“Please allow me time to think about your offer, my lord,” Evie said as meekly as she could, scrabbling to come up with a way to get out of this mess.
“Of course, but remember, my dear, I am not a patient man. If I think you need further persuasion, I will not hesitate to offer it.”
Evie heard the threat behind those words. She tried to pull from his arms, but his hands gripped her tighter, his fingers crushing hers painfully.
“You and I will have a long and happy life together, my dear, as long as you understand it is I who have all the control.”
He released her when the music finished and then led her back to Prue. She watched him walk away with nausea swirling in her belly.
Dear lord, how could she refuse him?
Chapter Eleven
“Who are yousearching for?”
The words were spoken by Jamie, who had stepped into Anthony’s path as they circumnavigated the ballroom.
“You’ve been prowling the perimeters since you arrived. This I know as Toby and I have been watching you. It is not your normal behavior. Usually, you are leaning against a wall drinking and scaring young ladies with your devil may care attitude.”
“Where is Toby?” Anthony asked instead of answering his friend’s question.
“That way, dancing with Miss Hyde.”
“Why?” Anthony asked. “Miss Hyde is the daughter of the innocuous Mr. Hyde, who if he gets a single sniff of interest from Toby, then will move heaven and earth to see him wed to his daughter.”
Jamie smiled. “I doubt anyone could make Toby do anything he had no wish to.”
“True, but Miss Hyde could lure him somewhere and compromise him,” Anthony said.
“Not all women are set on tricking us surely, Anthony? Even you are not that cynical.”
“Perhaps,” he said looking around him.
“Who are you looking for?”
“Aunt Louise has arrived in London, and sent word she and Nigel would attend this ball. My cousin is barely old enough toenter society, but she feels it’s important to acquaint him with what his future will hold.”
“Unless they murder you, I can’t see why you are avoiding them, other than the fact your aunt is a crashing bore.”
“I’m not avoiding them, but the note stated quite clearly Aunt Louise wants me to do my duty and teach her son how to become my heir, as clearly I will never have one.”
Jamie winced. “I’ve often wondered what it would be like to be without a title and work as a lawyer or doctor?”
“You hate the sight of blood. But I could see you in one of those wigs,” Anthony added. A memory of the one he’d seen Mr. Renee wearing the other night slipped into his head. Decidedly odd, that a man of his age would wear such a thing, and the beard.
“But we would not have the complications that come from—”
“Being ridiculously wealthy with everything we want?”
“Thank you for putting me in my place.”
“Any time.”
“So, your aunt has yet to arrive, and you think that if you keep moving she will not track you down?”
“It was a faint hope at best,” Anthony said.
“Have you danced with Miss Spencer yet?” Jamie asked.
