Dancing With A Devil (8 page)

“
I’ve pinned my hopes on him too, which is why I orchestrated tonight,” Whitney said in a mysterious tone.

Audrey quirked an eyebrow. “What do you mean
orchestrated
? What mischief are you creating?”

“
You’ll see,” Whitney sang as she dug her quizzing glasses out of her reticule, put them up to her eye and peered into the crowd below. After a moment, a slow smile came to her lips. “Ah. The first of my pawns has entered onto my board. Look over there by the stairs.” Whitney pointed to her right.

Audrey peered over the balcony to where Whitney indicated. The thick crowd in the pit and the dim theater lighting made it difficult to see whom Whitney spoke of. Audrey moved to the edge of her seat and squinted. “Who are you looking at?”

Without a word, Whitney handed Audrey her quizzing glasses. “Hurry. Before he delves too deep into the crowd and is no longer visible.”

With a tremor of excitement, Audrey stared through the glasses and her breath caught. Below her but towering above most men and women around him, like the golden god he appeared to be, Trent strode with the Duke of Primwitty through the crowd toward the stairs that led to the second level of the theater. Audrey’s pulse skittered as her gaze traveled up Trent’s long legs to his wide powerful shoulders. He turned for a second and she smiled. He had worn crimson, which she distinctly remembered telling him was her favorite color. He had commented that it was a wicked color and did not at all suit her, but it was perfect for him.

Wild excitement coursed through her veins. Soon he would be parting the curtains of this box and sitting next to her. Maybe tonight, he would start to see her as irresistible, a woman he could not live without. A woman he loved. Her brow furrowed as Whitney’s words came back to her. Slowly, Audrey lowered the quizzing glasses and glanced at her friend. “What do you mean your pawns have entered your board?”

A low chuckle came from Whitney. “When I asked Sin to come to the theater with us tonight, he declined.”

Audrey’s stomach dropped to her slippered feet. “But that is awful. Why are you only telling me this now?” Her head instantly pounded. “I would not have agreed to come.”

“
What nonsense you speak,” Whitney said in a chiding tone. “He claimed he had already agreed to accompany the Duke of Primwitty tonight. After leaving Sin’s home this morning, I took it upon myself to call on Sally to see if Sin was telling me the truth. Normally I would not question him, but he acted rather uncomfortable when talking to me. He paced the room and avoided my gaze. Sally told me the duke had no theater plans with Sin tonight.”

“
Is this story supposed to make me feel better?” Audrey asked with a trembling voice.

Whitney’s grin faded. “Well, yes, but I see I’m mucking up the telling. Sally came to see me this afternoon. Sin called at their home not long after I departed, and Sally overheard Sin begging a favor of the duke to accompany him to the theater tonight to keep a watchful eye on
you
.”

“
Me
?” Confusion made her thoughts dance around in her head. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“
It makes perfect sense to me. He wants to make sure you do not fall into the hands of a rake, but he wants to do it from afar. He is avoiding you.” A wide smile lit Whitney’s face.

Audrey frowned and pressed her fingers to her temples. “Your explanation is still not making me feel better.”

“
Honestly.” Whitney shook her head. “Sometimes I think I’m the only one who can clearly see when people are trying to hide something.”

“
And what is Trent trying to hide?”

“
He likes you, but too much for his comfort. He has spent the last year involved with women who demanded nothing from him but payment for services rendered.”

Audrey gaped at Whitney, not shocked but amazed that her friend spoke so bluntly on such an intimate matter.

Whitney shrugged. “Sorry, dearest, but I must speak the plain truth and since we are alone…”

“
Yes, of course. Go on.” It was not as if she had not known that Trent was a rake.

“
My theory is that you present a problem to him because his heart was broken, and he is afraid to love again. He is afraid of you, because
you
are the first woman who has awakened the desire for something more in him. Do you agree with this theory?”

