No Decent Gentleman (20 page)

"This has the look of a betrothal ring," she said in an accusing voice, expecting him to deny it.

"It is a betrothal ring."

"But you promised—"

Adam placed one finger across her lips to silence her. "When you are ready to accept our betrothal, simply move the ring from your right hand to your left hand."

"And if I never accept it?" she asked.

"You will."

His arrogance annoyed her. "How can you be so certain?" she asked.

"I am certain because I have seen the sorry lot of bachelors that English society has to offer," Adam answered, and then winked at her.

Her annoyance left her as quickly as it had come. "You speak as if you don't consider yourself one of them."

"Only my mother was English," he replied. "Remember?"

"Perhaps someday you will tell me who you really are," she teased him.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm beginning to believe that you could be a prince in disguise. You certainly order everyone about as if you were royalty," Sabrina answered. "I sense that you have omitted important details about yourself. Will I ever know the real Adam St. Aubyn?"

"Princess, I will explain everything once we are married," Adam answered.

"Do you actually believe I'd marry a man without knowing him?" Sabrina asked, wondering for the thousandth time what he was hiding.

"Trust me, Princess. You will marry me," Adam replied with a confident smile. "Shall we go downstairs?"

In spite of her misgivings about what he'd said, Sabrina accepted his arm. Tonight was not the time for her to delve further into his past life. Together, they left the drawing room.

"The room adjacent to the ballroom has been set aside for refreshments," Adam told her. "Beyond that is the card room and then the ladies' retiring room. Aunt Belladonna's maid will be available for minor repairs to gowns. The study downstairs will be used as the gentlemen's smoking room."

"You seem to have forgotten nothing," Sabrina said.

"I've asked Jamie to come early," Adam said as they walked down the stairs to the foyer. "Lily can offer you and Courtney moral support."

Sabrina gave him a grateful smile. And then her aunt's voice reached her.

"Oh, how I wish Henry were alive to see how beautiful you and Courtney look tonight," Aunt Tess was exclaiming as Sabrina took her place beside her sister.

"Do you think Dudley Egremont will attend?" Courtney whispered, a high blush of excitement staining her cheeks.

"He'll be here," Sabrina assured her.

"Where did you get that ring?" Courtney exclaimed in a voice loud enough for all to hear.

Sabrina flicked an embarrassed look toward the marquess and then held her hand up for everyone's inspection, saying, "Adam gave it to me." She glanced at Uncle Charles, who was beaming with approval, and suffered the sudden feeling that she was being trapped into an engagement with the marquess.

"It looks like a betrothal ring," Courtney said. "Are you going to announce your betrothal?"

"No," Sabrina said emphatically, and sent the marquess a decidedly unhappy look.

How could she meet and encourage eligible gentlemen if they believed she was betrothed to Adam St. Aubyn? Was this a plan to discourage other gentlemen? If so, why would the marquess bother when he could have any woman he wanted? What was so damned attractive about her?

"The Duke and Duchess of Kinross," Baxter announced, drawing her attention.

James Armstrong winked at the haughty majordomo as he and his wife walked past him. Sabrina wished that all of the ton could be like Adam's friends.

"Both of you come with me," Lily Armstrong ordered.

Sabrina and Courtney followed the Duchess of Kinross to the opposite side of the foyer. In a low voice, she began a lecture obviously meant to bolster their courage.

"No one could have been more nervous than I was the first time Jamie introduced me into society," Lily began. "And I didn't enjoy the luxury of having someone like myself to lend me support."

Both Sabrina and Courtney smiled at that.

"The ladies of the ton are sharks ready to draw blood at the first oportunity," Lily continued. She glanced at Courtney and warned, "Do not even consider swooning." She looked back at Sabrina and said, "There is a way to confound them, however."

"What would that be?" Sabrina asked.

"Develop an attitude," Lily answered. "Pretend you are doing them a favor by speaking with them."

"I'm not sure I could do that," Sabrina said.

"I wouldn't know how," Courtney agreed.

"Whenever someone intimidates you, picture the offending person with a remarkably ugly appearance," Lily told them. "An annoying gentleman receives buckteeth and crossed eyes. I always imagine an obnoxious lady as suffering from baldness."

