“Well, I—” She couldn’t very well say, “Phoebe will be heartbroken, and everyone will be gossiping that you intend to marry me!” Although it was the truth. “I didn’t know . . . you were aware . . .”
“I suppose the gossips will be speculating on our upcoming nuptials. Forgive me if I’ve put you in an awkward position, Miss Grey.” At least he finally realized the seriousness of what he had done.
At the end of the dance, Mr. Langdon thanked her, bowed to her with a tiny frown, and walked away. Was he angry with her? No, he probably regretted having danced with her a second time to get her away from Mr. Edgerton.
Julia nervously scanned the room for Phoebe. Her gaze flew to where Mrs. Wilhern had been sitting, but she was standing and walking away. Where was she going? Would Julia be left at the dance all alone, abandoned?
Nicholas had thought Miss Grey would be flattered that he was dancing with her a second time. She would realize how fond he was of her. He had half expected her to blush and look pleased. He wanted her to blush and look pleased.
Instead, she’d been horrified.
He could hardly blame her. It was rather thoughtless and indiscreet of him. He never danced with a lady more than once at a ball. It was not wise to do so, to create gossip and speculation, or false expectation in the lady. But her horror was quite extreme. Was there someone else whose attentions she wanted to claim? Or perhaps she was only afraid of upsetting her cousin Miss Wilhern.
He had been glad to save her from Edgerton, and asking her to dance was the first excuse he thought of for extricating her. If there was anything that excited his anger, it was a gentleman trying to take advantage of a lady.
Edgerton had become dissolute, given to gaming and dissipation since he left school. It made Nicholas’s blood boil to see Edgerton holding Miss Grey’s arm and speaking to her in that intimidating manner. It would have made him angry to see any gently bred girl treated that way, but Miss Grey . . .
He had wanted to tear Edgerton apart.
He admired the way Miss Grey cared about her old tutor, Monsieur Bartholdy, how devoted she was to her cousin, as well as the kindness she showed Henry. He even had a notion that she had begun to admire him as well. Perhaps he had been mistaken. Besides, as long as he was investigating her uncle, who seemed very likely to be involved in something nefarious, possibly even high treason, he should not think of Miss Grey as a possible marriage partner. It was foolish in the best of circumstances, since neither of them had any fortune.
He watched Miss Grey walk toward her friend, Miss Mayson. The two young ladies stood talking, their heads close together. What was she telling her? About her horror at Edgerton’s overbearing conduct toward her? Or her fear of the gossipmongers who saw Nicholas dance with her a second time?
Just then, Edgerton caught his attention. The man was leaning against the wall, coolly staring at Miss Grey and Miss Mayson.
Nicholas strode over to Edgerton. “What do you think you were doing in there, treating a lady that way?”
Edgerton curled his lip in a sneer. “Do you mean Miss Grey? She is soon to be my wife. I may treat her any way I wish.”
“What do you mean? Has she accepted your proposal of marriage?” Nicholas said.
“No, but she will. Her uncle, Wilhern, will persuade her to accept me.”
“Why would her uncle do that?” Heat bubbled in the pit of his stomach. What kind of man forced his ward to marry someone she did not wish to? Oh, he knew it was done in order to secure a fortune and to improve a family’s prospects, but why Edgerton? He did not have a large fortune, and his debts were enormous.
Edgerton feigned a shocked expression. “Do you not think it is the most advantageous match Miss Grey could make? For an orphan of no fortune? Her uncle simply wants what is best for her. And why do you want to know, Langdon? Do you have designs on her yourself?”
“You once told me your father would never sanction any bride who doesn’t bring a substantial fortune. Why would your father allow you to marry Miss Grey?”
“Perhaps Wilhern is willing to give me a large sum if I marry her and save her from the terrible fate of becoming a governess.”
That didn’t seem likely, not after the way Miss Grey’s aunt had spoken of her.
“Then why grab her and manhandle her the way you did just now?”