“Very well,” Madeline said, all in a rush. “I… I would like to go with you. What sort of ball is it?”
“Oh, a very informal one. I believe Charlotte is coming, although there’ll be such a crowd, I doubt that you’ll see her.”
Madeline glanced at him. “And Miss Juliana Bolt?”
“Will not be invited,” he responded comfortably. “Members only, you see.”
“I am not a member.”
“You are married to a Devil Duke, my dear. You became a member the moment you married me.”
“Is that so? Well, in that case, the footman who was so reluctant to let me in the door when I came to visityouwas overstepping his remit.”
Tristan winced. “Well, the marriage-membership is more of aguidelinethan an actual rule, I see.”
“By that, do you mean that you just made it up?”
He threw her a grin. “Perhaps. At any rate, wear that green-gold dress.”
She chuckled, shaking her head. The tension between them seemed to dissolve a little.
I will speak to her properly tonight,Tristan decided.We will get all of this awkwardness out of the way.
Encouraged, he clapped with everybody else as the rector presented the freshly christened baby to the congregation. He glanced over at the audience and found James staring at him with a strange, intent expression. He smiled, but James did not seem to see. He had an inward-looking expression on his face, staring at Tristan and Madeline.
Over by the christening bowl, Adam started up a loud wail.
The windows of the Devil’s clubhouse were heavily curtained, letting barely a sliver of light escape. The streets outside were gray and slick with rainwater, glistening in the moonlight.
Madeline felt a shiver of nerves as their carriage rattled closer. This would be the third time she had entered the Devil’s clubhouse, and she was surprised by how uncertain she felt about it all. She was, after all, invited. It was to celebrate the christening of her nephew, too.
Tristan climbed out of the carriage first, turning back and lifting his hand to help her out. She met his gaze, a shiver rolling down her spine. Her hand was in his before she could even think twice, and she descended to the wet pavement.
Her green-gold gown had a long hem, and she was obliged to lift the skirts to avoid the material trailing in the dirt. Tristan led her up the stairs to a heavy red-painted door with a snarling gargoyle as a knocker. He knocked five times in a strange pattern, and the door was opened at once.
It was all darkness and gloom outside, but inside it was all lights and warmth. A massive fire crackled in the hearth, and countless candelabras lit up the space. Ladies and gentlemen of all kinds mingled in the open room, and a low wooden platform had been set up for dancing.
“Is that a waltz?” Madeline asked, raising her voice over the music. “It doesn’t seem like any dance I’ve ever seen.”
“This is not Almack’s, my dear,” Tristan responded, chuckling. “Ladies and gentlemen wander off unchaperoned all the time. Try not to be too shocked. Here, I want to show you something.”
She let him tow her through the crowded floor, all the way to a maze-like set of hallways, which ran around the main floor. He led her to a large wooden door, which was guarded by a footman in red livery. The man stepped aside at once when he saw Tristan, and the door was opened for them.
“We’re going outside?” Madeline exclaimed. “But it’sraining.”
“We shan’t be under the sky for long, I promise,” he laughed.
There was a set of stone steps leading down into a square courtyard. The rest of the clubhouse surrounded the courtyard, most of the windows dark at this time of night. There were tables and chairs set out for those who wished to eat and drink outside when the weather was good, and various unlit braziers.
In the center of the courtyard, a large wooden gazebo loomed. Lanterns were hanging from the posts, and a brazier burned in the middle. Tristan tugged her toward it, grinning.
“It is a new addition,” he explained. “The Gazebo. We thought we might have summer events here, or dancing. And tonight, when it is dark and raining, we have somewhere warm and dry to stand.”
They hurried up the steps, and Madeline took a moment to regain her breath. With all the lanterns hanging around, the space glowed like a fairyland. Bunches of flowers and garlands were cunningly wound around the railings, providing a sweet floral scent and a touch of greenery. There was another scent, too… Madeline breathed in deeply.
“Lavender,” she murmured. “And mint.”
He nodded. “You smelled deliciously of lavender on our wedding day, do you recall? I thought that you suited the scent and seemed to like it. For my part, I prefer mint, so I had a few sprigs of the plant put together.”
