They’d managed to keep Emily’s elopement a secret. All of London believed she’d married as planned. “Very good, my lady.” Diana answered. “They’re off on a celebratory journey.”
“How delightful. Your parents must be looking forward to matching the rest of you in equally advantageous marriages.”
Cordelia nibbled at the inside of her cheek to keep from answering. Her sister had only just married. Why were they talking about the next match already? “It was a pleasure to see you, my—”
“Hold on.” Lady Wilson winked. “I’ve someone I want to introduce to Diana.”
Cordelia inwardly groaned on Diana’s behalf. She was a beauty, which meant her company was highly sought after. There were times when Cordelia could confess to being jealous but others in which she was grateful. Diana spent a great deal of time talking to men she had absolutely no interest in.
“Of course,” Diana said. Her lips formed a smile but Cordelia could see her teeth were clenched underneath.
“Lady Diana, this is Lord McKenzie.”
A large man with black hair and eyes so dark they looked black as well, stepped up from behind Lady Wilson. “Lady Diana, a pleasure,” he said.
Diana dipped into a curtsy. “And you as well.”
He was classically handsome with a straight nose and high cheekbones. Tall with broad shoulders, he could have been a statue, he was so well-shaped. Cordelia tilted her head to the side. His one flaw was that his lips were a bit thin and they gave him a hard edge. Then he turned his gaze to her and she shivered, there was something cold in them, perhaps it was just the dark color.
“And this is Lady Cordelia.” Lady Wilson gestured toward her. “Lady Diana’s younger sister.”
He stared at her an unnaturally long time. She held still but the urge to shift made her insides hectic as she balled her hands in her skirt.
“Two sisters at the same party.” His mouth turned down and Cordelia ducked her head. Generally speaking, only one sister took part in society at a time. A married woman held a higher social status so sisters came out in birth order.
Lady Wilson waved. “They are close friends and this is an informal affair.”
This would be Diana’s year to be a debutante. Cordelia would not come out until after her sister got married.
Diana cleared her throat. “We’re honored to be here, Lady Wilson.”
“And I am honored to meet you both.” He gave another bow. “Could I perhaps request a dance?”
Diana straightened. “My apologies, my lord. My card is full.”
He turned to Cordelia again. “And you Lady Cordelia? Is your card full as well?”
She swallowed a lump as her gaze travelled to Malice. His expression had grown positively stormy. “No, my lord. It isn’t.”
His lips pulled tighter, making the lines of his face even harder. “Excellent. May I request a waltz?”
Cordelia heard Malice make a noise deep in his throat as he stepped closer to them. Cordelia couldn’t refuse. It would be rude beyond belief. “Of course,” she managed to stutter.
“I’ll see you at the next waltz then.” With a final flourish, Lord McKenzie turned and left.
Lady Wilson stood next to them watching his departure. “How curious. I thought he was interested in—” Then she looked at Lady Cordelia and stopped. “But you, my dear, may end up the belle of this ball.”
Cordelia drew in an unsteady breath. That didn’t seem right at all.
Chapter Six
Malice stared at Lord McKenzie’s retreating back and contemplated how he might dismantle the man. He’d start with the fingers…
He squeezed his fist together, cracking a few knuckles. It wasn’t just that the man had asked Cordelia to dance. That was likely a lie, but he ignored the truth. Mostly, he objected to the look in the man’s gaze. Reminded him of a wolf. Malice grimaced. Did he have that same look?
Inwardly, he winced. He might. Cordelia brought out something both emotional and yet primal within him.
If that man thought he’d steal his own garden kiss, Lord McKenzie had another thing coming. Malice didn’t know where he stood on his proposal, or his future with Cordelia, but he knew some upstart wasn’t coming in and stealing her away before Malice could reason it all out.