Where to Woo a Bawdy Baron (Romancing the Rake 3)

Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle’s compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

As her father finished, Bianca looked to the doorway to see the three men standing patiently waiting.

She met Chris’s eyes and lifted her hand to her throat as she held her breath.

“Good evening,” Mr. Moorish’s voice boomed across the room, a deep lyrical baritone. “So good of you gentleman to come.”

Juliet stepped forward, waving to Dashlane who grimaced but moved forward just as Crestwood came to Adrianna’s side. Bianca watched as Adrianna slipped her hand into the man’s arm and they began to circle the room. Her lips parted as her eyes widened in surprise. How serious were Lord Crestwood and her sister?

But she didn’t think on it further as Chris stepped close to her side. “How are you?”

She looked up into his dark eyes, tinged with concern as they crinkled at the corners. “Wonderful and terrible, depending on the exact second you ask me.”

He gave a small chuckle, his hand brushing her elbow. “I understand.”

“The question, I think, is how will I be after tonight?”

He drew in a sharp breath. “Bianca. I don’t know. I am trying to picture a future but I am worried that—”

His words were abruptly cut off when Adrianna cried out, “I never want to see you again.” Before she spun and fled from the room.

“Oh dear,” Bianca gasped. “And I thought I was upset.”

Chris pressed his lips together. His fingers subtly squeezing her elbow.

Lord Crestwood turned toward her father. “Please, sir. May I go speak with her?”

“I don’t think…” her father started as he straightened.

But Lord Crestwood pressed his hands together. “We’ll stay in plain sight in the hall. I just need a moment to apologize.”

Her father gave his head a stiff nod of assent and Lord Crestwood fled from the room.

“Papa,” Juliet called, even as her father began crossing the room to follow the couple.

Chris leaned down close to Bianca’s ear. “Try not to worry,” he said. “They’ll work it out, I’m sure.”

Bianca shook her head. “Will we?”

He winced, which made Bianca’s heart turn over in her chest. Gently she removed her elbow from his hand. Taking a slow step back, she sat down on the settee, fighting back tears. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand. His past kept him from moving forward into his future. But that didn’t stop the pain of losing him.

Her father returned and Bianca looked over at him, also wanting to leave. How had this evening so quickly become a disaster?

“Papa,” Juliet called again. “I think we’re in need of a distraction. Why don’t we do something fun?”

Bianca knew what Juliet was up to with her request. She’d concoct a plan to distract their father and give Adrianna a bit of privacy. But Bianca wasn’t sure she had the heart to participate.

“Juliet.” Her father pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not certain this is the time. “