“Perhaps. And I’ve had word from Lord Albert this morning. Daniel will be escorting his mother to the ball tonight, so you will have another opportunity to advance the campaign, as you termed it.”
Vanessa nodded. “Good. And I meant to ask you if you know why Daniel hates his father?”
“That’s a strong word.”
“Not really, not when the mere mention of his father yesterday enraged him, and Mavis Collicot also said as much and blamed their animosity on two lost loves that Albert rejected,” Vanessa said.
“I warned you not to believe that woman. She fabricates most of her rumors. But I suppose something like that could explain Daniel’s obnoxious behavior.”
“And also why he does just the opposite of what his father would want.”
“Then we shall find out if it is true. Lady Roberts might know. I’ll broach the subject subtly tonight if she attends the ball and let you know.”
Chapter Thirty-seven
IT WAS A LARGEtown house, but the small back garden and terrace were completely walled in. Montgomery stared at the wall he was considering climbing. Six bloody feet tall! He should have just dyed his hair like Charley, then they both could have gone through the front door with their fake names as part of the countess’s party. He could have averted his face during the announcement. Charley didn’t need to worry about being discovered here, but Montgomery’s face had recently been seen in London, so his false credentials wouldn’t necessarily keep him from being noticed by the wrong people, though he didn’t expect the noblemen he’d supposedly cuckolded to attend a debutante ball. Not that he cared if he moved back to the top of the gossip lists—well, actually, he did. He’d rather Vanessa not hear about those sordid affairs, fake or not.
“Your ancient bones can’t manage it?” Charley said as he leapt up to snag the top edge of the wall, pulled himself up and climbed over it.
The boy obviously considered this a fun adventure, which is why he had declined entering the house with the countess. Montgomery certainly didn’t. He should have stayed in the Blackburn house. He didn’t have to attend every ball Vanessa went to.
At least Rathban’s ball had been a much smaller affair with a carefully selected guest list. From the very long line of coaches out front, he knew this ball was far more grand and would include a fair number of crashers like himself—and too many gossips. He could still turn about, but it was too late to drag Charley away with him. The boy was already on the other side of the wall. And he told himself the only reason he was going over that wall was because he still had to keep an eye on Charley.
But it was Vanessa he looked for as soon as they entered the house. He saw her on the dance floor with a young man, resplendent in her pale yellow gown, too damn beautiful again. She appeared bored, which shouldn’t delight him but it did.
Charley had already gone off to ask one of the debutantes for a dance, leaving him to get ambushed, which is what it felt like when he heard, “Father is in town. Have you visited?”
That took his eyes off Vanessa. His sister Claire looked lovely tonight in a dark emerald gown that complemented her auburn hair and green eyes so like his own. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before he could reply, “No, and try to restrain yourself from sharing the news that I’m back in London.”
“I didn’t know you’d left. Where are you staying? A new flat?”
“With friends.”
“You ought to ask me to dance while we catch up.”
“We can catch up another time. I am otherwise occupied tonight.”
She glanced back to find out who he was looking at, but her eyes stopped on another lady. “Ah, her, your mistress.”
He followed Claire’s gaze and groaned when he saw Lady Halstead. “Don’t start, Claire. You know nothing about it.”
“But I do—Lady Halstead is not the only one. From what I heard, you were on your way to filling your stable with old mares.” And having gotten that nasty tease in, she patted his cheek. “Maybe now you’ll dance with me?”
“Maybe now I’ll throttle you. What are you even doing here?”
“Giving my husband a reason to divorce me.”
“He’s here with you?”
Her mouth turned pouty. “No, but several of his friends are and will surely tell him what a wonderful time I’m having—without him.”
“Why don’t you just get it over with and forgive him. You know you will in the end.”
“I will not! He cheated on me. He’s lucky I didn’t try to cut off—”
“Bite your tongue. If I didn’t sympathize with him before, I certainly do now. Will dancing shut you up?”
She smiled. “It might.”
