Vexing the Viscount

“How are we supposed to find Jonathon with all these people?” Tia asked

“Just do the best you can,” Emily said, close to her ear. “The crowd will thin in the next hour or two.”

Hour or two? By then Braden might have returned home. “I can’t stay that long.”

“Stop worrying. Middleton is not your master. If you wish to go to a ball, you can do that.”

Tia scanned the room, but didn’t see Jonathon. Another man with dark blond hair caught her eye. Emily’s husband had his arms wrapped around a petite brunette with a full figure. Tia’s mouth almost gaped when she noticed his thumb rub the woman’s breast in public. “Emily, I don’t see him here. We should check another room.”

“As you wish,” Emily replied coldly.

Tia looked over to see her friend staring at her husband. “Come on.”

“I cannot believe he was doing that in front of everyone.”

“I know.”

“I hate him,” Emily muttered. “If I could leave him I would.”

“But we all know you cannot. So, you will have to either determine a way to get him back into your bedroom, or learn to live your life alone.” Tia had no idea where her vehemence on that topic came from.

They entered the next room, only to find the same thing. There were so many people that trying to pick Jonathon from all the rest was nearly impossible. Feeling as if this was a lost cause, Tia said, “I don’t see him here. Perhaps this is a waste of our time.”

“We must keep looking,” Emily insisted. “The gaming is set up in the library. We should check in there.”

Tia followed along as best she could, afraid if she lost sight of Emily she might never get out of this place. Thankfully, the gaming room had few people, which only made it easier to check. She scanned the room quickly, but her gaze stopped on a man she knew. “Oh dear God,” she whispered. “We have to get out of this room immediately.”

Emily wasted no time in exiting the room. “Who was that?”

“Mr. Cranborne. He was supposed to go to the club with Middleton. If Cranborne is here, then they must have left the club and Middleton might be home by now!”

“Stop worrying. He probably had a few drinks and will retire.”

If only she could believe that. But Tia doubted he would retire without checking in on her.

“I told Nelson you were very tired. I am certain he will relay that information to Middleton. Just enjoy yourself.” Emily grabbed two glasses of wine from a footman and gave one to her.

“Only one for you,” Tia warned her.

“Of course.”

Tia sipped her wine, now on the lookout for Mr. Cranborne. No matter what Emily said, Tia couldn’t relax, knowing Braden could be at the house right now. Her hand shook as she brought the glass to her mouth. The fruity essence warmed her body and on an empty stomach, quickly went to her head.

“I see Lady Bunworth down the hall. I shall ask her if she has seen Jonathon yet,” Emily said, handing Tia her half-full glass of wine.

Tia finished her wine and then drank Emily’s while she waited. An older man with graying temples walked over to her.

“Aren’t you a fetching thing,” he said, staring at her breasts. “Would you like to find a room and talk?”

“I am quite certain anything we need to talk about can be said right here,” she retorted coldly.

“Who do you belong to?” he asked.

“No one,” she said and walked away.

/> “Well, you might just be wrong about that.” Shock washed over her as her arm was held in a viselike grip. Before she could utter a sound, he forced her upstairs. He knocked on the door, before hurling it open and pushing her inside.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Braden demanded.