sixteen
ANGELINE’S HEART CLENCHED for Royston.
She’d had no idea where his dislike of dancing came from. Now she almost wished she hadn’t learnt the truth. The truth hurt too much.
Mr. North was indeed a despicable man.
She watched Royston’s broad shoulders as he strode out of the ballroom after the incident with the maid. It’d looked like he’d shoved her, but she hadn’t seen him properly because Lady Redvers had blocked her view.
People turned their heads towards him, and ladies whispered behind their fans as the servants cleaned up the floor from the broken glass.
“Mama, please come.” She took her mother’s hand and pulled her aside to a quiet corner. “Please tell me you have nothing to do with what happened to Royston.”
“Excuse me?” Mama put a hand on her chest. Her pearl earrings swung back and forth from her earlobes.
“Mr. North blurted out some details about Royston’s life he couldn’t have conjured up out of thin air. He must have had help.”
Mama’s lips parted. “You think it was me?”
“You had the opportunity. I’m sure you know how to dig into someone’s life.”
A flush crept over Mama’s cheeks. “I assure you I did nothing of the sort. Was I tempted to teach a lesson to the baron? Yes. He stole documents. He hurt you, and no one hurts my daughter. But you asked me to leave him be, and that’s what I did. Besides, he did a good job at humiliating himself without my help.”
“Forgive me if I don’t trust you, but you have the tendency to keep secrets from me.”
Mama’s cheeks flamed further. “It wasn’t me. If you don’t trust me, I have nothing else to say.”
“Mama—” Angeline winced as her mother walked away.
Goodness. Everyone she talked to lately ended up angry with her.
Mama had sounded honest, but if she hadn’t found that information about Royston and passed it on to Mr. North, then who? Was it possible that Mr. North had acted alone?
Somehow, she doubted it. He didn’t have a reason to attack Royston so viciously. Although Royston had antagonised him. But Mama definitely had a better reason to get revenge on Royston.
“Miss Haywood,” Miss Taylor said, close to Angeline.
She hadn’t seen the viscountess’s daughter coming. “Evening.”
Miss Taylor fiddled with her fan. “If you see the baron, will you tell him I’m sorry for what my mother said?”
Angeline softened. “I will.” Although it was unlikely she would meet Royston any time soon. “But I think Mr. North did the greatest damage. Did the baron shove that maid?”
“So it seemed. He was in a hurry to leave, though. I feel sorry for Lord Wharton.” She lowered her gaze. “He seems rather fond of you if you don’t mind my saying it.”
Actually, Angeline minded it. Because she wasn’t sure it was true. “Do you think so?”
Miss Taylor blushed and lifted a shoulder covered in muslin. “It’s the way he looks at you as if he were lost. It’s the same way my Dani—” She coughed in her closed fist. “Excuse me. I think my mother is looking for me.”
She hurried away before Angeline could say anything.
Angeline didn’t have time to ponder Miss Taylor’s words before Mr. North joined her.
“Angeline,” he said her name as if making the point of not wanting to address her properly. “Not a dull night. You should thank me.”
“Why?”
He nodded in the direction of the door. “I showed you who Wharton really is, a deranged coward. Did you see how he pushed that poor woman?”