“
I do think he must have been hurt,” Audrey said with hesitation. “I daresay I want to agree with the rest of what you have hypothesized, but I fear it is because I long to believe he cares for me and not because it is actually true. I’m certain that along with my heart my pride is involved.”

“
That is quite understandable. The important thing is that I am correct. And because I’m so sure of what I have said, I set a plan into motion that I’m positive will have Sin springing from his seat and striding over to our box to sit near you. After that, the rest is really up to you.” Whitney paused and patted her hair.

Audrey stirred uneasily in her chair. Whitney’s plans had been known to cause quite a bit of trouble before. “What exactly have you done?”

“
I asked Drake to invite Lord Thortonberry to join us in our box tonight.” Whitney frowned and then spoke again. “Asked may not be the exact right word. I had to cajole Drake, and it took rather a lot of effort. He does not want to promote a tender between you and Lord Thortonberry, but I explained to him that was not a concern. It isn’t, is it?”

Audrey laughed at Whitney’s probing gaze. “Certainly not. Lord Thortonberry thinks of me as a sister, and as I said I think of him as a brother.”

“
I knew I was correct,” Whitney exclaimed. “I usually am,” she added with an air of supreme confidence. “Then my plan is perfect. Last night at the Allred ball, I watched Sin watching you and glaring at Lord Thortonberry. I decided he is jealous of the man, which is probably why he is convinced the marquess is no good. I guarantee you when Sin sees Lord Thortonberry sitting beside you tonight he will come straight to our box. All you need do is get Lord Thortonberry to flirt with you. Can you do that?”

Audrey bit her lip. “I suppose, but I’m not sure I’m comfortable using Lord Thortonberry for my gain.”

“
Posh!” Whitney waved her hand. “How can it harm him for you to flirt with him? You just told me he thinks of you as a sister, so his heart is not in danger.”

“
Well, that’s true. Still, I feel inclined to tell him what I’m doing.”

As the curtains rustled behind them, Whitney’s forehead creased. She glanced over her shoulder and a smile shone on her face. When she turned back to Audrey, she whispered, “He is here. Do what you must, but be quiet and quick about it. Drake would not like my plan and would most definitely inform Sin.”

Audrey nodded and ran a smoothing hand over her gown and hair as Mr. Sutherland and Lord Thortonberry entered the box. Whitney rose, which at first surprised Audrey, until her friend directed Lord Thortonberry to take the seat she had vacated.

“
Might I sit by you?” Lord Thortonberry gestured to the empty chair beside her.

“
Of course. I was pleased to hear you were joining us.”

His bright green gaze assessed her. “I’m glad,” he said, taking the seat beside her. “You look lovely tonight.”

She glanced down at the cerulean gown she had worn. She had chosen it specifically because Trent had told her blue was his favorite color. “Thank you.” She regarded his dark navy evening attire. “You look quite dashing.” She blinked, realizing it was true. He was a handsome man with his long lean figure, strong jaw and compelling eyes. For the first time, she wondered why he had not taken a wife yet. Whitney clearing her throat behind Audrey caused her to dismiss the errant thought and focus on Whitney.

“
Drake and I are stepping just outside of the box for a moment.”

Audrey supposed that was her cue to ask Lord Thortonberry for his help. The minute the box curtains swung back into place and she was alone with Lord Thortonberry, she turned to him. “Would you mind helping me tonight?”

“
It would be my pleasure. What sort of help do you need?”

Her face heated. This was rather embarrassing, even though she had known Lord Thortonberry all her life. “I need you to flirt with me.”

His mouth curved into a smile. “I think I can do that.”

She was about to thank him, but his gaze stopped her and caused her to draw a sharp breath. Was that a flame of desire in his eyes? Surely not. She wet her lips and swallowed. “I need you to flirt with me, because I am trying to make Lord Davenport jealous.”

Lord Thortonberry’s warm gaze turned cold. “Why would you want to do that?”

She stiffened, momentarily abashed. This was no time to let embarrassment deter her, though. She may not get another chance like this. “Because his jealousy will make him realize he does not want to lose me to you or any other.”

