Diana wasn't aware of the difference in the company when they entered, but both Lucia and Lyonel were. He knew that he must threaten Charlotte and make it believable. He did not doubt his ability to muzzle her, and he told Lucia as much.
"I don't know," Lucia said after a moment, thankful that Diana's attention was elsewhere. "Why not let her continue? No one is prepared to believe her, I think. If there is a shift in the wind, you could always turn your guns on Dancy. Poor man, even though he isn't a gentleman, he ---"
"No, he isn't. I will think about it, Lucia. But stop it will. Diana should enjoy herselffor the remaining weeks she's here in England."
Lucia frowned a bit at that. She stoutly refused to let her burgeoning plans fade into oblivion, particularly after Diana had taken herself to Lyon's town house. She'd said nothing to Diana, but of course, Didier had pried it out of Jamison and dutifully reported all to her. Diana, she thought proudly, was no faintheart. She only hoped that her niece, of sorts, would eventually come around and decide that she wanted her cousin, of sorts. As for Lyonel, she believed he would succumb eventually if forced to be in Diana's company long enough. Lucia would have succumbed to apoplexy before she admitted to either of the two young people that she was delighted with Charlotte's performance. Otherwise, Lyonel might just as well have ignored Diana and gone his own way, stupid man.
Lyonel, with gentlemanly aplomb, took Diana's arm and led her to the four Almack's patronesses who held court that particular Wednesday evening. Diana was pronounced a sweet girl within Lyonel's hearing. He leaned his head down and said to her, "How much will you pay me not to tell the Countess Lieven the truth about you? Sweet, ha!"
But Diana wasn't to be drawn at that moment, for she'd spotted Charlotte in close knotty conversation with some of her cronies. She squared her shoulders, inadvertently increasing her bosom, much to Lyonel's interest. "I think," she said, her eyes turning green as the moss on an Irish stone, "that dear Charlotte is up to her old tricks again. I dislike being the subject of too many sentences."
Then, to Lyonel's surprise, she added, "I do not have too much powder on my face this evening, do I?"
He gave her face due consideration. Her arched brows and absurdly long lashed were a shade or two darker than her rich blondish hair, her nose was thin and neither too long nor too short, and her full lips were now slightly parted as she awaited his opinion.
"You will do," he said abruptly, his own lips tightening. "A waltz. Come, you have all the august permission needed. Remind me to teach you some of the other dances."
"That is too much hopping about for me," Diana said.
"You afraid that you will pop out of that gown?"
"Your memory is most tenacious."
"And your bosom, my dear Diana, is most attracting."
"Worthy of your exalted attention? Even now that you've got a little amour?"
"She, I venture to say, is even more well-endowed than you are, but no matter. I shall simply make do with what is available."
She called him a name, and he threw back his head and laughed deeply. Heads turned toward them, Charlotte's in particular.
Lyonel took her in his arms and whirled her into the middle of the ballroom. "I've never been called that by a lady before," he said after he'd guided her expertly past an older couple.
"I am not questioning your antecedents, merely commenting on your character."
Lyonel realized with a start that he was enjoying himself immensely. The misery he'd lived with for the past months had magically disappeared. The betrayal was still there, making him way, making him question any and all motives of the so-called weaker sex, but Dianaimpertinent, burly-mouthed girlHe firmly tucked away further considerations and whirled her about in a large circle that made her breathless with excitement.
"I love that!"
"As I said before, you are a natural dancer."
"Oh, heavens, there is dear Charlotte, glaring at me. I do not understand it, Lyonel. Why should she so dislike me? Is it that she is still in love with you? Is she jealous?"
"Diana, I don't wish to speak of Charlotte or of my unfortunate, very brief engagement to that particular lady."
"I wish you would just tell me. You know I shall find out what ---"
"Keep your tongue behind your teeth or your beating just might take place sooner than you expect."
To draw him, she said in what she thought an intrigued tone, "Ah, there is Monsieur DuPres. He is giving me the mostthorough inspection. I think I shall dance with him. Do you think he will try to seduce me?"
Lyonel didn't change expression. He was a very experienced old hand at verbal fencing. Usually, the fencing had been with his gentleman friends, not ladies, who tended to agree with him with nauseating regularity. It was most intriguing. "I shall take you to him when the waltz is ended. Perhaps you will be kind enough to tell me of his technique?"
"You are most provoking."
"True. Now, one more bigouch! Diana, take care with my feet and your heels."
"Sorry."