Tenacious Trents 03 - A Reluctant Rake (19 page)

“You will be able to hear who is
announced if we stand by a window.”

Her friend sighed. “Very
well.”

They didn’t walk far, but made their
way outside to the terrace and found seats beside an open window. A
light breeze helped to cool their skin and Millicent had finally
stopped fanning herself. They had an excellent view of the stairs
leading down into the ballroom so not only would Millicent hear
Trent’s name announced but she would be able to see him as
well.

Millicent didn’t take her eyes off the
room and completely ignored Audrey, which she was used to, until
two gentlemen moved to stand in front of the open window in the
ballroom. Millicent reached forward with the fan raised as if she
were going to strike them. Probably to get them to move out of her
way. Audrey grasped her friend’s wrist and shook her head. “You can
still hear.”

With a huff Millicent relaxed back into
the chair and began fanning herself. Soon the gentleman’s
conversation filtered through the open window and Millicent
straightened, as did Audrey.

“I hadn’t seen Trent at Madame’s in
some time.”

“He probably goes later than we.” The
man chuckled. “We do prefer the whores at the beginning of the
night and not the end, after so many have been there before
me.”

Millicent frowned.

“True,” the other man
agreed.

“Do you think Trent was visiting
Angelique? He never bothered with any of the others.”

The other man shifted as if he
shrugged. “He was in love with her, and might still be. It is too
bad a gentleman can’t marry a whore. Think how pleasant home would
be.”

They had to be speaking of Jordan Trent
since the other Trent gentlemen were here and had been since Audrey
arrived, unless these two gentlemen were speaking of a different
evening.

“No doubt he is still there. He always
was one to linger.” The man turned to the side. “Besides, when
Trent visits Angelique, he pays for the entire night. I doubt he
will show here.”

They were talking about Jordan Trent
and he was with a whore this very moment. Audrey’s stomach churned.
Why should she be jealous of a prostitute, unless it was true, that
he really did love her?

Millicent glared at the two men before
leaning toward Audrey. “This will never do,” she
whispered.

“There isn’t anything you can do about
it,” Audrey reminded her. Even if Millicent had married Trent
instead of Lydell, she still wouldn’t be able to keep him from
visiting a mistress or brothel. Wives did not have that kind of
control.

“We shall see.” Millicent stood and
walked back toward the entrance to the ballroom, tapping her fan
against the palm of her hand.

Audrey blew out a frustrated breath.
Why did she care that Trent had not shown at the ball? She
certainly didn’t expect him to appear now since the supper dance
and the supper had concluded. Soon it would end. Was he attending
another ball? Was he still at the brothel? Or, had he left there
and gone to Lady Rothsbury?

And, why should she care? She knew him
for the cad he was yet her heart still ached knowing he was
enjoying the company of another woman. She was stronger than this
and deserved much better.

Everton approached and bowed before
her. Oh dear, it was that late already? This was the last waltz.
She took a deep breath and allowed Everton to escort her to the
center of the room. There were a few gasps and older ladies
tittered behind fans. Perhaps this was not a good idea. Everton did
have a scandalous reputation and was she harming herself by
allowing him to partner her in a waltz?

Ridiculous. He danced with any number
of debutants at each ball.

Or perhaps he didn’t. Everton was more
likely to be found with a wife or widow. She stared up at him. Why
had he asked her? She was not his usual type of partner.

The strains of the violins began.
Everton bowed deeply as Audrey curtseyed. She just hoped her
reputation didn’t suffer too much from partnering with him and
vowed to be wiser in her choices in the future.

When he placed his hand at the small of
her back, Everton drew Audrey a little too close. She glared up at
him and took a step back. Some ladies may prefer to flaunt society
rules and dance close to the bounds of propriety, literally, but
she was not one of them.

“Ah, you wish to play
games.”

“I wish to dance,” Audrey retorted.
What did he mean by games?

He executed a turn at the end of the
room. Though he danced well enough, he wasn’t nearly as
accomplished as Viscount Renway but at least his hands didn’t
sweat.

“Lady Lydell informs me that you and
she share a number of interests and are very much
alike.”

Audrey blinked up at him. There was
very little she and Millicent had in common other than they had
grown up together and were of the same age. “I suppose. We both
enjoy the season.”

He chuckled. “I was referring to
activities away from society.”

She tried to think about what the two
of them could possibly both enjoy other than horses, but that was
not an unusual entertainment. “We both enjoy riding.”

They were nearing the opposite end of
the dance floor. Wide doors were opened to let in a cool breeze.
Instead of turning as he had done at the other end, he waltzed her
outside and continued further down a path until they were engulfed
in darkness.

Audrey pushed back away from him. “What
are you doing? I insist we return inside immediately.”

He snaked a hand around her waist and
pulled her flush against his body. “I was hoping you would wish to
ride?”

“Now?” Audrey pushed against his chest,
panic welled up inside. His hold was tight and she could not break
away. “Are you mad?”

