“Althea ne’er stopped wearing that necklace and ring because she ne’er stopped loving the Bourdelains, no matter ’ow they treated ’er. She was strong enough to bear the pain with the love. ’Ad the ’eart o’ a lioness, my Althea did, and now it lives on in our daughter,”—he looked at Mavis, who gave a watery smile—“and our granddaughter. ’Tis only right that each o’ you carry a part o’ ’er.”
“I am honored,” Tessa said softly.
“And let it be a reminder: like my Althea, you are a true lady. You bow to no one,” Grandpapa said sternly. “No matter where you go, you ’old your ’ead up ’igh, you ’ear me?”
“Yes, Grandpapa.”
His words seemed to soak into her skin, her veins, becoming the throbbing truth of her heart. She looked at Bennett; in that instant, his gaze was unguarded. She saw herself in those rich dark depths…and the reflection was beautiful.
“Blasted clasp,” Grandpapa grumbled. He’d lifted the necklace from the box and was attempting to undo the tiny fastener. “My ’ands ain’t what they used to be.” He shoved the necklace at Bennett. “You do it.”
Taking the necklace, Bennett went to stand behind her. The knowledge that mere inches separated them caused her respiration to be erratic. Energy crackled in that sliver of space, his virile scent spinning her senses. And the more she tried to hide her desire, the more heightened it became.
Holding the ends of the necklace, he lowered the pendant onto her bosom. Her breath hitched when the ruby heart made contact with her skin, the gentle friction like a caress. The pendant dragged up, up, and when his fingers brushed against her nape, her nipples were already budded against her bodice. The rasp of his callused fingertips melted her insides like wax. Warmth flooded her heart, between her thighs, all of her turned molten with wanting.
“There you go.” Bennett’s words had a husky edge. Had he, too, been affected by their exchange? One that, by all rights, ought to have been ordinary and mundane?
Gathering herself, she turned to face him, and her knees grew wobbly at the banked fire in his eyes. Longing that he was doing his utmost to hide, but that she could see: because she knew him. Because she loved him. Because her lioness’ heart had led her to this man and no other.
“It suits you, Miss Todd,” he murmured before stepping aside.
Not half as well as you do,she thought.
She vowed to herself that they would be together soon enough. Once they stopped the villain behind the hellfire and her family was safe, she would letnothingkeep them apart.
The butler arrived with a tray of champagne, and Mama came to join them.
Raising a sparkling flute, she said, “To Tessa’s second debut. May she make us proud.”
“She always does,” Grandpapa said gruffly.
Tessa blinked back sudden heat and held her own glass up high. “To the House of Black. May we never succumb to enemies and always fight for family and for love.”
“For family and love,” her mama and grandpapa echoed.
Tessa looked at Bennett—and saw the flash of naked longing on his face. She felt the urge to abandon pretense, to invite him to join the circle, be by her side where he belonged; the slight shake of his head warned her not to.
It took all her willpower, but she quelled her impulse. For the good of everyone, she would keep their affair secret. For now.
26
The ball was a crush.
Mirrored walls amplified the seemingly endless throng of people, all dressed in extravagant finery. The gilded columns and towering potted palms added to a closed-in feeling despite the large size of the ballroom. Cloying perfumes mingled with the heavy scent of burning beeswax from the three blazing chandeliers.
“May I compliment you on your costume?” the Duke of Ranelagh and Somerville said as he guided her into a waltz. “You make a most charming kitty.”
Tessa didn’t bother correcting him. Since she’d arrived at the opulent ball, the handful of people who had deigned to speak to her had all mistaken her for a cat. Even the demi-mask she was wearing didn’t help. In the carriage, Bennett had helped her to don the brown velvet mask decorated with swirls of gold embroidery and seed pearls.
Now you and Swift Nick could be twins, he’d said with his crooked smile.
How shewishedshe could be dancing with him instead of the duke. But knowing that he was somewhere in the crowd, keeping watch over her, made her feel better. It was past midnight, and she hadn’t heard the De Witts being announced; she was losing hope that she’d have the opportunity to do some clandestine sleuthing.
Unfortunately, shehadseen some other people she knew, including her nemesis Lady Hyacinth Tipping, now the Countess of Fyffe. Hyacinth had looked past her as if she were invisible. Surprisingly, Baroness von Friesing had been the one to observe that Ransom’s attentions to Tessa were likely the cause of the snub.
Lady Fyffe’s husband is a mere earl,and a Scottish one at that,the baroness had said tartly.A fact you would know if you used your Debrett’s as more than a doorstop.
How well her chaperone knew her.
