Raucous laughter erupted from several paces away, drawing Maria’s attention to the group of handsome young men gathered around Jasper. The young pups gazed at him in admiration, clearly pleased that they’d been included among his circle.
Maria angled her slender neck, notching her chin higher in the hope of making her jaw appear less harsh should one of them deign to look her way.Please let it be Jasper. She shifted her stance near the wall, affecting nonchalance in an attempt to lure the men toward her. Would that they asked her to dance!
“It’s unfortunate, really,” one man said mockingly.
“Indeed not,” another young man replied. “It’s their own fault.”
Maria stilled. Did men gossip? She trained her ear on them while she focused her gaze on the dancers.
“How so?” Jasper asked, sipping on his champagne.
“If,” the man responded, “they truly intended to attract a husband, they would lower their necklines and fix their flaws. And, of course, one cannot go wrong with allowing a man some liberties.”
The men laughed again, and Maria pursed her lips.
“You just want to get under their skirts, Billingsly,” the first man said with a superior sniff.
“Doesn’t every man?” drawled another.
More laughter erupted, and Maria’s stomach dipped unpleasantly.
“But one must have standards,” Jasper interjected. “Unlike Billingsly, of course.”
The man named Billingsly lightly shoved Jasper with his elbow. “Sod off, Sinclair. I wager that even you haven’t the cods to seek a dance with a wallflower.”
“And your sister doesn’t count,” another young man put in.
Sounds of discreet interest and boorish delight surrounded the men, and Maria set her jaw against a scowl. Outrage, affront and, she was ashamed to admit,hurtpulsed through her with every beat of her pounding heart. How could men speak thusly about women? They ought to know that she and the other wallflowers were not truly out of the range of hearing—though perhaps that was their wish, for they’d not attempted to lower their voices despite their proximity to the outskirts of the ballroom. She’d not imagined Jasper would be capable of something so…socrass.
Indeed, not the Jasper she knew.
“A wager?” Jasper asked.
“I do love a wager!” another man interjected, interest and devilment ripe in his voice. “What are your terms, Billingsly?”
There was a moment of silent interest while the swirling dancers and the overwhelming scent of candle wax, sweat, and perfume dizzied Maria.
“If we’re wagering, I’ll make this interesting,” Billingsly urged. “If you can encourage a wallflower to fall in love with you, then snub her, I’ll give you ten quid.”
Maria’s eyebrows rose and her heart stuttered at both the large sum and the abhorrent terms.
“Because I’m charitable,” Billingsly continued, “I’ll give you ten shillings just for asking the ugly wench to dance, and another seven if she accepts.”
Out of the corner of Maria’s eye, the smug, challenging smile on Billingsly’s face was almost menacing. Surely Jasper would not accept the wager. He was Juliana’s brother, after all, and Juliana was among the wallflowers that the other man found so distasteful.
Maria refused to believe Jasper capable of something so hateful. He’d joined in their discussion, but he would refuse, of course. He would defend his sister’s honour, and would unquestionably not ruin a woman merely for the sake of a wager.
Struggling to keep her breathing slow and even, the din around her was drowned out by the rush of blood in her ears. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the men gesturing, but could no longer hear their conversation.Jasper will refuse.
Abruptly, he moved. Dragging his fingers through his hair and straightening his coat, Jasper sauntered toward the wall of women.
Sharp pain burst beneath her sternum as her heart broke. The ache spread over her chest and tingled down her arms.No, Jasper. Don’t do it.
Then he stood before her, his two-toned blue-and-brown eyes glittering with false appreciation, his smile broad and gleaming. He appeared for all the world like a young man in earnest as he bowed. And it hurt her all the more.
“Good evening, Miss Roberts,” he said charmingly.
Maria was very aware of the other wallflowers’ awe at his presence. But all Maria felt was a mix of indignation, disappointment, and…anguish. The man had let himself down with this barbaric choice.
