“You haven’t heard me out.”
“And I don’t intend to.”
She scowled at his downturned head. No, no doubt he didn’t intend to, because no matter what he sometimes claimed, he viewedhimselfas the duke andheras a mere inconvenience.
Well, not today.
“It is a masquerade ball,” she declared, tossing the invitation down on the table between them. “And I would like to attend.”
He didn’t so much as look up. “For what purpose?”
“Because I have never been to a masquerade ball, and I think it would be fun to dress up and wear masks and not know who everyone is. No one would know who we were, either. It would be entirely anonymous. We could go as a shepherd and his shepherdess, and don’t you think it would be fun?”
“No.” Finally, he looked at her, his arms folding. “I donotthink it would be fun.”
Ever since her illness, he had been avoiding her. Or, if not avoiding her, avoiding situations in which he might be alone with her. Part of her suspected he was waiting for her to recover before he made any sort of move in her direction, but she felt perfectly fine now, and she’d had enough of being treated like freshly blown glass.
It was time to take matters into her own hands.
All her ire had dissipated, and after he had allowed her to consult with an architect about some changes to the house, she felt as though she would like to do something for him.
Thus, the masquerade.
“Consider it. Dancing.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice. “No one knowing who we are. I imagine there’s a lot that happens at parties like that.” Planting both hands on his desk, she leaned in even closer, until her lips were a hair’s breadth from his. His breath left him in a sudden rush, and a light sparked in his dark eyes.
She had him now.
“I can dance with you here.”
“Mm, but it’s far better when we might be discovered at any moment. Imagine it, Sebastian. Taking me aside and kissing me, then hearing footsteps.”
“You sound as though you’ve done this before.” He had abandoned his work now, all his attention on her.
“Oh no. But I’ve heard stories. Masquerades can get positively…” She appeared to choose her words carefully. “Scandalous.” As he watched, she leaned back and trailed a finger along the neckline of her gown, right over the swell of her breasts. His gaze was a brand on her, and she saw his Adam’s apple bobble visibly.
“You are doing your best to be persuasive, I see…”
“I am.” She grinned at him. “Is it working?”
“I—” His jaw snapped shut, and she could practically see the irritation flare across his face. “I ought to tell you no.”
That was it—she had won. “But you won’t.”
“This will be the only social event I will consider attending.”
They would see about that, but she took her victory in good spirits, offering him a demure curtsy. “It is all I would ever ask of you, Your Grace.”
He grunted, waving her away, and she fled, anticipation twisting in her stomach. If he was reluctant to take her to bed, this masquerade ought to change his mind.
Sebastian did not know what had possessed him to agree to this ridiculous idea. What was worse, Aurelia looked as though she would positively pass out from joy at the thought of attending, which meant he couldn’t back out.
Instead, he allowed her to order costumes and masks to be made. As she had suggested, they would attend as a shepherd and his shepherdess. Ordinarily, he would not have opted for so humble a costume, but perhaps it was better that they chosesomething of this nature. This way, no one would suspect it was him.
Finally, the night of the masquerade arrived, and they took the carriage in. Against Sebastian’s better judgment, he had agreed that they would stay in his long-ignored London home rather than traveling back to his estate in the early morning. He trusted his coachmen, but there was no need to tempt fate.
Opposite him, Aurelia nearly bounced with excitement. He knew from everything she had told him that this was entirely novel for her, and hehadto admit that a small part of him was happy he could do this for her.
Before they exited the carriage, she laced her mask over her face. It was painted, with ruddy cheeks and holes for her eyes. Sebastian had a similar one he affixed to his face, and they alighted, climbing up the stairs to the Pantheon.
