He did have one second to get out, “What if Jack loves me? Would you really deny her happiness?”
“With you, yes. This country is overflowing with eligible men, and I’ll find her one m’self in a decade or two—” The pause was unexpected before he added, “Does she?”
“I don’t know,” Damon was forced to admit.
“Good.” James drew his fist back.
“But I’m going to find out.” Damon tore himself away.
He left a damn lot of hair behind in Malory’s fist, but quickly weaved his way onto the dance floor. He’d spotted Jack immediately, her domino short this time, barely covering her eyes—as if she wanted him to recognize her. He whisked her away from the fellow she was dancing with, hopefully not another Malory who might object.
Her eyes widened slightly, but then she laughed. “No mask? I’m disappointed we aren’t going to play that guessing game again.”
His smile was brilliant. “No, you aren’t.”
“No, I’m not. I’ve missed you!”
“I thought I might be coming to my execution here. I couldn’t think of any other reason your mother would send me the invitation.”
“And yet you came anyway?”
“Yes.”
“She didn’t send it, Judy did.”
“No, I actually got two invitations; one was from your mother.”
Jack’s brows went up. “Really? Then maybe you were right about an execution. Shall we find out? Quickly, before my father joins her!”
“Dragging me to my death wasn’t what I had in mind for tonight,” he said as Jack pulled him to the two women standing with Anthony Malory.
“Don’t be silly,” Jack said. “Mother wouldn’t carry her pistols to a ball.”
When they walked up to the trio, Anthony immediately started to reach for Damon, but Georgina actually put out an arm to stay him, which gave Jack time to say, “Mother, I would like you to meet Damon—”
Georgina cut in, “No, I don’t think so,” and gave Damon a resounding slap.
There was actually some applause in the room. Well, a lot of Malorys were present, and they were well aware of Jacqueline’s second trip to the Caribbean.
But Jacqueline stared at her mother and asked, “Just once, yes?”
“For tonight.”
“Is it my turn now, George?” Anthony asked.
“No, it’s my turn,” Jacqueline told her uncle, and pulled Damon away again.
Back in the center of the dance floor, where they would be temporarily shielded by other couples, she didn’t even pretend to want to dance. She did put her arms around Damon and leaned up to kiss his red cheek, whispering, “Better her than him.”
“Funny you should mention that,” he said cryptically. “I do understand, you know. You’re their only daughter. I twice caused them anguish, which I heartily regret.”
“I suppose it will take time to smooth those edges.”
“I would expect so.”
“But they will relent when they see how happy you make me.”
He drew in his breath. “Do I?”
