Page 38 of Dangerous

“Oh come,” he mocked. “You cannot tell me you’ve not heard my charming sobriquet? I’ll swear there were plenty wanting to tell you. Your brother, for one.” His lips twisted into an unpleasant smile and Mia snatched her hand away, loath to touch someone who brimmed with such bile. He nodded his head as though she’d spoken out loud, his white teeth gleaming in the darkness. “If your surprise is genuine, then you may have reason for an annulment.”

“It is you who have given me reason for an annulment, sir.”

He chuckled. “Touché, my lady.”

Mia’s heart beat like a hummingbird’s, but she forced herself to hold his eyes. She would tolerate many things, but criticism of her family was not one of them. “I have not heard the name before and you do a great disservice to my brother if you believe he would repeat such scurrilous nonsense. It is true he did not wish me to marry you, but not for the reasons you may think.”

“Oh? What were those?” he asked in a bored voice, staring out the window.

“My brother did not believe I should be forced into a loveless marriage merely to please my father.”

“Mmm.” The sound dripped cynicism and made her recall the gulf of empty space that surrounded him the few times she’d seen him in public. Nobody could be untouched by so much rejection. He was not immune, no matter how cold he appeared.

“Whatever my brother believed before we were wed hardly matters now, my lord. We are family and Cian is now your brother. I will not tolerate the speaking of such stupid nicknames by anyone, even you. When you disparage yourself, you disparage me.”

The carriage stopped, but the marquess made no move to get out when the door opened.

Mia’s heart became heavy in her chest and she suddenly felt tired. She had insulted him by speaking so harshly. It was the same as it had always been. She was opening her mouth to make the inevitable apology when he leaned forward and adjusted her gauzy shawl around her shoulders.

His hooded eyes flickered with something she couldn’t read, but his lips twitched into a smile. He stepped out of the carriage and handed her down the steps.

Mia couldn’t suppress the flare of triumph that surged in her breast. For just a moment there’d been a small crack in the high walls that surrounded him. It had sealed up quickly, but she’d seen something behind it before the gap closed and it had looked suspiciously like affection.

* * *

Adam did not have high expectations for the evening, at least not when it came to the quality of the entertainment.

The box he’d acquired belonged to Lord Jeffries, a member at one of the gaming clubs Adam frequented, one of the few card players who actually offered him a challenge. Jeffries was departing London the next day and had been pleased to offer Adam the use of the private box.

Adam had run into Danforth at White’s and, on an impulse, invited him and his two lively sisters to join them. Like their brother, the women were of an open and pleasant disposition. They would not find the prospect of socializing with Adam or his wife beneath them.

Danforth had approached Adam one evening several years ago, after a late night at the tables. His open friendship and gregarious nature had gradually chipped away at Adam’s reserve and before he knew it, the younger man had become a friend. The viscount’s sisters soon completed Adam’s very small circle. The two women had refused to be deterred by Adam’s signature off-putting stare since the first night they’d met. They accepted him without question, as if their brother’s approval was enough for them, and treated Adam like another brother, to be bullied and cossetted in equal amounts.

Danforth and his sisters were already in the box when they arrived.

“Thank God you are here, Exley. My sisters are savages and you must save me from them.” Danforth rolled his eyes dramatically at the two thin women sitting across from him.

Livia, the smaller of the women, launched herself at Adam with her usual lack of decorum and caught him in a full embrace.

“Adam, darling, how naughty of you not to invite us to your wedding. I have the perfect wedding hat.” Livia turned to his wife before Adam could open his mouth. “And you must be Lady Exley. My goodness, you are so lovely,” Livia exclaimed, releasing Adam to grasp the smaller woman by her upper arms and hold her at a distance while inspecting her.

To Adam’s relief his wife looked amused rather than alarmed at the enthusiastic reception.

“You must call me Livia. We don’t stand on ceremony,” she added, before sweeping the smaller woman into an embrace.

His wife appeared to eagerly return the other woman’s enveloping hug before meeting her friendly look with one of her own. “And you must call me Mia.” Her face was flushed and her voice husky with pleasure.

Livia grinned. “Mia, this is Octavia. We have been most excited to meet you ever since Gaius told us about your betrothal to Adam.”

Mia blinked at the unusual trio of names.

“Indeed, Livia, indeed.” Octavia nodded her head vigorously, her enormous, feathered headdress swaying erratically. “We’ve been longing to meet you ever since we first read of your return to England.”

“We should dearly love to hear the real story about your years away.”

Danforth raised a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes. “Livia—”

“But only if you feel comfortable talking about it, of course. We are souls of discretion, are we not, Livia?”