“It would not be necessary if you’d answered my letters.”
“I have been in mourning.” Algenon motioned to his attire. “You cannot honestly expect me to answer at such a time.”
Lord Falcross folded his arms. “If you can dance, you can write.”
Javenia let go of his arm. “He has a point, my dear. You might as well hear him out.”
Lord Falcross’s nostrils flared. “My dear?” He turned to Algenon. “Do you always allow such familiarity? No wonder your father was concerned.”
Algenon battled a smirk, but the corner of his lip would sneak up no matter how much he tried to smooth his face. “Did you not allow such familiarity with your wife when she was alive?”
“Yes, but—” Falcross’s flustered face suddenly cleared and he glanced between them.
Algenon smiled. “Please forgive me, Lord Falcross.” He turned to Javenia. “Lady Roberts, you know Lord Falcross.” Then helooked at the viscount. “Lord Falcross, might I introduce… my wife?”
Miss Weston, who had been standing nearby, began to sputter. “Your wife?”
Several of the guests turned to see what the commotion was about.
Eddie rocked back on his heels, a satisfied smile curving his lips. “Did you not know, Miss Weston?”
Susannah gave her arm a pat. “It was a quiet affair. Just family and close friends. Nothing large since the family is still in mourning.”
Miss Weston’s mouth opened and closed like a pike out of water.
Lord Falcross leaned in. “Say you are joking,” he growled. “Your father and I had an agreement.”
Algenon glared at him, lowering his voice so only the viscount could hear. “One based on blackmail and false information. You should know never to believe a man deep in his cups.”
His Lordship straightened, his eyes narrowed, and his volume increased. “You are lying. Lord Roberts would never have agreed if my information had not been correct.”
Javenia spoke up. “First, you should know better than to implicate yourself in nefarious schemes. Poorly met, Lord Falcross. And second, Lord Roberts did not haveallthe information.”
Falcross glanced between them. Algenon wished he would take Javenia’s word for it but knew it might take more convincing than her testimony alone.
Many of the ladies and gentlemen around them had moved closer, their thirst for gossip evident. Algenon glanced at them before motioning to Lord Falcross.
“If you’ll come this way, I will enlighten you.”
The viscount took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling with the action. “Very well.”
Chapter 28
Javenia let go of Algenon’s arm so he could lead Lord Falcross out of the assembly hall. Two weeks ago, the sight would have terrified her, but fear had little power anymore.
Algenon was hers.
Under the law and blessed by the Church of England, he could not be parted from her. She slowly turned to face Miss Weston. Sweeping her golden gown to the side with a flourish, Javenia smiled.
She had won.
Miss Weston straightened, her chin coming up, a forced expression of boredom clear even though a pink feathered mask covered much of her angelic features. As the wife of a baron, it was up to Javenia to acknowledge her first. So she waited, letting the tension stew.
A whispered conversation from a group of ladies nearby caught Javenia’s attention.
“Is it true?” One young woman asked.
“According to Miss Weston, it is. From other accounts I’ve heard she was caught half dressed… and in public.”
