Now all she had to do was get Henry away from that dratted painting before he noticed anything out of the ordinary.

That blue gaze turned to hers again, and she could have sworn something flickered in their depths.

“Come,” she said, taking his arm and pinching it as she all-but dragged him away from the fireplace, taking refuge by the windows. The courtyard beyond was small and dark, reflecting their watery likenesses back at them. Her brown hair and shockingly red dress, blurred and smudged as though someone had rubbed their thumb across her reflection. Henry’s tall, dark figure in shades of navy and brown, a smear of darkness that still, despite everything, contrived to be captivating.

“You should not have involved yourself,” she said, tearing her eyes from the window and meeting his unsettling stare again. Like always, it made her think of blue flame. Ice cold, yet now with a certain heat that burned deep within him, a fire raging out of control underneath the rigid wall of his restraint.

“No doubt you had it under control,” he said, a bite of sarcasm in his voice. “Where were you going to allow him to touch you next?”

“That is none of your concern.” Anger sharpened the edge in her voice to a razor’s keen blade. “It would not be the first time I have allowed a man to touch me, as you well know.”

She might have been mistaken, but it seemed as though he flinched. “More than once, if the rumours are true,” he said dryly.

“No doubt you disapprove.”

“Just as I cannot guess your motivations, Louisa, you are not privy to my thoughts.” His mouth, that sensual mouth she had spent so much of her life thinking about, was pressed into a thin line, and she cursed him once again for being so damn handsome. For someone as unfeeling as he was, he should have been painted in shades of grey. Instead, he had been drawn by a delicate, expert hand, the darkness under his eyes crafted to illuminate their brilliance. The starched white of his cravat displayed the robust tan of his skin, and his brown hair appeared a deep, rich colour in the candlelight.

Yet, for all that, he was still enough that he might have been carved from marble. His heart, too, was just as cold and heart, a dead weight in his chest.

His jaw clenched a fraction as he watched her. “He was threatening you,” he said when she made no move to continue the conversation.

“Once again, that has nothing to do with you.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “That I know all too well,” he muttered.

“I must ask you not to interfere in my business again, Lord Eynsham.” She turned to go, but he caught her arm, his skin burning against hers before she could rip herself away.

“Is it about the painting?”

Her heart thudded. “What painting?”

Dancing with Lord Knighton was every bit as thrilling as Charmaine had imagined. No, it was more thrilling! And when he escorted her onto the balcony afterwards for a little air, she discovered that romance was truly alive and well.

“Miss Goodman, meeting you has brought a new enticement to attending these events. I cannot imagine how I endured the tedium before you arrived in Town.”

“You jest, my lord,” she murmured, butterflies in her stomach causing her voice to sound breathy. “There are many young ladies more enticing than I.”

“Ah, but their charms are practised, whereas your innocence is entirely natural, and delightful to discover in a high-born lady such as yourself.”

“Are you saying I’m naive and unsophisticated?”

“I’m saying that you are very beautiful,” he told her, gazing into her eyes. He lifted a hand to tuck a stray curl back into place. “And you dance divinely.”

Charmaine’s heart pounded furiously. “Thank you,” she said, lowering her eyes demurely. “You are a splendid dancer too.”

He chuckled. “I promise you that dancing is not the only thing I’m splendid at.”

She gasped, and bit her lip. “My lord!”

“I’m splendid at riding, and shooting and I’m generally acknowledged to be a fine whip,” he continued smoothly. “Not to mention my very splendid ability at complimenting beautiful young ladies.” He gave her a wicked smile. “Though only when I really mean it.”

Charmaine struggled to control her breathing and couldn’t prevent a dazzling smile. “I am prodigiously flattered,” she said, “But you cannot mean it.”

“And why is that? Miss Goodman, I know I haven’t spent a great deal of time in your company, but already I feel that we have a connection. Surely you feel it too?”

“Oh, yes,” she breathed. “Yes, it is very strange is it not?”

He gave a wolfish smile. “Strange things happen when people fall in love.”

It was too much. Charmaine thought her heart was going to burst out of her chest. She was struggling to find her voice when the Devonshire twins burst onto the balcony in a fit of giggles.

“Sophia, you really are a wretch!”

“Yes, but honestly, Anna-Leigh, he—” she broke off suddenly. “Miss Goodman! And Lord Knighton.” She looked from one to the other in surprise. I did not expect to see you out here.”

“Miss Goodman required a little fresh air,” said the Marquess calmly. “And there is nothing improper in our being here, for the doors are wide open and we are not alone.”

“No, of course not, it’s just—” she stopped, exchanging a glance with Anna-Leigh, and gave a laugh. “But it couldn’t be better.” She linked her arm through Charmaine’s in a companionable gesture. “I’ve been wanting to speak with you about that little matter we discussed the other day.”

Lord Knighton laughed. “In that case, ladies, I shall leave you to it. Female discussions are far too wicked for us males to overhear, or so I am well-informed.” He made a bow and retreated to the ballroom.

“Goodness, Charmaine, what are you about?” asked Anna-Leigh as soon as he was gone. “Don’t you know that, while he’s deliciously handsome of course, Knighton has the most dreadful reputation with the ladies?”

Charmaine felt her stomach give a guilty lurch. “He—we were just conversing.”

“Well, so I should hope,” said Sophia. “But you need to take care, leaving the ballroom with a gentleman.” She shook her head. "You never know who may be watching, for the ape-leaders have nothing better to do than spread gossip." She glanced round, a furtive look in her eye. "Anyway, listen, you know we were telling you about the masquerade at Vauxhall? Well, we’ve managed to get you a ticket if you still want to come. Hugh (that’s our brother by the way) says it’s fine for you to join us, and there are to be fireworks too. It’s most dreadfully exciting.”

“But isn’t it all rather improper?” Charmaine asked, Marcus' recent words still echoing in her head. “I mean, I know your parents must be happy for you to go, but—”

“Shh!” Both girls looked round anxiously then leaned closer. “They don’t know! Hugh has told them we’re going to a musical event, at one of his friends' homes, which naturally is beyond reproach. You can tell Lady Silchester the same thing; he gave us some invitation cards to make it all right and tight.”

Charmaine’s heart thudded in her ears. “Oh, I see,” she murmured. “You mean we must lie about it?”