Sabrina burst out laughing. "I can do that."

"So can I," Courtney agreed.

"Then it's settled. You will not be nervous," Lily insisted, as if saying made it so, and returned them to the receiving line.

Sabrina overheard Adam saying to Jamie, "The arrow has left the bow."

"When do you think Ambassador Zaganos will receive a reply?" Jamie asked.

"These things take time," Adam answered with a shrug. "Patience is a virtue."

"Patience is reckless when your life is at risk," Jamie disagreed. "Let those two giants of yours do their jobs until then."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Adam said.

Overhearing their conversation, Sabrina froze in fear. Was Adam's life in danger? Who would want to hurt him?

"Sabrina, we'll see you upstairs," Lily was saying, accepting her husband's arm and letting him lead her toward the stairs. "Prinny sends his best regards," she called over her shoulder.

"The Regent?" Courtney exclaimed.

"No, the pig," the duchess called, and disappeared up the stairs with her husband.

"The Duchess of Kinross has a pet pig named Prinny," Sabrina told her sister.

Turning to the marquess, Sabrina whispered, "Your life is at risk? Did someone threaten your life?"

"Nothing important has happened," Adam lied, his gaze on her warm. "I'm pleased that you fear for my safety."

Sabrina flicked him a sidelong glance and said, "My assets are invested with you, and I don't want to lose them."

Adam smiled at her words and leaned close, saying, "I know you are hiding your true feelings for me behind cruel words."

Unamused by his arrogance, Sabrina could only stare at him. Answering would only encourage him.

"Well, how do I look with buckteeth and crossed eyes?" he asked.

"My lord, you are incorrigible," she said with a smile.

"Thank you for the high praise," he replied.

Their guests began arriving. Adam and Uncle Charles flanked Sabrina and Courtney and made the introductions. Aunt Tess and Lady DeFaye stood on the other side of Uncle Charles.

Dudley Egremont, Viscount Dorchester, arrived in the company of his mother and his aunt. The viscount bowed low over Courtney's hand and insisted, "I claim all of your dances."

"My lord, you know that isn't possible," Courtney said with a shy smile. "The first dance belongs to Uncle Charles and the second to Prince Adolphus. You may have the third."

"Then I request the third dance, the last dance, and the one just before supper," Dudley said.

Courtney inclined her head. "I would like that very much."

Sabrina watched the viscount move away with his relations and then whispered to the marquess, "I thought only two dances were permitted with the same man."

"Correct, but I approve of Dorchester and believe Courtney and he would make a good pairing," Adam replied.

"A pairing?" Sabrina exclaimed. "Are we a couple of mares to be bred?"

"Lower your voice," Adam whispered. "I mean no insult to Courtney or you, but meeting marriage prospects is the purpose of a coming-out ball."

"Your word choice is poor," she told him.

"I apologize, Princess," he said. "I promise to choose my words more carefully in the future."

With a smile frozen on her face, Sabrina soon realized that Lily Armstrong had been correct. The ladies of the ton were like sharks looking for a weak spot in order to let blood. Looking past their smiles, she saw in their eyes that they considered her a potential rival for the season's prime husband catches. And from the looks the females were giving Adam, Sabrina realized they considered him to be one of the prime catches. For some unknown reason, that made her jealous. Touching her frog brooch or her ring made her feel more confident.

The moment Sabrina had been dreading arrived. Lord Briggs stood before them. With him was a voluptuous blonde wearing a white gown that left almost nothing to the imagination.

So much for undying devotion, Sabrina thought, disgruntled by his defection.

"Good evening, Edgar," Sabrina greeted him with a smile. "I'm pleased to see a familiar face."

"Sabrina, you have never looked lovelier," Edgar said, bowing over her hand. "May I make known to you Alexis Carstairs, the Countess of Rothbury."

Alexis Carstairs possessed the sweet expression of an angel and the body of a goddess. She had blue eyes, a straight nose, and flawless ivory skin.

The two women smiled insincerely at each other, natural enemies at first sight. Each saw in the other the qualities she lacked.

"Lady Rothbury, I am pleased to make your acquaintance," Sabrina greeted her.

