“Well, since that wasn’t a serious question, I can say I know bloody well that attraction ain’t it, because I was utterly attracted to Bastard while I hated every bone in his damned body.”

“Then rest assured that I also know the difference, Jack, so I’ll let you have your leg back now.”

She laughed. “You’re usually so serious. When did you start pulling legs?”

“Since I discovered how gullible my sister is. She’s still carrying on about Judy’s marrying a ghost!”

Chapter Five

WHEN THE DANCE ENDED, Brandon quickly returned Jacqueline to her parents before he hurried off to find another partner. Jacqueline didn’t mind since she’d intended to join them herself. Her father, for the first time standing with his wife instead of on the sidelines, made an exceptional shield, and Jack wanted that shield for a moment, so she inserted herself between them.

Since her decision to join her parents so deviated from her request that her father not frighten off her beaus before she got to know them, James immediately asked, “Who has annoyed you?”

“They appear to know exactly who I am tonight,” Jack complained, then grinned. “And now they know exactly who you are, despite your mask, because they saw me enter with Mother, and now you’re standing with her when you haven’t done that at any of the other parties we attended. They always ask if you’re present, you know. And I always lie and assure them that you aren’t. Shall we see how brave they are now?”

“If you want a respite, m’dear, we can adjourn to the terrace,” Georgina suggested.

“No, I really do want to see how brave they are.”

James said nothing to that. Georgina just tsked. That her father’s notoriety was still as powerful as ever had never been in question. Because he refused to socialize with anyone outside the family, the ton still didn’t know him and rumors about him still abounded. That he and his brother Anthony still occasionally visited Knighton’s Hall for brutal exercise in the boxing ring didn’t help put to rest those rumors of how deadly James could be. Young rakehells relished those matches, which gave them something unpredictable to wager on, but less daring young lords didn’t want to get anywhere near James Malory, even if they were in love with his daughter.

The music started again, but the level of chatter got louder for a different reason. Word of James’s possible presence was spreading through the ballroom and causing quite a stir. And Jacqueline knew it was her fault for joining them while he was still with her mother, drawing every eye to him, just because she was annoyed with her suitors for knowing who she was and telling her who they were. Utterly childish bit of pique that she now regretted.

“Bloody hell,” James hissed. “Is that our hostess bearing down on us?”

“Yes, that’s Lady Spencer indeed,” Georgina replied. “We attended her first ball of the Season soon after we returned from Bridgeport. You avoided being announced at it, if you recall, so you didn’t get to meet her.”

“If she’s going to ask me to leave, I may have to pummel her husband,” James promised.

“She’s a widow,” Georgina said with a grin.

“I’ll ferret out a male relative.”

“No, you won’t, and she wouldn’t dare,” Georgina said staunchly. “Your name was on the invitation. Even if none of these hostesses actually expect you to make an appearance, it would be a coup for them if you did.”

Lady Spencer confirmed that when she gushed, “Lord Malory! I am so delighted to make your acquaintance. I never dreamed you would accept my invitation, but now you have single-handedly assured my success!”

Jacqueline knew her father hated being cornered like this and would probably just let Georgina deal with the lady and her effusive greeting. But he surprised Jack when he gave their hostess a courtly bow and said, “The pleasure is mine, Lady Spencer, but you do yourself a disservice. Your balls are so legendary, I couldn’t resist the temptation when my wife suggested I see for myself.”

After what Jack had overheard at Haverston while she and Jeremy had eavesdropped, she wondered if her mother was blushing under her domino. The real temptation was what Georgina had dangled in front of James to get him here. But their hostess wouldn’t know that and seemed utterly thrilled by his words. Jack’s father certainly hadn’t lost his touch with the ladies.

But he didn’t fail to notice that one of Jack’s beaus had found enough courage to approach her while James spoke with Lady Spencer. Jack noticed as well and was pleased that not all of her beaus were afraid of her father.

The tall, blond-haired fellow, whom she couldn’t immediately identify because he was wearing a full face mask, gave her a half bow and extended a hand. “Would you do me the honor?”

Gallantly said, and he cut an impeccable figure in his black tailed coat that fit his muscular physique extremely well. Jacqueline placed her fingers lightly over his and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. She felt a distinct measure of excitement, but only because she hadn’t placed him yet and was determined to.

It was the first thing Jacqueline asked. “Which one are you?”

“I’m supposed to tell?” He had a deep voice, but it was muffled by his mask.

“My other beaus have revealed themselves. Quite takes the fun out of a masque ball when you no longer need to figure out who you’re dancing with.”

“Then I won’t tell.”

“Really?”

“I promise.”

So, she’d have to rely on deductive reasoning! Now this was the fun she’d expected to have tonight. “I already know who Bernard, Jasper, John, Addison, and Ellis are, but that still leaves Lewis, Rupert, Peter, Giles, Hugh, Thaddeus, and Chester.”

He laughed under his mask. “D’you really have that many suitors?”

“It does sound a bit much, doesn’t it?” She laughed softly, but then she realized he would already have known that if he were one of them. “Are you pretending you don’t know who I am?”

“Who are you?”

She was taken aback. “If you really don’t know, why did you ask me to dance?”

“How could I not, when you’re the most beautiful woman here?”