Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

The Ball

“ E very time you join my table you speak of the Duke of Frampton, Lady Lydia? Why?” Poppy, a soft, plump countess bedecked in a heavy, brightly dyed dress of multiple colors looked at Lydia quizzically.

Jeweled rings covered every finger, and a silver necklace of precious stones clung tightly to her neck. Her earlobes, which now looked painfully red and drawn down, also dripped with large pendant jewels.

She was the earl’s second wife, the first having died two years earlier from a stillbirth. The babe had been a late-in-life pregnancy for the previous countess and had left the earl saddled with two young daughters who were only a couple of years shy from coming out. Now Poppy, barely older than the oldest daughter, had become their stepmother.

“Well, it is just that I find him fascinating, you know?” Lydia asked with a polite laugh, “And with his penchant for rare gems, I feel as if he would make a good friend to you and your family.”

“Perhaps,” Poppy mused, sounding a bit bored, “But he is quite…terrifying, is he not? I hear he is…well, never mind, I do not wish to discuss such gruesome things. What I would prefer at the moment, however, is to discuss your beautiful dress. What a bright, lovely color and so refreshing yet natural! Normally I prefer jewel tones, you know, now that I am married, but your gown is just so…so…”

Lydia stopped hearing Poppy’s words as her eyes scanned the crowd to locate Juliet in the throng.

“Countess…”

“Oh, do call me Poppy, darling, as we were friends once. You are too polite for comfort!” Poppy gushed.

Lydia let out another laugh, this time more forced, and gave her a small curtsy as she stood up.

“Poppy, please do forgive me, I seem to have lost sight of my little sister again.”

Poppy frowned a little at this, but then nodded and made a shooing motion with her hand.

“You should get a bell for her,” Poppy scoffed, clearly annoyed at yet another interruption. “Very well, then. Hurry though, for I may not be able to hold your seat.”

Although Lydia felt sweat begin to bead at her temples, she smiled back calmly and promised she would return quickly, before heading toward her friends.

“This is not going at all as I’d planned,” Lydia hissed, fanning herself as Helena, Barbara, and Alice shuffled her away from the crowd. “Where in the world has Juliet gone now?!”

She had instructed her younger sister to keep away from suitors, yes, but not to disappear. She’d instructed her to stay with herself, Helena, Alice, or Barbara at all times, but for the third time that evening, they had lost her again. Her disappearance act always seemed to occur right at the moment when Poppy was letting down her guard.

“I am sure she is just as nervous as we all are with this predicament,” Helena stated quietly once they’d reached a private space along the wall. “What on earth is Ezra thinking?”

“He is not,” Alice scoffed, throwing a glare toward the general crowd as if knowing he was somewhere within it. “He cannot be thinking at all. I nearly had to tie Duncan to the bed to get him to stop going after Ezra, and that role is rarely reversed.

Though stressed, Lydia let out a laugh at her sister’s wicked commentary. She had given up trying to teach Alice and Barbara manners, and since they were now both happily married, it seemed all for the better that she had.

“I just do not know how I am going to do this if every time I get close I have to leave to look for Juliet. She has no idea she is sabotaging her own happiness by doing this!”

“Perhaps that is why you should tell her?” Barbara asked, but when Lydia threw her a look she muttered, “Or not.”

In truth, Lydia had not told them everything either. They did not know she would become Ezra’s substitute bride if she were to succeed. The guilt of keeping such a secret hung heavily upon her, but she could not let them know. Not yet.

“Let us worry about Juliet,” Alice said helpfully, “You can do this, Lydia. You could tame a wild bear with your manners, this is nothing for you!”

Feeling empowered by her sister’s speech, Lydia raised her head high and smoothed her hands over her dress. Alice was right, and she looked as pretty and welcoming as a peach on a sweltering day. As Helena often did, she’d chosen the fruit-hued dress to draw the light but not be the center of attention. She’d also carefully highlighted her eyes, cheeks, and lips with just a touch of rouge that was so light it nearly matched her dress. Only a single strand of three diamonds hung from each ear and a simple, pearlescent teardrop hung from a peach-hued ribbon around her neck. Simple, but elegant and welcoming.

“Thank you, my darlings,” Lydia replied warmly, looking each of her friends in the eye.

“I shall go look for Juliet now,” Helena offered, “Ambrose will help me and will be discreet.”

“And Barbara and I shall make sure nothing interrupts your next conversation with Poppy,” Alice added. “Now, go!”