"Adam has told me so much about you," Alexis replied, giving her a feline smile.

Sabrina nearly flinched at her words, but caught herself in time and managed to keep her expression placid. And then she recalled Lily's advice and imagined the woman without any hair on her head.

Determined to stand her ground, Sabrina touched the diamond frog brooch with her right hand. Both the brooch and the ring glittered in the foyer's candlelight.

"Dear Adam has been so helpful," she drawled, casting "dear Adam" a look of adoration. "I don't know how we would have survived without him."

"Yes, Adam can be so helpful. I'll see you upstairs," Alexis said stiffly, and yanked Edgar away.

"She forgot to keep her expression placid," Sabrina said, turning to the marquess, whose shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"How could I ever have thought you needed my protection?" Adam leaned close and whispered, "How does Alexis look as a bald woman?"

"She's not one of the acclaimed beauties, but she would be an original."

Adam burst out laughing, drawing everyone's attention. Sabrina noticed Uncle Charles's smile of approval and the speculative glances of several guests.

"What does the phrase 'The arrow has left the bow' mean?" Sabrina asked.

"It means whatever will be will be," Adam answered. "Fate has been set into motion and cannot be undone."

Sabrina never got the chance to question him further. A big middle-aged man wearing a blond wig stood in front of them.

Sabrina smiled, recognizing Prince Adolphus.

"Lady Abingdon, you are the perfect vision of loveliness," Prince Adolphus greeted her. "So lovely ... so lovely ... so lovely."

"Your presence honors me, Your Royal Highness," Sabrina said, dropping him a curtsey.

"This is Courtney, Sabrina's younger sister," Uncle Charles told the prince.

With an affable smile, Prince Adolphus turned to Courtney, who blushed and dropped him a curtsey. "I have wanted to meet you for the longest time," he told her.

"Your Royal Highness, I am honored," Courtney replied.

Adolphus looked from brown-haired Courtney to copper-haired Sabrina and then back at Courtney again. "Two sisters who look so very different," the prince remarked. "No family resemblance there. None ... none ... none." He turned next to Adam and said, "I heard about the shooting incident at White's. Glad to see you are as hale and hearty—"

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness," Adam interrupted. "Shall we go upstairs and begin the ball?"

Sabrina turned her head and stared at the marquess. Someone had taken a shot at him? Who would want him dead and then act upon that wish? Edgar Briggs popped into her mind, but she banished that thought as absurd. Edgar was incapable of stepping on an ant. Why, the marquess must have dozens of enemies. Successful businessmen were notoriously ruthless and ruined the hopes and the dreams of others.

"Sabrina?"

Adam's voice drew her out of her thoughts. She smiled and let herself be escorted up the stairs to the ballroom. Prince Adolphus walked beside her while Uncle Charles escorted Courtney. Adam walked behind with their aunts.

The orchestra began playing as soon as they entered the ballroom. Prince Adolphus escorted Sabrina onto the dance floor, and Uncle Charles did the same with Courtney. The two couples waltzed alone on the dance floor as custom required that the debutante and the most important man in attendance open the ball.

"Esmeralda will arrive later in the evening," Prince Adolphus told her. He chuckled and added, "She loves to make a grand entrance. Loves it ... loves it ... loves it."

Sabrina didn't give a fig about the opera singer. "Tell me what happened outside White's the other night," she asked the prince.

"An assassination attempt is no suitable topic for a lady's conversation," Adolphus chided her gently.

The dance ended before she could press him for more information. Courtney and she switched partners.

"Your father would be proud of you tonight," Uncle Charles said as they waltzed around the ballroom.

"Tell me about the incident at White's," Sabrina said without preamble.

"I don't know anything about it," Uncle Charles told her. "Adam doesn't tell me everything."

He was lying, Sabrina decided, but kept her expression placid. Since the night she'd met them, the St. Aubyns had lied to her about most of the important things. What else could they be keeping from her? In spite of their kindnesses to her, she was beginning to doubt their trustworthiness.

Adam claimed her for the third dance. He waltzed with the same ease and grace he'd demonstrated the day they'd danced without music.

"Making idle conversation while one dances is customary," Adam said.