Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(75)

At least he knew what their costumes would be.

Just as he knew his wife’s.



Where was he? It was not like Geoffrey to be late. She had tried to understand his not arriving to accompany her. Sometimes things happened. His lateness did not have to be because of last night.

But where was he?

Louisa stared at the crowd of kings, monks, Roman legions, and more than one shepherdess with fat sheep. She was beginning to worry again that he was avoiding her.

Had last night been too much for him? Had his father been right, after all? Had she repulsed him with her passion?

No. That was nonsense.

Geoffrey was Charles. And Charles was anything but afraid of passion. Charles had encouraged her every ardent desire. He would not turn away from her because she’d begun to reveal her passions.

“There you are.”

Louisa turned to find Bliss, with wings flapping behind, hurrying across the ballroom toward her.

“I’ve been looking for you for what seems like forever,” Bliss exclaimed.

“Looking for me? Is your brother here?”

“I have no idea if Swanston is here or not—frankly, I’d rather just assume not. He always tries to get me to stop doing whatever I am doing. He can’t believe I am not causing trouble.” Bliss stopped and fiddled with her skirts. The girl had so much energy it was impossible to imagine her completely still.

“If not because of Swanston, why are you looking for me?” Louisa hoped she did not sound too impatient. Her only true concern was finding her husband. Earlier it had seemed like a good idea to avoid him for a while, but “a while” had passed and she was anxious to get things settled between them.

“Oh, I’ve got someone I want you to meet. I know she has much to say to you.”

She? Louisa had no idea what Bliss was talking about, but as Geoffrey didn’t appear to be here yet she figured she might as well find out. “Lead the way, my lady.”

Bliss gave a little chuckle at the unnecessary use of her title and then, grabbing Louisa by the arm, hurried off, sidestepping dancers and taking little notice of the many people who tried to wave her down. It was clear that Bliss was liked by all.

Bliss drew to a stop before a pair of heavy oak doors. “She’s just in here. I do hope nobody saw us. It would be a shame if someone told Swanston.”

Told Swanston what? But before Louisa could ask, Bliss had opened the doors and slipped through, leaving Louisa little choice but to follow.

The room was poorly lit, a single candle burning upon the mantel. The circle of light extended about halfway across the room, the corners left in blackness. It appeared empty.

Louisa looked about confused, but Bliss only smiled, a little girl with a basketful of puppies.

“I am so pleased to finally meet you.” The voice was low and husky but very feminine.

Still glancing about, Louisa tried to peer into the darkened corner that the voice had sounded from as she placed her pomegranate and wheat on a side table. A silhouette drew her eye, but she could make out no details.

“I am sorry, but do I know you?” She squinted into the dark.

“I could perhaps say we have met, but we have not been introduced.” The figure moved forward.

Red. The woman was wearing a red dress of quite a startling shade. It appeared black in the shadows, but when the light from the candle hit it, it shone near orange.

And then the Countess Ormande stepped into the light, and Louisa felt as if she’d been grabbed and held still. She didn’t know what it was about the woman, but something about her was both controlling and strangely intimate. And her dress—Louisa had never seen such a creation. The tight, heart-shaped bodice pressed her breasts up until they almost popped, a fashion that had not been common for decades. The skirt hugged her hips like a second skin; was it made of leather? Her hair was even stranger, rising up on each side of her head around a small crown, causing the appearance of yet another heart. What was she supposed to be? Louisa was sure that the viewer was supposed to wonder. Red and hearts? The Queen of Hearts?

Tearing her eyes from the Countess, Louisa focused on Bliss, who didn’t seem to feel there was anything bizarre in the atmosphere. She was rolling back and forth on her feet, excitement swirling about her.

“Your costume is wonderful,” Louisa told Bliss with sincerity. “I am not sure I’ve ever seen you look so …”

“So ordinary,” Bliss supplied.

“That was not what I was going to say.” Although perhaps there was some truth to the sentiment. Bliss did have a tendency to be a little outrageous and flamboyant. She could never have been described as ordinary. Her fairy costume, while beautiful, was quite within the realm of the expected. The delicate gold wings and sparkling gown could have been worn by any young woman wishing to appear attractive.

Bliss smiled. “I know. But it is what you meant. I wanted to dress like a mermaid and have servants push me about in a great tub of water. My dear friend Lady Ormande persuaded me otherwise. And I am going to count that as an introduction. It is clear that you know each other—or at least of each other. What I don’t think you know, my dear Louisa, is that Lady Ormande used to be—”

“That is enough, Bliss,” the Countess said, her tone taking command of the room.

“But …” Bliss wanted to share her secret, but all she could do was drop her eyes and begin to twist her hands.