C*cky Marquess by Annabelle Anders

Chapter 21

“Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight?” Captain Edgeworth smiled down at Diana as they strolled the perimeter of the Ravensdale’s ballroom between dances.

As a matter of fact, he had. The compliment had been quite pleasant the first time he’d made it and flattering the second time. But by the third time, Diana wondered who he was trying to convince.

“Why yes, Captain. Thank you.” She inserted as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could, but it was no use.

Because her mind was somewhere else. It was with someone else.

When she wasn’t dwelling on her time spent with Zeke in his observatory, she was worrying about returning to the theatre where she was determined to carve out her future.

If not for the reminders all around her, the ballroom, the other ladies who looked perfectly at ease, the flowers, the hundreds of candles suspended overhead set in exquisite chandeliers… Well, if not for all of those, Diana could almost forget that she didn’t belong there.

She might have found herself wavering. Would Zeke have convinced her if she’d given him the opportunity?

Although Chase had reprimanded both Collette and Diana for sneaking away, leaving his friend waiting for over an hour, he’d done so with that look in his eye that divulged he was not wholly disapproving. Bethany had been mortified but forgiven them when Collette explained Diana’s onslaught of nerves. Their sister-in-law had then confessed that she, herself, had contemplated bolting the morning Chase came to offer for her.

Even so, Bethany had reminded Diana that she couldn’t avoid the marquess forever and that, in all likelihood, she would end up face to face with him that very evening. She even suggested that perhaps Diana might wish to reconsider her reluctance to entertain his proposal.

Because Bethany believed that if she and Chase could find such happiness in true love, everyone else ought to be able to as well.

But it wasn’t the same. Bethany was the daughter of an earl—the legitimate daughter of an earl.

And Diana was not one of these people. She never would be. And although her dance card was filled and she’d yet to be left alone, she was all too aware that she very simply did not belong amongst the Ton.

It wasn’t dear Captain Edgeworth’s fault. It was her own. Well, hers, her mother’s, and her father’s, and perhaps some of the blame could be laid at her brother’s feet for attempting to make her into something she would never be.

But no, Diana caught herself. It was no one’s fault.

Chase and Bethany had had nothing but good intentions. They’d simply wanted her and Collette to have better lives. Diana’s gaze landed on Chaswick, where he stood conversing with a small group of attentive friends.

It wasn’t his fault that bringing her into the Ton had merely illuminated all the reasons their father had kept them a secret for as long as he had.

Ironic that ithad been Zeke who’d explained that shining more light on something brought one closer to the truth. Because now that she’d seen the light, she was ready to return to the shadows.

Strolling the perimeter of the ballroom, Diana nodded at Lady Hawthorne and then the Countess of Ravensdale. When one of the dragons of the Ton met her stare, Diana feigned yet another smile and then dipped her chin respectfully to the purple-haired lady wearing a diamond studded tiara.

And then, Diana blinked away the unexpected stinging in the backs of her eyes.

Stinging, because the diamonds reminded Diana of stars, and the stars reminded her of Zeke, and despite her reluctance to entertain his proposal of marriage, she still wished she could see him. Where was he? Was he even coming?

And as though the universe would answer her questions, a tingling on the back of her neck nearly caused her to stumble.

It was more than a tingling; it was hot and cold and buzzing all at the same time.

Being so tuned to his presence wasn’t at all fair. She resented that her body responded to his arrival before so much as laying her eyes on him, and it was even more annoying that she couldn’t keep herself from twisting around to confirm what she already knew.

Oh, yes. It was him.

His silver gaze locked on hers and awareness shot through her like a bolt of lightning. She could no more look away than if the two of them were in a room full of mirrors.

Was he going to interrupt her stroll with the captain? Would he demand to know where she’d taken off to while he’d sat waiting in the drawing room?

She bristled when, seemingly unaffected, he turned away so he could make conversation with their host and hostess.

But of course, he wouldn’t make a scene.

Captain Edgeworth broke into her thoughts with a disappointed groan. “It appears the orchestra is taking their places, and I’m afraid I’ve promised to partner Miss Mossant this set. Allow me to escort you back to your chaperones.”

Less than a fortnight before, Diana would have been considerably jealous of his partner. Now she simply felt… relieved.

“I’ve promised the next set to Captain Gilcrest,” Diana wondered that even the prospect of dancing didn’t lift her spirits.

“I’ll be watching from afar with jealous eyes.” The captain smiled.

He was very kind and very handsome, but a romance between Diana and Captain Edgeworth, or any soldier for that matter, was not to be.

She would return to the theatre early tomorrow morning and refuse to leave until she was offered a position. And she would accept whatever was available. She would prove herself until she’d earned the position she truly wanted—even if that meant accepting the most menial of posts with the company.

But she wasn’t going to accept any proposals of marriage. Not from the handsome captain and most definitely not from Lord Greystone. Numbed by the thought, Diana allowed the captain to escort her to where Bethany and Collette had been watching her.

“Captain Edgeworth is smitten with you,” Bethany said once he was out of sight.

“We’ve decided, Diana and I, that neither of us is inclined to follow the drum,” Collette answered.

Bethany raised her brows. “I hadn’t realized—"

“Miss Diana! Miss Jones! Lady Chaswick!” Lady Posy’s excited voice greeted as she and Miss Faraday joined them without ceremony. “Aunt Iris refused to allow me to beg off tonight, but if I’m to suffer yet another ball, at least I can suffer it with London’s incomparables.

Collette burst out laughing and Diana grimaced.

“You shouldn’t joke about such things. All three of you are lovely girls.” Miss Faraday frowned even as Bethany rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.