Victor kept his head high as curious eyes followed their party. Especially Charlotte. He noticed that immediately. Men looked at her. Far too many men.
Charlotte stepped closer beside him as they paused near the edge of the dance floor. “What is the plan exactly?” she murmured quietly. “Do we attempt to clear up the engagement tonight?”
Victor sipped calmly from the champagne a servant handed him. “No.”
She blinked. “No?”
“At the opera, our denials merely convinced society further.” He looked faintly amused. “Apparently, we now resemble tragic lovers resisting happiness.”
Charlotte groaned softly. “This is dreadful.”
“It is pointless to fight it directly.” Victor lowered his voice slightly. “If someone asks, we deny it. Otherwise, we ignore the matter.”
Charlotte looked uncertain but nodded slowly. “Very well.”
Before Victor could say more, several gentlemen immediately approached.
His mood darkened at once.
“Miss Brown,” one young viscount greeted eagerly. “Might I request the first dance?”
Another stepped forward almost immediately after. “And perhaps the second?”
Charlotte looked startled by the sudden attention. Victor, meanwhile, experienced a strange and deeply unpleasant sensation tightening low in his stomach. He did not care for it. Not at all.
Charlotte smiled politely. “You are very kind.”
The viscount practically preened beneath her attention. Victor suddenly wanted to break his nose. An alarming thought.
Charlotte glanced briefly toward Victor as though silently asking permission. The very idea irritated him instantly.
She does not require my permission to dance.
So why did the thought of another man touching her waist during a waltz make his jaw clench?
“You should dance,” Victor heard himself say coolly.
Charlotte looked faintly surprised by his tone but accepted the invitation nonetheless. Victor watched the viscount lead her onto the dance floor. Then continued watching far longer than necessary.
“She is lovely,” Elizabeth remarked beside him knowingly.
Victor took another drink. “Mm.”
“And popular,” Lionel said as he approached.
“Oh my dear grandson, I thought you would not be able to attend,” Elizabeth said, putting her hand on Lionel.
“I had a change of plans. I am here and glad for it. It is has been too long since I've stayed in London long enough to enjoy a season,” Lionel said.
“And then you shall find a wife, as well,” Elizabeth said as she escorted Lionel toward the refreshment table. Lionel gave Victor a look pleading for help, but Victor merely raised his glass to him.
He turned his attention back to Charlotte on the dance floor. The viscount smiled down at her far too often during the dance.
I greatly dislike him.
Another gentleman approached before the first dance even ended, asking Harriet for introductions. Then another. Then yet another. Charlotte became surrounded. Victor’s fingers tightened slowly around his champagne glass.
What precisely is wrong with me? This is good news. It means that our, so called, engagement is not being taken seriously after all, for why would men lavish such attentions on her if they thought she was mine?