Her confidence renewed, Lydia turned from her friends, set on making her way back to Poppy’s table, when a gentleman clad in black from head to toe stepped into her path.

“Hello, Lydia,” a familiar voice purred, sending warmth flooding through her veins as she looked up into his icy blue eyes. “It seems you have failed in your task.”

“The evening is not yet over, Your Grace,” Lydia told him calmly as she stood before him in all her regal beauty.

Ezra took a moment to study her change of appearance up close. This evening, she was not the modest oldest sister he had seen two nights earlier, but an angelic vision in peach. While ruffles, frills, and feathers were taking over the style, Lydia’s satin dress was well-fitted in the bodice and the sleeves, short and thin and simply draped on the outside of her shoulders. It was a gown befitting a crown, which Lydia substituted for a coroneted braid. Beautiful, yet understated.

“I have watched you,” he replied, admiring her confidence, “given you ample space to work your charms. And still, the countess has yet to agree to speak with me. You have failed.”

He held out his hand to her then, bowing slightly. When she looked back at him with hatred, he let his eyes wander around the room as if to say, you think embarrassing me is going to help your cause?

In response, he was rewarded with the gold and bronze flecks igniting in her eyes as she smiled sweetly and slipped her hand into his. Quietly and with grace, he led her a few paces onto the dance floor and swept her into the song.

“The evening may not be over but the time to accomplish your task is,” Ezra murmured as he took the lead. “It was a valiant effort, and I saw that you came close to accomplishing your goal on a few occasions. But the countess has not been swayed, and if my sources are correct, she is more interested in your gown than my business.”

Lydia followed his steps beautifully, her body becoming the image of feline grace as she moved under his instruction.

“You underestimate me, Your Grace. You have no idea the miracles I can work within the last dwindling moments of this evening.”

Lydia spoke her words so sweetly and so calmly that her voice felt like a soft caress across his mind, soothing the heckles that always harbored there. Ezra nearly faltered in his step at her sweetness, but he reined in his surprise and in response, sent her for a sudden twirl in an effort to offset her.

To both his chagrin and amusement, Lydia handled the twirl as gracefully as a ballerina and even added a flourishing flick of her wrist before her hand delicately touched his shoulder again. As the music stopped, they let go of one another, and as Ezra bowed to her, he again experienced the intense, heated sensation she’d created on the night she’d visited him.

“Oh, Lydia, darling, what a beautiful dance! And, Your Grace, who knew you could step so eloquently?”

Ezra turned and bowed low at his waist to Lady Poppy Farris, Countess of Charmaine. He had spotted the woman the moment he had entered the room, dripping with the rewards of her husband’s multiple gemstone mine stocks. If he could convince the earl to let him buy stocks at his desired rate, the turnover in just one year would easily reduce half of his father’s remaining debt.

“Countess Charmaine, your praise is an honor,” he said with as much feigned warmth as he could muster. “Perhaps you would like to be next?”

Ezra could have sworn he caught the briefest of eye rolls from Lydia before he turned his attention toward Poppy. She had begun giggling and blushing at his suggestion and was sputtering winsome excuses about being married but flattered.

“You could do me another honor, though, Your Grace,” Poppy finally said as she resigned from her fit of giggles.

“Anything,” Ezra said willingly.

Though Poppy seemed not to notice, he was very aware of the multitude of stares their conversation had attracted. The Earl of Charmaine himself had stepped toward them to watch. Perhaps Lydia did succeed, he mused, keeping one eye on the earl and another on his wife.

“This is my dear stepdaughter’s first season out,” Poppy explained, giving him a pout, “She is so shy, pitiful thing, and it would do her so well to be courted by someone like you. Could I please bother you with an introduction?”

Ezra gave her an appreciative smile as he bowed to her again and said, “Forgive me, my lady, but I must refrain as I am now officially off the market. I would, however, love for my soon-to-be wife and I to join you and your entire family for a meal. Perhaps my darling lady could help your daughter find a suitable gentleman. She is, I must say, the most upstanding young lady I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

Lydia paled at his side as Poppy’s face moved swiftly from disappointment to pleasant surprise.

“No.”

Lydia whispered the word so softly that even he did not hear it, but he did not have to. He saw those plump, round lips form the word of despair so clearly on her suddenly pale face that she might as well have shouted it.

“What joyous news! I did not realize that you had become engaged, Your Grace,” Poppy said in a rush as she attempted to recover from her shock. “Pray, do tell us who the lovely lady is!”

