Bound by Bliss (Bound and Determined #2)(5)
Why couldn’t a single one of them admit what they wanted without masks and foolery? But he knew the answer to that question. It wasn’t as if he walked about admitting to his own desires…
“You can’t leave. I am not ready,” the woman complained, her lips forming an unattractive frown.
Now, that was more in character with her real identity.
“Sorry.” But actually he wasn’t. It was as much a relief as anything. “I’ve paid Madame Rouge for the room. You can stay until morning if you wish, perhaps seek another companion.” He draped his untied cravat about his neck.
And then he slipped through the door, his thoughts moving on to the remainder of the night, the woman already forgotten.
—
Bliss stared about the Evanstons’ ballroom one more time. Surely it must be nearly time for dinner. If she didn’t receive her invite soon…
“I still can’t believe what you’ve said.” Angela was not going to let their previous conversation go. “Your brother knows you better than that and since Swanston married Louisa he’s seemed almost human. You need somebody who enjoys a bit of fun. There must be a dozen lords you could marry.”
Bliss kept her head turned away from her friend’s far too penetrating gaze. She did want somebody fun—fun and undemanding—not that she wished to marry at all. Why couldn’t they all just leave her alone to live her life as she wished? Nobody was dependent on her. And her grandmother had left her more than enough funds in trust to be sure that she was never a burden. If only she were a few years older she would buy her own home and settle far away from everybody, perhaps somewhere in the country where nobody would be watching—certainly not a certain vexing earl who lived next door to the family estate, an earl she could not seem to push from her mind. Not that she wanted the boredom of the country, not yet. There were far too many adventures she wanted to have first, too many things she wanted to know, to try. The few days she’d spent with her dear friend Lady Ormande had left her eager for more experience, for the chance to try those things so forbidden to a well-born lady, things she hardly dared imagine. If only she’d had a chance to learn if half the scandalous whispers about the lady were true before she suddenly retired to Scotland without a word to Bliss.
“Are you even listening to me?” Angela complained.
“Sorry—and yes. It’s just that every time I think about what my brother is trying to do, my mind freezes like a butterfly in December. I think it’s really all about land. My father owns some finger of land that used to be part of Duldon’s estate and he wants it back. I don’t think either of them even cares about me.” Duldon certainly didn’t. He’d made that clear years ago. It could only be the land that he wanted. Now if only he would quit watching her.
“You know that isn’t true. Your brother cares a great deal about you.”
Bliss did not miss that Angela said nothing about Duldon. “Sometimes I think Swanston does care and then at other times I am not so sure.”
“I don’t think your brother would spend so much time trying to watch over you if he did not care.”
Bliss supposed that was true, although perhaps he was just protecting the family name. That thought was enough to bring a smile to her lips. Protect the Danser name? Dansers had been causing trouble since before anyone could remember. Her father might be the Duke of Mirth, but that didn’t make him respectable. The man had taken up raising llamas. What kind of duke took an interest in livestock that spat? She’d heard of titled gentlemen being proud of their cattle and their horses, but the animals in question were always well washed when displayed. She doubted there was a man brave enough to get near enough to one of her father’s wooly beasts to scrub the thing down.
The creatures did seem fond of her father, but she’d always imagined that had more to do with his pocket full of apples than the man himself.
“You are not paying attention again. Anyone would think you did not care. Perhaps Swanston believes he will marry you off to Duldon and you won’t even notice.” Angela smiled, but there was bite to her words.
“I would notice.” Her heart fluttered in her chest as she spoke, the thought of a wedding night with Duldon flitting at the edges of her mind. No, she would not think of that. That was a forbidden thought. She might be endlessly curious to understand more of what happened between men and women, might long for Lady Ormande to return and give her instruction, but none of that had anything to do with Duldon. She refused to even let her thoughts wander in that direction. She bit once again on her already sore lip. It was far better to come back to the moment. “And to answer your earlier statement, Swanston isn’t paying nearly as much attention to me since he married Louisa. I think that now that she is in his life he doesn’t have as much time for the rest of us. It makes me wonder if he ever truly cared.”
“Now you are talking nonsense.” Angela spoke with absolute authority.
“I know.” Bliss let out a long sigh. “I am being melodramatic. I think I should be allowed a good wallow in self-pity. I have just been informed by my oldest brother that he intends to marry me to Dull-Don if I am not engaged by the end of the summer. He already has the contracts drawn up.” Bliss forced herself to say the dreaded name even though she had just chided Angela for it. It was best to remember what was coming if she did not apply herself to her task. She must find another husband, an easy husband, by the end of the summer, she simply must. And Lady Perse’s teas would surely be the fastest way to accomplish that.