Livy and Melior joined them, drinks in hand.
“This should be entertaining,” Livy said. “Are you sure you don’t want me to use what I know to make certain Lord Falcross never blackmails another lord again?”
Javenia snickered. “I do not think fighting blackmail with blackmail is completely legal, Livy.”
Melior grinned. “Yes, but highly entertaining.”
Eddie placed a hand on the small of his wife’s back and leaned close to her ear. “I thought we agreed to save ruining people for birthdays and holidays.”
Livy bit her lip to keep from smiling. Javenia looked away and Algenon focused his attention on Phillipa and Charlotte, who glanced at him from their seats across the room. Since they were still in mourning, they would not dance, but they’d begged him to at least let them attend.
It was strange to realize they were not his sisters, but his cousins. When he’d first realized Lord Roberts’s marriage to his mother had been illegal, he’d worried about his sisters, only to remember that none of them had been born of the same union. Perhaps Providence had had a hand in righting his mother’s deception, however sad the situation had turned out.
Knowing Lord Falcross and Lord Rupert would try to ruin him had forced him to tell the truth to all the girls who were old enough to understand. If either lord spread what they presumed as truth throughout Society, the girls would need to be prepared. Thankfully Davina and Frances were still too young to understand, as were the babies, so he’d go on being the older brother they had admired.
In truth, all his sisters had declared their intention to keep him as a brother. They still shared the same blood after all, even if it was less than they’d initially thought. And as far as Society knew, they were still siblings, because Algenon had no intention of ever divulging the truth unless absolutely necessary.
It was up to Lord Falcross now.
The musicians signaled the next song and John led Miss Weston to the floor while Susannah accompanied Lord Falcross.
“I believe it is time,” Javenia said at his elbow.
He smiled down at her. “May I have this dance, Lady Roberts?”
“I do not believe I shall ever tire of you calling me that.”
He led her to the floor. “You better not. His Grace gave you the chance to run the other direction before he petitioned for our special license.”
She smirked. “It was kind of him. Too bad I lack the mental acuity to have taken his advice.”
Algenon’s shoulders shook as he held in his laugh. Her reference to their conversation at the Duke of Bedford’s dinner would forever be a favored quip between them.
Javenia took her place next to Susannah and Algenon placed himself next to Lord Falcross. By the bland expression on His Lordship’s face, he’d yet to recognize them. Good. That would make the revelation even more satisfying.
Nate led Janessa to the floor and stood next to them in order to enjoy the entertainment, while Eddie stayed at the floor’s edge with Livy and Melior. His friends’ eagerness to support him as he revealed his secret marriage to Javenia brought a comfort he didn’t know he needed. Losing as many stepmothers as he had while navigating his uncertain place with the man he’d claimed as his father had made his life unstable at best. But he’d always been able to count on his friends’ support. They’d provided a sturdy ship in a storm-tossed sea, and he’d be forever grateful to them for that.
Javenia curtsied, and he bowed, the rest of the line following suit. Stepping forward, he placed a flat hand against hers and they circled one another. Then they repeated the steps with their other hands before returning to their starting positions.
Next to him, he heard Lord Falcross mutter something that sounded something like, “That Harris girl.”
He grinned. Apparently, he’d recognized Javenia. Did that mean he’d also recognized him?
Susannah curtsied to Algenon and they crossed to circle one another.
She smiled. “Are you ready?”
“Beyond ready. Did he recognize me?”
“Most definitely.”
They separated and he caught Miss Weston’s stare before returning to his spot. She glanced down the line at Javenia and her lips flattened, her eyes narrowing. Whatever she’d had against his wife, he could not wait to set her firmly in her place. No one misused his Javenia.
The rest of the dance flowed easily, his attention caught by how well Javenia glided across the floor. Years of watching her, and he’d never grown tired of the pastime. He doubted he ever would.
Then the song ended and Lord Falcross pinned him with a glare. At the edge of the dance floor he said, “Roberts, a word, please.”
Algenon played dumb. “Now? In the middle of a ball?”