“Is it not obvious?” Ezra asked, clasping Lydia’s hand and holding it up.

“It is the lovely Lady Lydia Knight.”

Slap him.

The command rang in Lydia’s mind so loudly that she nearly raised her hand to obey it. Her name. Ezra had said her name, not Juliet’s. A breath rushed out of her chest, one she had not even realized she had been holding as she forced herself to smile happily. Her hand tightened like a vice around Ezra’s as she nodded politely toward Poppy and said as sweetly as possible, “Yes, it is true.”

“Oh, you naughty girl!” Poppy exclaimed before laughing loudly and swatting Lydia’s arm with her fan. “That is why you were buttering me up to talk to him, hmm? So that our husbands could do business together and we could rekindle our former friendship! Well, why would you not? I have missed you! And what lady does not love jewels and gems?”

“I can think of none,” Ezra said from Lydia’s side.

If he was bothered or hurt by her tight grip he did not show it and softly drew his thumb over the back of her hand. Like an adder’s tongue, she thought, then shivered, but not with the disgust, she had intended.

“Do forgive me for not telling you sooner, Poppy” Lydia pled in her most apologetic voice, “I was just not sure when the duke would be comfortable sharing the news. And though I do hope our husbands can find common ground I most certainly hope you and I may speak together again soon, as I so enjoy your company.”

“Consider it settled,” Poppy said enthusiastically to them both. “We shall have dinner next week. Tell me, to what address should we send the invitation? The Frampton Estate in Mayfair?”

“You may send it to this address,” Ezra stated as he pulled a crisp white card from his pocket. “The Frampton Estate is…occupied by another family member and would not do me the kindness of passing on the invitation.”

“Hmmm, sour family, I do understand,” Poppy said pityingly as she plucked the card from his hand.

Lydia watched the woman who had been so opposed to meeting Ezra just a few moments earlier, now practically making eyes at him. Annoyance flashed through her, and she had to look away. To her relief, she saw Juliet back with Helena, Barbara, and Alice, all of whom were smiling widely. Suddenly she realized that her friends must have gotten Poppy to notice Ezra and her dancing and had turned the tides in her favor. Gratitude soared in her heart, and she smiled back at them before returning her attention to Poppy and Ezra.

“Might I have a quick moment with Lydia?” Poppy asked, just as Lydia regained focus.

“But of course,” Ezra agreed happily, releasing Lydia’s hand.

Lydia immediately felt the loss of his heat but pushed the thought away as she and Poppy stepped to one side.

“Lydia, my dear, I thought you were settled in your life as a spinster?” Poppy asked in hushed tones. “Now you are engaged to the Duke of Darkness? I know I jested a moment ago, but honestly, this is quite shocking news.”

Knowing Lydia needed to prove herself now more than ever, she took Poppy’s hands in her own and replied, “My darling friend, I am grateful for your concern, but truly, he is not the dark and twisted man they make him out to be! You have known me since I was a girl, have you not?”

“Yes, and fondly,” Poppy replied quickly.

“Then you know I would not entertain a man who was truly as dastardly as the ton makes him seem,” Lydia said in a kind but slightly chastising tone. The tone that reminded all young women of their mothers and stirred them toward obedience.

“Yes, of course,” Poppy agreed, nodding her head, then added, “You know I only stopped speaking to you because my husband does not approve of friendships between married women and spinsters.”

“Precisely,” Lydia replied, grateful that Poppy was playing right into her hand. “Now we can be friends again, as you said. There is no need to worry, I assure you.”

With that, what little doubt remained in Poppy’s eyes instantly disappeared, and she let out a little giggle before congratulating Lydia on her engagement again.

“I shall keep silent on your news until your announcement,” Poppy whispered as her husband came to sweep her into a dance.

Lydia sighed in relief as she heard Poppy’s parting words, reassured that she would be able to deliver the news to Juliet and the others personally.

“That was a spectacular performance,” Ezra praised as he appeared by her side.

Silently, as if they shared the same thought, they began to make their way toward the open balcony door. Lydia caught her friends looking at her questioningly as they walked by, but she raised a staying hand toward them, willing them not to come to her rescue as they likely wanted. To her relief, they swayed on their feet, eyes still full of worry, but remained where they were.

“I believe it was you that had the most surprising play of all, Your Grace,” Lydia retorted dryly, refusing to look at him as they walked, “Tell me, do you enjoy these little games you play with me? You must, though I do not understand why.”