“With desire.” His lips lowered towards
hers and Audrey averted her face just in time. It didn’t deter him
and he began kissing her cheek and licked her neck. “Ride
me.”

She was going to toss up her accounts
if he continued. Perhaps she should, and then he would go away.
“Let me go!”

Jordan entered the ballroom, far later
than anyone should arrive, but he couldn’t let this evening end
without seeing Audrey. He hoped there was at least one dance left
for him. He should not have visited Lord Rowley after leaving
Madame Devine’s, but should have gone home, prepared for the ball
and come straight here. The task could have been dealt with on the
morrow, but he hadn’t expected a visit with Lord Rowley to take so
long. In the end Jordan had purchased the land where the brothel
sat, at a price twice as much as it was worth, but it ensured the
business would remain where it was. It might even become more
profitable if Jesters became a successful gentlemen’s club, but
Jordan wasn’t about to let that man get his hand on Angelique’s
business.

He paused at the top of the stairs and
gazed out over the crush below him. Miss Montgomery had to be here
somewhere. A glimpse of pale blonde hair caught his eye amongst
those waltzing. It was her and she looked as lovely as ever in the
pale rose silk. Jordan’s tension mounted when he realized who she
was dancing with. Since when did Everton pay even the slightest
attention to innocent young misses? He preferred worldlier women,
ladies who would give him a tumble without wanting any more than an
hour of his time. The fact that he was with Miss Montgomery, and
holding her far too close, set Jordan on edge.

Jordan stomped down the steps, never
taking his gaze from the couple. His pulse pounded as Everton swept
her out of the room and onto the terrace. He knew that trick well
and had employed it a number of times, but never with an innocent.
Jordan picked up his pace as he reached the ballroom, pushing
through people to get to the other side of the room and blatantly
ignoring those who stepped into his path wishing to speak with
him.

He reached the terrace and scanned the
darkness. Her pale dress should be easy to find and then he spied
it, just outside the light, masked by foliage. He took two steps in
her direction when he heard a yell let go. Jordan darted down the
path as rage pulsed through his veins. He spotted Audrey pushing
against Everton’s chest and heard his low laugh as he tried to kiss
her.

“Unhand her.”

They both stilled and looked at him.
“Go find your own piece of fluff, Trent,” Everton ground out. “Lady
Lydell assured me that Miss Montgomery liked to play though she
pretends to fight.”

Miss Montgomery gasped and a moment
later slapped his face. This seemed to only fuel Everton’s desire
because he pulled her tight against his body and laughed. “I didn’t
realize you enjoyed it rough as well.”

Her hand came up, her fingers poised
and Jordan hastened toward her, still too far away to be of
service. Yet he hoped he didn’t arrive before she scratched
Everton’s eyes out.

Everton saw her hand and grabbed Miss
Montgomery’s wrist at the last moment. She used the distraction to
step back and lift her knee. Jordan cringed and could swear he
heard the bone of her knee slam into Everton’s bullocks. The man’s
knees began to buckle as he drew back a fist, aimed for Miss
Montgomery’s flawless face. Jordan reached their side in time to
block the blow. He pushed Miss Montgomery out of the way and
brought his own fist up and under Everton’s chin, careening his
head back into a tree. He collapsed on the ground at Jordan’s feet,
moaning and cradling his manhood.

Jordan turned to look for Miss
Montgomery. She was sitting in a bed a violets. “Bloody hell,” he
muttered under this breath. He didn’t think he had pushed her so
hard. “I am sorry.” He held out a hand to help her rise. “Did I
hurt you?”

She gave him a questioning look.
“No.”

“You fell because I pushed
you.”

She laughed. “I feel because I kept
walking backwards and didn’t notice the stones surrounding the
flowers and tripped.

Thank goodness he hadn’t caused her any
injury. “Are you sure you are unharmed.”

“I am fine,” she glanced behind Jordan
to Everton. “At least now.” She gazed up into Jordan’s eyes and
placed a gentle hand on his cheek. “Thank you.”

He took her arm and led her back toward
the house, stopping in the light just outside the doors leading to
the ballroom. “Whatever possessed you to dance with
Everton?”

Miss Montgomery shrugged. “I didn’t see
the harm. I never knew waltzing could be so dangerous.”

“I suppose I don’t need to warn you to
stay away from him.”

They could still hear Everton moaning
and an impish grin came to her face. “I daresay, he will probably
avoid me for the rest of his days.”

“Few ladies know to injury a man in
such a way,” Jordan offered with admiration.

A frown marred her brow. “My father
didn’t explain why it would work, but I promised if I ever found
myself in a situation such as this I would do what he told
me.”

Jordan simply stared at her. Could she
be so innocent that she didn’t understand she’d just completely
unmanned Everton?

He took her arm and led her back into
the ballroom but avoided speaking with anyone else and found a few
unoccupied chairs in a back corner. Why wasn’t she more shaken over
the ordeal? Didn’t she understand what could have happened to her?
What Everton was intent on doing to her, despite their protests
because Lady Lydell claimed that was the game Audrey
played?