“Sorry about that,” Alex said with a tight smile. “I’m sure you were looking forward to spending the evening with Lady Arabella. She’s very lovely.”
Woodside eyed Alex suspiciously. “What’s he got to say to her that is so damned important?”
Alex swallowed his distaste for the man and smiled amiably. “Actually, Woodside, it’s my fault. You’re aware I’ve been courting Lady Arabella’s cousin?”
A conspiratorial smile crossed Woodside’s face. He had never believed that the powerful Duke of Ashbourne would actually marry an untitled nobody from the colonies, and so he didn’t feel the need to speak of Emma with respect. “The American chit, eh? She looks like a treat, but I wouldn’t have thought a man like you would be interested in a colonial.”
Alex fought the urge to tear out the man’s tongue. “We’ve had a bit of an argument, you see, and she won’t speak to me.”
“Send flowers,” Woodside said condescendingly. “Or jewelry if you don’t think her family will consider it too bold. That always works.” He removed an imaginary piece of lint from his sleeve. “Women are easily managed.”
Alex wondered how much extra effort would be required to remove the man’s lungs along with his tongue. “I’ve drafted Dunford to plead my case with Belle since I obviously didn’t succeed out on the balcony. He’s trying to convince her that she ought to convince Emma that she ought to speak with me so that we can resolve our differences.”
Woodside nodded. “A wise approach. And if it works, it’ll be damned cheaper than a bracelet.”
Alex smiled over clenched teeth. “All the more reason the two of us should pray that he’s meeting with success.”
He wasn’t.
Dunford tried just about every tactic imaginable to get Belle to reveal Emma’s whereabouts, but she remained implacable. Finally, he decided that blackmail was his only recourse. Clearing his throat a few times, he looked down into Belle’s blue eyes, smiled wickedly, and said, “Belle, if you do not tell me this instant where your cousin is, I swear I will cause such a scene it will take you years to live it down.”
Belle looked up at him scornfully. “We’re in the middle of a crowded ballroom, Dunford. What on earth could you do?”
“I’ll kiss you.”
“Oh, please,” Belle said dismissively.
“I’ll use my tongue,” he said very slowly and with great meaning.
Belle gasped at his daring. “You wouldn’t. You’re not even attracted to me. You’ve told me that before. On several occasions.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“You’d ruin me.”
“At the moment, Belle, I don’t care.”
Belle took one look into his deadly serious brown eyes and knew that she’d misjudged Dunford. There was an iron will underneath his easygoing facade, and he had just bested her. “I don’t have any choice, do I?”
“None.”
Belle sighed, feeling utterly sick with despair, yet wondering if maybe, just maybe Dunford and Ashbourne would be able to help Emma and Ned in their scheme.
“I haven’t got all night, Belle.”
“All right,” she relented. “She and Ned are sneaking into Woodside’s home. Ned owes him a gambling debt. They’re stealing the voucher.”
“What? Of all the damned fool things to do!”
“It’s a great deal of money,” Belle said flatly.
“Your brother ought to learn to pay his gambling debts like a gentleman. Or at least not to wager more than he can afford.”
“Woodside was cheating. It’s only fair.”
Dunford shook his head. “And I suppose your part in all this is to keep the unsuspecting Woodside entertained while your relatives rifle through his belongings.”
Belle nodded and then curtsied as the waltz came to an end.
Dunford took her arm and slowly led her back to Alex and Woodside. “Be careful how you go about your task, my dear,” he murmured in her ear. “I have a feeling that you and the viscount have different ideas of what constitutes ‘entertainment. ’ Ah, Woodside, here you are,” he said brightly, placing Belle’s hand on the other gentleman’s arm. “I’m returning Lady Arabella into your care. She couldn’t stop talking about you.”
Woodside nodded slowly at Belle, a sinister smile crossing his lips.
“I’m afraid that Ashbourne and I must now take our leave,” Dunford continued. “I trust the two of you will have a pleasant evening.”
“I’m sure we will,” Woodside said in a low voice. “I was hoping to show Lady Arabella around the gardens. Lady Mottram’s are among the best in London.”
Belle grimaced and then quickly covered it up with a cough. “Actually, I’m afraid I might be catching a cold. I don’t think I ought to go out in the damp night air.”
Dunford nodded at the two of them and then propelled Alex toward the door. “She told me everything,” he whispered. “I’ll fill you in when we get to the carriage.”
“Stop here.”
The hired hack that Ned and Emma had engaged for their trip to Woodside’s townhouse ground to a halt a block away from their final destination. They didn’t need the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves alerting any lightly sleeping servants that guests were arriving. Ned paid the driver, and Emma kept her mouth shut, not wanting her feminine voice to ruin her disguise.