They kept their eyes forward and their bodies apart as they walked from the balcony and down the steps toward the gardens.

“Whatever do you mean?” Ezra asked with mocked innocence, turning his attention to the rows of roses they now strolled through slowly.

“You pulled me into that dance to tell me that I had failed, then you tell Poppy I am to be your wife? And what about your little test the night before last?” she hissed in a low breath. “You truly must enjoy vexing my senses, Your Grace, as you toy with them like a cat torments a mouse.”

Ezra’s fingers slid around her wrist so quickly that she did not even realize she’d been caught in his grip until she stumbled backward. He’d stopped strolling, and even though they were walking slowly, the solid stillness of his stature had her falling. Ezra caught her easily, twirling her around so that her breasts were pressed tightly to his chest and her lips were mere inches from his.

“Is that not what you wanted, little mouse?” he asked, his blue eyes glowing in the night.

He grazed his nose lightly against hers, causing her breath to hitch and her heart to hammer as she felt the warmth of his breath against her lips.

“Did you not want to take your sister’s place?” he practically purred, his deep, coaxing voice calling her to answer.

“Yes,” she breathed.

Ezra drew in a slow breath through his nose, taking in the scent of her, and then met her eyes. Fear laced with desire filled her veins as she lost her irritation toward him and became entranced in his gaze. Even when his eyes moved to her lips, when he subtly shifted closer, she remained still and mystified.

“Games or not, you were right,” Ezra whispered against her lips, so close she could feel them, “You are the right choice for me.”

It was not a kiss Ezra gave her as his lips did not touch hers. But his teeth had found the lower left corner of her mouth, and when he bit down on the delicate, virgin flesh, pleasure laced with the softest of pain flooded her veins and made her entire body grow warm. His teeth were sharp and precise, and as she pulled away, she tasted copper.

Ezra’s eyes were luminescent as he pulled away from her, the tiniest drop of her blood on his lip. She watched, transfixed, as his tongue slowly drew out to lap it up, and her knees quaked with a sudden and strange need. It was not a kiss and yet it was somehow more intimate, more personal, than any kiss she had ever read about.

Her lip pulsed where he had placed his mark, and as if he could see it do so, Ezra pulled her close again and suckled her bottom lip, nursing the small hurt with every dreg until she felt nothing but dizzying pleasure.

“I shall be calling on you soon to make the arrangements,” Ezra said in a low voice, with a slight pant to his cadence as he backed away.

Lydia snapped herself out of her trancelike state as Ezra began to step away from her. When had he stopped? When had he released her?

“You…you truly accept my offer then?” she asked, taking a quaking step toward him.

Ezra paused just long enough to focus his eyes on her once more, making her body tremble.

“You succeeded, Lydia. Congratulations.”

Without another word, Ezra turned back and headed away from the balcony entrance, to the path that led to the carriages. She had done it. Her plan had worked. She was going to be the Duchess of Frampton.

“She is over here,” Helena’s voice sounded a moment later, quickly followed by Barbara proclaiming, “Oh, thank heaven. Where is the brute?”

Lydia laughed softly at her friends’ protectiveness and turned to see the four of them making their way toward her through various garden paths.

“We know you can fend for yourself, but we were starting to get worried,” Alice explained as she pulled Juliet along with her. “Ezra did not seem mad, but he did seem…different.”

“What did he have to discuss with you?” Juliet asked anxiously. “Was it me? Has he dropped his pursuit?”

Lydia looked around to see that everyone was waiting for her answer just as anxiously as Juliet was.

“He is dropping his pursuit of you,” Lydia announced and was quickly swallowed up by her friends’ hugs and sighs of relief for the next several minutes.

“Thank you for all of your help in there, I could not have done it without you,” Lydia told them all warmly, but they paid her appreciation no mind and began demanding details.

“Tell us why he needed to speak with you out here,” Barbara demanded.

“Does Duncan need to talk to him?” Alice asked, her fists on her hips.

“Ambrose has been quite testy anytime Ezra’s name is mentioned. I am sure he would be happy to speak with him too,” Helena offered next.

Love and warmth gushed through Lydia as she smiled at each of her friends and slowly but calmly brought their questions to a halt.

“My darlings, I promise you I will explain everything soon,” she assured them, “But for now let us put this evening to rest while it is still on a good note. Juliet and I need to be heading home.”