He bowed to the ladies, turned and strolled away.
Right into the arms of Serena, who stood by the window, smiling at him.
“Well met, Serena.” He murmured. “Your husband?”
“In the card room, as usual.”
Serena was a vision in indigo blue. Her eyes sparkled. Yes, Alworth mused, he had been right to worship the ground she walked on. Once upon a time.
“He is neglecting you most shamefully.” Alworth bowed. “He has no reason to complain, then, when I whisk his beautiful wife away for a dance.”
She touched his arm playfully with her fan. “You are an incorrigible flirt. And a rogue. I see you have been dancing with the Mountroy girl.”
“Hm. Yes.” He led her to the dance floor.
“Rumours say that you are to be engaged.” She lifted an elegantly plucked eyebrow. “However, I have found that rumours, especially regarding you, tend to be unreliable. So tell me.”
“My dear. I have only danced a dance with her. Once. It may have been twice. I forget. And now society expects the banns to be called. What can I say? I shall be dragged to the altar by those zealous Mamas. Behold me, struggling in vain.”
“Archie.” She frowned. “Be serious.”
He twirled her around.
“But I am always serious. Especially with you.”
“You are not. I know you too well. You always joke when the topic becomes serious.”
The corners of his mouth tilted up. “You have always known me too well, Serena.”
“Yes. But like a very good childhood friend, or like a naughty little brother whom I need to keep an eye on all the time.”
“So you keep reminding me.” He made an exaggerated wince and placed a hand over his heart.
Serena rolled her eyes. “We both know you are well beyond that.”
“Do we?” He smiled at her wistfully.
“Archie. You have never really forgiven me, have you? For marrying William.”
His mocking eyes turned serious. “I am mortally jealous of him. Of you two together. You are the perfect pair. You know I would never begrudge you any happiness, Serena. You belong with him.”
She cast a brilliant smile on him.
“And Pen?” She twirled about him again. “What about her?”
“What about Pen?” He lifted his head to look for Pen. She was dancing at the other end of the line with a gentleman. “She is doing well? I see she lacks no partner.”
“She is doing well?” Serena mimicked his tone. “Is that all you have to say? She is brilliant. Her transformation is miraculous. The gentlemen are falling all over themselves to lead her to the dance floor.”
“If you say so, you must, no doubt, be correct.” A sarcastic little smile played about his mouth. “She will litter the ballroom floor with broken hearts, then.”
She hit him again with her fan. “Do be serious, Archie.”
He sobered. “You did an excellent job, Serena. Thank you.”
Serena’s eyes were troubled. “I have to admit, I did it at first only to do you a favour. And, I was, of course, dying with curiosity. You never ask anyone for favours, do you, Archie? So, when you came to my home to solicit my help for a friend of yours, and told me her fascinating and touching story, and asked me to be her chaperone, I was more than willing to do it. But, Archie, in the meantime, I have grown fond of the girl. Very fond. Therefore, I need to ask you, as a good friend, what your intentions are towards her. Because I would hate to see her hurt.”
The glint of humour left his eyes. “My intentions? As you have repeatedly impressed upon me, you know me rather well, so it would come as no surprise to you that I am an egotistical creature. My intentions are simple. I intend to amuse myself. And it is infinitely amusing to see a girl who’s masqueraded about as a boy the past two months be turned into a princess.” He mused. “There is something charming about it.”
“Balderdash.” The music stopped, and she curtsied as he bowed. “I think you do not know your own heart to see the truth.”
“You are so full of wisdom tonight, Serena. Pray, what is the truth?”
“The truth, my friend, is that you have fallen head over heels in love with her, of course.” She tapped him with her fan on his sleeve. “Mind you. Not the infatuated puppy love you had for me. This might very well be the real thing.”
With a knowing smile, Mrs Charlotte Serena Wentwood turned to find her husband.
The mocking reply died on his lips as he remained behind, frozen on the dance floor.