Lord Thortonberry’s eyes widened. “Really? Is that truly the way it works?”

It had worked that way for Whitney with Mr. Sutherland. When he had thought Whitney was in love with another man, Mr. Sutherland had realized he could not live without her. Audrey nodded her head. “Of course.”

“
And does it work that way for women to? If I wanted to make a certain woman realize she cared for me, would trying to make her jealous be the way to do it?”

Audrey considered the question. The mere thought of Trent liking another lady made Audrey’s stomach ache. Of course, she already knew she cared for him, but if she did not, jealousy would probably help her to realize it. She gave a decisive nod. “Yes. That would most definitely work for me.”

Lord Thortonberry leaned back in his chair. “All right. Then I will help you, but only if you help me.”

Audrey blinked. “With what?”

“
I wish to make a lady jealous.”

“
You do?”

He smiled slowly. “Yes. I do.”

“
Well, that is grand,” she exclaimed. It was much better if she could repay his help by helping him in kind. “Who do you wish to make envious? Is she here?”

Lord Thortonberry’s gaze darted across the way to the boxes facing them. Audrey glanced in the same direction and tried to decide which lady he might be looking at.

“
She is here,” he said abruptly, his gaze still trained in the same area. “Do you know Lady Caroline Rosewood?”

Audrey found the petite blonde in the sixth box to the left of them. Lady Caroline was considered an incomparable this Season, but Audrey did not really know her. “Only by name and face. We have not been formally introduced. I’m sorry.” She assumed he had hoped she might be one of Lady Caroline’s confidants.

A thoughtful smiled curved his lips. “That is probably better. I would not want to ruin a friendship between the two of you.”

Audrey nodded. “What of you and Lord Davenport? Are you concerned helping me will cause a strain between the two of you?” Further strain would be more apt, but she could not say that.

“
We are not friends, so there is no concern there.”

His cold tone bothered her. She wanted to ask more, but the curtains parted and Whitney and Mr. Sutherland strolled in. As they took their seats, the lights dimmed to signal the beginning of the play. Below them, in the pit, the noise quieted to a dull roar. She raised the quizzing glasses and sought out the Duke of Primwitty’s box. It was still empty. Blast Trent! Where were they? Had they stopped for him to speak to some other ladies? She dug her nails into her palms.

The lights on the stage illuminated and the actors and actresses strolled out to begin the play. Audrey’s heart pounded in her chest. Maybe Trent would not take his seat at all. Then what? Suddenly the curtains to the duke’s box parted and Lord Primwitty strolled into his box followed by Trent. Both men sat down. Lord Primwitty looked immediately toward the stage, but Trent appeared to be looking their way.

Trembling, she lowered the glasses and turned to Lord Thortonberry. “He is looking at us. What of Lady Caroline?”

“
I believe she is watching as well. Shall we give them a show to rival the play?”

She giggled. “Yes. What should we do?”

Lord Thortonberry ran his fingers down the side of her hair and tucked a strand behind her ear before leaning over and pressing his mouth near her ear. “We are already doing it.”

She cut her gaze to Trent. Was he sitting forward in his seat? “It’s rather hard to tell how Lord Davenport’s face appears from this distance.”

“
I’m sure he is livid,” Lord Thortonberry replied, sounding rather pleased. “Do you have a fan with you?”

“
Yes.” Her fingers went automatically to the strings of her reticule. Behind her, Whitney whispered fiercely to Mr. Sutherland. She prayed he was watching the play and not taking notice of her and Lord Thortonberry.

“
Get it out, open it and raise it above your face, as if you are telling me a secret,” he instructed in low tones.

She quickly obeyed and raised her fan. When Lord Thortonberry reached up and moved it over his face for a moment, she gasped and tried to pull it away, but he held firm. She dropped her tone low. “What are you doing? Someone may think we are kissing behind the fan.”

“
Davenport will likely think it, and that is what you want, is it not?”