“No,” Finn said, trying to master his tone so his interest wouldn’t be marked and discussed. “I invited him. A late addition.” Her disgusted expression didn’t change and Finn laughed. “You don’t like him?”
“No.” She smiled up at him in return. “He isn’t a very pleasant man. He’s always rude and too loud. And there issomething about him that makes me…nervous. Not in a good way.”
Finn glanced toward his quarry again. It was odd that he’d never sensed a feeling of discomfort around the new marquess. But then again, he wasn’t a woman. He wasn’t under threat.
“You were close to his uncle, though, weren’t you? The last marquess seemed a far superior man,” Marianne continued.
Finn nodded. “I was. The man took me under his wing after I inherited and was never anything but kind and helpful. Far more of a father than our piss-poor paternal figure.”
Marianne’s expression grew sad. “I’m happy you had someone like that in your life, Finn. Is that why you invited the nephew? As some sort of recognition of the uncle?”
He nodded, for it was a good explanation. Better than to tell her he’d been tupping the long-missing Lady Charlotte in secret. What would his sister say to that? “I think I owed it to Chilton to make some effort. This was a sought-after invitation but a large enough gathering that his presence wouldn’t be uncomfortable or odd.”
Marianne watched the gentleman again. Chilton had moved to a small group of men and was talking in a rather animated fashion that seemed to be off putting to his audience. She shivered. “You know I always liked Chilton’s cousin, your friend’s daughter. Charlotte? Though I didn’t know her very well, as she was a bit older than I was.”
Finn tensed. Esme had mentioned Marianne a few times, but he hadn’t thought to ask Marianne about her in return. This was an opportunity to do just that.
“Her disappearance is still one of Society’s greatest mysteries,” Finn said as cautiously as he could.
Marianne glanced up at him. Now she worried her hands before her. “Yes. I know there are many theories on that score.”
“Such as?”
She sighed. “Her cousin has always implied she left to pursue an imprudent affair on the continent. An attempt to ruin her reputation in absentia.”
Finn nodded slowly. “I’ve heard the same from time to time when the subject came up. Do you believe it?”
He didn’t know why he needed the answer. Needed to know what the gossip was amongst the ladies who had once called Esme acquaintance and friend. But he did.
“I don’t know. There are friends of hers who say they’ve never heard from her again after the disappearance. Not a letter, even to people she was very close to. Perhaps that’s merely indicative of her truly taking to a new life. Or…or…”
She trailed off and shifted with discomfort.
“Or?” he pressed.
She swallowed. “There are those who think she might be dead. That everything her cousin has said is a lie, meant to cover up his misdeeds. Not that he has to. His position seems to have protected him, and not her. As is the way of Society in a great many instances.”
Finn bent his head. The statement gave some credence to Esme’s belief that her cousin was dangerous. If the other ladies of thetoneven hinted at it in gossip, that meant a great many of them had experienced that flutter of intuition that the new marquess was not a safe companion.
“You are pale as paper, Finn,” Marianne said, and gripped his hand in both of hers. “Are you well?”
He didn’t have a chance to answer when Sebastian crossed the room to them, his gaze focused firmly on Marianne rather than Finn.
“I am here to steal my love for a dance,” Ramsbury said, holding out a hand to her.
Marianne’s concerns seemed to have floated away as she laughed up at her fiancé. “We have danced two times already, Sebastian! We shall cause a scandal at this rate.”
He shrugged. “Oh no, what will happen? Will we be forced to marry?”
She shook her head at Finn. “He’s a cad.”
Finn forced a smile at their teasing. “You knew that before the bargain was struck, my dear. There is no escaping now, not that I think you wish to do so for one moment. Now off with you two. Scandalize away.”
Sebastian winked at him before he whisked Marianne to the dancefloor and spun her around, holding her too closely as he murmured words to her that made her blush. Finn sighed and turned his attention back to Chilton. He had removed himself from the company of the group he’d been socializing with earlier and now he stood alone, watching a small circle of women chat.
Finn smoothed his waistcoat and drew in a deep breath. He’d orchestrated this man’s arrival here with a purpose. It seemed now was the time to pursue it. He just hoped he would have something to report to Esme when it was all over.
CHAPTER 16
