Did that mean Captain Vale would be at this boxing match, as well? Miranda would make certain to inform Aden, just in case. That thought led her to more questions—would Aden be in attendance tonight? Now that she’d agreed to learn some of his devious ways, when would he begin instructing her? And how? She swallowed. That statement of his had contained some rather intimate bits, but admitting that those intrigued her would seem both premature and naive. She had other, more pressing troubles that should have been taking up her entire attention.
In addition, she had a task of her own to perform. They’d made an agreement, after all, and she refused to let it just be lip service, something he’d conjured so she wouldn’t feel as vulnerable to his whims as she actually was. And if anyone could stand to learn proper behavior, it was the MacTaggert brothers.
The coach made a turn and stopped, and a moment later a footman in bright-red-and-yellow livery pulled open the door. Her father stepped down and turned around to offer his hand to his wife. “Be cautious, my dears. Evidently the entire Horse Guards has been trooping up and down the street.”
Matthew had once said that the success of a ball could be measured in the amount of horse manure covering the street in front of the house. Going by that logic, the Darlington ball was thus far the crush of the Season. Hiking her skirts up to her ankles and deliberately ignoringMatthew’s proffered hand, she followed in her mother’s careful footsteps.
“Mia, don’t be like that,” her brother whispered. “Our parentswillnotice.”
“Perhaps,” she returned in the same tone. “I shall leave it to you to explain why we are at odds.”
“I had no choice.”
She stopped just short of the doorway and faced him. “You had a choice seven weeks ago. Now another man owns you. You might consider delaying your wedding, to ensure that he won’t also own Eloise. Because while no one defendsme, you may find that the MacTaggerts don’t care about consequences when one of their own is threatened.”
The look he gave her spoke volumes. She was to save him, save his impending marriage, save his reputation. He’d had a week to consider, and he still had no better plan than one that would ultimately keep him under Vale’s sway for a lifetime. They would be brothers-in-law, after all, if the captain had his way and put a ring on her finger and a shackle around her ankle.
As she considered all of that, the butler announced the Harris family and she found herself ushered into the main ballroom. The Darlingtons had removed the folding wall that divided the ballroom from the music room, doubling the space and creating what amounted to a double-tennis-court-sized ballroom. And though the evening was early and the first dance hadn’t yet begun, the room, the surrounding hallways, and the adjoining library and drawing room—now turned into a gaming room—were full to the rafters.
“I’m off to see if Eloise has arrived yet,” Matthew declared, and promptly vanished into the crowd.
“What of you, my dear?” her mother asked, taking Miranda’s hand. “I imagine we won’t see you again until the party is over.”
She wanted to stay close by her parents, be the young girl who knew her mother and father would never allow anything to happen to her. But if she remained there, Captain Vale would speak with them when he arrived to claim her for the dance. He’d insinuate how deeply he’d begun to care for her, and he’d say how much he hoped she returned the sentiment.
“Oh, I’ll swoop in for a kiss on the cheek now and again,” she said aloud, sending them a smile before she did kiss her mother on the cheek and then allowed herself to be swept away into the crowd.
A group of her friends had gathered close by one of the balcony windows, and with a deep breath she headed in their direction. If she could lie to her parents, then she could lie to her friends. If this was Aden’s idea of being more free, though, she didn’t much like it. Lying to everyone felt exhausting, and supremely taxing. All those different tales to keep straight.
Now that she’d thought about Aden, she looked about to see if he was in attendance. He more than likely would prefer to be at some dark, dirty gaming hell, but Captain Vale was to be here tonight. If Aden meant to help her, she could certainly use some of his wit and guile this evening.
“Ah, Miranda, my dear.”
Her spine tightened in a spasm so hard that her back arched a little. However many times she’d thought about how she would feel the next time Captain Robert Vale appeared, the fact of it was that he terrified her. “Captain,” she said, and continued walking. Friends, twenty feet in front of her. They couldn’t know what was afoot, and a second ago she’d dreaded having to dissemble in front of them, but now their mere presence might aid her.
He drew even with her. “The second dance of the evening is the waltz. I’ll have that one, and the following dance. The quadrille.”
She kept her gaze on her friends. On silly Helen Turner and her twin brother, Harry. Surely nothing sinister could happen in Helen’s presence. “Two dances in a row could invite scandal.”
“Then I’ll have both waltzes.”
“No.”
“Yes.” His left hand grabbed hers, and he placed her fingers over his right forearm. “Both waltzes. That’s fitting for a couple falling in love.”
“I am much sought-after, Captain. If you take both waltzes, you will earn the animosity of several of my would-be beaux.”
“I have very good information that I will triumph over them in my pursuit of you.”
“You manipulated my brother into owing you money. Does that truly give you license to be arrogant here?”
His free hand closed over hers. Hard. “I manipulated a great many things to pave a way into Society for myself. Those things I’ve done give me leave to have you do precisely what I want, when I want. Your supposed beaux who’ve failed to win you in five years of courting all entered into this game knowing only one of them would win. Even the latecomer Scotsman who thinks he can gamble. That winner is me.”
“You’re a horrid man. I detest you.”
His thin mouth curved into a thin smile. “Do so silently. And smile.”
She smiled.
