Page 9 of Venus in Disguise

Delia wrinkled her nose at that. “If you’re bloodied and bruised, you wouldn’t have a fevered brow. Unless you’d had the misfortune to contract some vile disease at the same time,” she added thoughtfully.

Narcissa choked, her eyes flying to Mr Anson’s countenance to see how this had gone down. To her delight, he grinned at them, showing strong white teeth.

“I stand corrected, Lady Cordelia. How good it is to see you again. And, in that case, perhaps Lady Narcissa would bandage my wounds?”

“I might, at that,” Narcissa said coolly, enjoying herself now. “Around your neck.”

His eyebrows flew up and her courage failed her. Smothering a choked laugh, she fled before he could see her cheeks were blazing, towing Delia along in her wake.

Delia was crying with laughter by the time they finally made it to the refreshments room.

“Oh, Cissy, I have missed you!” she exclaimed, shaking her head. “There’s no one else in the world I like better.”

Narcissa gave a huff of amusement. “Well, I’m glad to know it, for there are not many women who like me at all. That’s the trouble with being named the season’s diamond: most every other marriageable female wants to scratch your eyes out.”

“Oh, poor Cissy. Has it been very awful?” Delia asked with sympathy. “I mean, it’s always been awful for me, but I’m peculiar.”

“Original,” Narcissa corrected.

Delia sighed. “Yes, let’s say that, even though we both know it’s a big fat lie. Oh, lud, look out. Lord Malmsey is heading this way.”

As one they turned and fled, hurrying to the withdrawing room where it was impossible for the vile man to follow them.

“He’s not courting you?” Narcissa asked in concern once they were safely inside.

Delia pulled a face. “My brother would never allow such a brute anywhere near me, but he’s such a horrid man. He won’t take no for an answer. I shall be forced to give him the cut direct if he persists, but then I’m afraid people will talk and assume he’s done something worse than make disgusting comments and try to grope me when the chance allows.”

“Delia, you must stay far away from him,” Narcissa insisted. “Tell your brother he’s bothering you and get him to warn the fellow off. He’s one of my brother Richmond’s intimates, and that should tell you well enough what kind of man he is.”

“I will,” Delia replied, patting Narcissa’s hand and smiling. “Don’t fret, love. I may be an odd duck, but I’m not stupid. But never mind that. Shall I call on you tomorrow? We could go shopping. I’m desperate to buy the next instalment of Mr Dickens’s latest work. Have you been reading it?”

Narcissa shook her head gloomily. “Mrs Chandler does not approve of ladies reading and the duke insisted I leave all my books at home.”

“Oh, Narcissa!” Delia exclaimed in horror. This was apparently by far the worst fate she could imagine befalling her friend. “Don’t worry. I shall bring all the chapters I have of David Copperfield. It’s really quite wonderful. The opening line has stuck with me and gives me courage when I am at risk of falling into the dismals.”

Narcissa watched with amusement as Delia cleared her throat and recited solemnly, “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.”

“Oh,” she exclaimed, much impressed. “That is rather good.”

“It is,” Delia said, delighted. “And we shall be the heroes of our own lives too, Cissy darling. Just you wait and see.”

Ash made his way back to his seat and handed a fresh glass of champagne to his sister.

“Did you go to France for it?” she enquired mildly, for it had taken him an age, considering he’d had to go back a second time after Lady Narcissa had thrown the first over him. Viven’s gaze fell upon his wet shirt cuff. “Good heavens, did you swim?”

Ash grimaced. “I had a run in with Lady Narcissa. Quite literally.”

Vivien made a sympathetic sound and shook her head. “Such a pretty child, but she really is a nitwit. Do you know I heard her talking the other day, and she mentioned the Grenadine guards, and she thought Leeds Castle was in Leeds! Honestly, the men all thought she was delightful, so sweet, so innocent and guileless. I could only pity the poor little fool.”

“Hmm,” Ash replied thoughtfully. The more he saw of Narcissa, the more he suspected she was a long way from stupid.

“Where on earth has August got to?” Vivien shifted in her seat to see if she could spy her husband. “I might have known. The poor dear has been caught by Mrs Cadogan. The wicked woman always makes him blush. I’d best rescue him.”

Ash nodded automatically, not really listening to a word. Instead, he remembered the way Narcissa’s satiny cheek had flushed pink as a new dawn when she’d let her tongue run away with her. He suspected she had not meant to admit she had worried about him, that she had been thinking about him. The knowledge that he had been on her mind pleased him far more than it ought. Especially knowing how badly it would vex her father.

Some sixth sense made him turn his head as the sensation of being observed prickled the back of his neck. Narcissa jolted as their eyes met and hurriedly looked away from him. Ash grinned to himself. He wondered how hard it would be to entice the girl to fall in love with him. She was certainly curious about him. That was hardly an unusual reaction. The pampered princesses of the ton viewed him like some species of exotic pet they wished to tame, to drag about on a leash to prove they could. Ash was more than happy to play along at first, until the moment they believed they had him where they wanted him, and then he disabused them of the notion. Any woman who thought she could rule him got a rude awakening. But a woman who was his equal, who challenged him and admired him, loved him… ah, well, that was the goal one of these days. Not for a long time yet, obviously, but he had to admit—to himself, at least—the growing evidence of how hard such a woman would be to find worried him far more than it had when he was younger.

Vivien returned with her husband just as the musicians struck up again. As if drawn by some invisible force, Ash turned his head once more. He concentrated his attention upon the fairest head of hair, willing her to turn around once more. When she did, he smiled, a confident, devilish smile that invited a reaction, that told her he knew she was thinking of him still. Narcissa’s cheeks flushed crimson, but she held his gaze for far longer than he expected before finally looking away.