earl smiled and offered his hand as the small orchestra began playing a waltz. As Chelmsford pulled Ophelia into his arms and swung her out onto the floor, Mathias mumbled an oath.

The expletive flying past his lips earned him a look of outrage from an older woman who was passing by. Percy cleared his throat in a wordless rebuke, and Mathias muttered a sharp apology. Barely glancing at his friend who was studying him with a look of puzzlement, Mathias focused his attention on Chelmsford dancing with Ophelia. The earl’s attentive manner illustrated the man’s determination to do as he’d suggested after dinner. The thought only served to increase Mathias’s morose state.

“No matter how much you glower at Chelmsford, it’s unlikely the man will drop dead on the spot.” At Percy’s amused comment, Mathias turned and narrowed his gaze at his friend.

“Where is your lovely wife?” he asked in a concerted effort to change the subject.

“She’s with Constance.” The Earl of Lyndham answered the question before Percy could as the other man joined them. A rueful expression on his face, Lucien glanced over his shoulder then smiled. “They were waylaid by Baroness Kimbolton. I imagine we’ll have to rescue them shortly. Otherwise there will be hell to pay later. Constance sent a warning glance in my direction when I left her and Rhea with the woman.”

“Just a warning glance?”

Mathias laughed as his mood lightened. He’d liked Lyndham from the first moment Constance had introduced them. That the man adored his wife was evident every time he looked at her. There was a wicked glint of humor in the earl’s eyes as he chuckled.

“Yes, and it was decidedly unpleasant.”

“I’m sure my plight is certain to be the same as yours.” A wide grin on his face Percy nodded. “The Rockwood women know how to extract their pound in flesh.”

“True. But our journey to hell where we pay our retribution eventually transports us to a heaven that is always resplendent.”

Lucien’s expression of amusement changed to one of great love as he looked back to where Constance stood nodding her head as an older woman chattered with animation in front of her. Almost as if aware of her husband’s gaze, Constance turned her head to look at him. Her gaze narrowed in obvious annoyance before she smiled at him in a manner that said her husband was definitely not in good standing with his wife.

“Oh, you’re definitely going to pay tonight, Lucien.” With a laugh, Mathias grinned at the earl. The man shrugged slightly and smiled as he looked back at his wife once more.

“I’ll gladly pay whatever penalty I must where Constance is concerned.”

A twinge of envy twisted its way through Mathias as he heard the note of deep affection in the earl’s voice. Almost without thought, he turned his head as his gaze searched the room for Ophelia. It didn’t take long to find her as Chelmsford seemed to have attached himself to her side. In a split second, Mathias’s mood darkened once more.

“You seem preoccupied, Mathias. Are you having problems with the female sex tonight as well?” Curiosity and a small touch of amusement filtered its way through Lucien’s voice.

“Not at all,” Mathias turned his head toward the earl who was studying him with interest.

“Lady Havenstock has bloomed of late, don’t you think Lucien?” Percy glanced at his brother-in-law before his gaze drifted out to where Ophelia was surrounded by Chelmsford and several other men. “Now that Havenstock isn’t around to deride her, she’s coming into her own.”

“I mentioned the same thing to Constance after dinner this evening. She believes you’re responsible for the woman’s newfound confidence, Mathias.” Lucien’s comment made Mathias shrug his shoulders.

“Constance exaggerates the influence I have over Lady Havenstock.”

“Indeed.” Lucien’s response mimicked Percy’s earlier observation, and Mathias’s stiffened at the implications behind the word. Before he could respond, the Rockwood women reached their small circle.

“You, my lord, are a brute.” Constance scowled at her husband. “You know how tedious Lady Kimbolton can be.”

“My darling wife, we both know the poor woman doesn’t have many friends, and she’s told me on several occasions how much she enjoys your company.”

At the gentle scolding, a chastened look crossed Constance’s face as she glanced over her shoulder to where the lady in question had seated herself in one of the chairs lining the wall of the ballroom. Inspiration suddenly crossed Constance’s face, and the moment her husband saw his wife’s expression he immediately shook his head.

“Absolutely not, Lady Lyndham. Between you and Patience, there’s been more than enough match-making in recent months.”

“Nonsense. Can you deny how successful the Rockwood women have been in their meddling, as you and Percy call it?”

“I for one am delighted they meddled,” Rhea said as she slipped her arm through her husband’s to smile up at him.

“As am I, my sweet.” Percy said softly as he met his wife’s gaze.

Mathias’s gaze swept across the faces of both couples before he turned away to study the dancers moving about on the floor. Although he was glad his friends had found great happiness, he knew he wasn’t destined to enjoy the same outcome in his life. Miriam had ensured that.

“I believe you promised to dance with me all night, Lord Lyndham,” Constance teased her husband before she reached out to touch Mathias’s arm. “Of course, if you prefer to stand this one out, I’m sure I could call on Mathias to—”