Priya’s smile gentled. “Truly, Percy. There’s nothing to worry about.”
She forced a return smile. “I’m being a ninny.”
“Hardly. These are trying times.”
“They certainly are,” Tamsin agreed as she and Meg joined them from the dancefloor. “Someone’s eaten all of the almond cake already.”
“Call the militia,” Meg said.
“I just might.”
Her companions’ banter put her at ease, as it was meant to. She twitched at every glimpse of dark hair and strong shoulders, but the tension began to relinquish its hold on her muscles. She was less likely to snap at every gossip. She’d never done that before. The worry had clearly gotten to her.
She had her chance to snap again, if she wished, almost immediately.
“That’s her,” a lady tittered loudly from behind them. Persephone knew that particular tactic well, a volume loud enough to be overhead, not quite loud enough to be confronted with outright rudeness. The perfect weapon of Polite Society. “I can’t believe she caught Northwyck. Imagine her as a marchioness, my dear.”
“I don’t dare.” They shared a snicker. “There will mud and bones in the drawing room.”
“Introduce him to our Petronilla,” the woman returned. “She’s much prettier and she has a fortune. Surely he’d reconsider.”
“Capital idea.”
Tamsin turned the colour of plums and made to whirl around. Persephone touched her arm. “Don’t bother, Tamsin.”
“I want to bother. Violently.”
“I don’t care what they say about me.” She didn’t, she realized. Not nearly as much as she had previously. “And anyway, they’re right about the mud and the bones.”
“You cared what they said about Henry,” Priya pointed out.
“That’s different. That kind of gossip might actually see him hanged. This is nothing.”
“I can’t wait until you’re a marchioness,” Meg said darkly. “You can watch them simper and grovel.”
“I do like it when you are vengeful,” Tamsin grinned.
Persephone was about to remind them that she was not going to be a marchioness, not really. Another reason to keep to the quiet shadows. Despite her earlier outburst, it would be easier to weather the smug reactions when her engagement was called off, if she didn’t rely on it too much now. Conall was trying to save her life, and Henry’s. She wouldn’t repay him by embarrassing him.
“There’s my brother,” Priya said, nodding in his direction as he made his way toward them, smiling his charming earl’s smile. He wore a burgundy waistcoat picked out with silver thread glinting under his dark grey coat. It made his eyes seem lighter, more piercing. Men called out his name, ladies curtsied and glanced at him from behind their fans. He barely noticed. His eyes were on hers as he made his way through the crowd. It was intoxicating, that kind of regard, that kind of focus. It should have made her uncomfortable, but the others fell away and it was only him, only her, and the strains of several violins.
The family who had been whispering about her jumped in his path. “Lord Northwyck, you’ve not met my daughter, Lady Petronilla. Allow me an introduction.”
Conall paused, but barely. “A pleasure, I’m sure. If you’ll excuse me, my betrothed is waiting for me. Never keep a lady waiting, Horace.”
“Oh, um, of course.” Horace’s laugh was forced, strangled. Conall had already left him behind. He stopped in front of Persephone and bowed.
“Lady Persephone. You are breath-taking.” His voice carried, frankly appreciative. More heads turned their way. She felt herself blushing as he held out his hand. “May I have the pleasure of this dance?”
Tamsin nudged her when she took too long to answer. He was so handsome, so caring. It befuddled her sometimes. “Oh,” she said, finally. “Of course.”
They had danced before, of course. But it was different tonight, knowing even as he gathered her close that they’d been pressed even closer, skin to skin. Heat and want burned in him, despite his polite smile and the perfectly ordinary way he held her waist. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in the lines of his body. It made her feel powerful in a way she’d never felt before.
“Do you know what I’m thinking?” he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.
She smiled drily though every part of her reacted, burning hot. “I can guess.”
He laughed softly. “I look forward to a time without distractions.”