Soon, I was swept back up into the great game. When the party finally dispersed, nearly five hours had passed. The excitement and adrenaline had faded, and I only wanted my bed. My feet ached. As soon as I was back in the antechamber, I slumped against the wall, closing my eyes in relief.
Someone’s arm linked through mine. “Easy there, my lady. Don’t pass out yet.”
I opened my eyes. “I told you not to call me that.”
“I don’t think anyone would think I was being literal tonight. Can you walk?”
“Of course.” I straightened up, and Cedric slipped his arm farther around my back, letting me lean into him. Other girls were helping each other as well, all of us worn out as we made our way to the carriages.
“It’ll be a lot easier after this,” he said. “Smaller parties. Private homes. One-on-one visits at the house. This was just to get their attention.”
“I hope it worked.”
“For you it did. I had to turn away droves of them. There just wasn’t time.”
“Well, I hope you picked only the ones who—” I came to a halt near the carriage he was leading me to and glanced around. “Where’s Mira?”
Cedric looked as well. It was nearly the middle of the night, and the scene behind the hall was one of chaos, filled with horses and coaches and Jasper’s hired men. The girls glittered a little less now, and there was no need for the earlier meticulous order. Mostly we wanted to get in a carriage and go home.
“She’s here somewhere,” Cedric said. “Probably already inside one of these. Come on.”
He started to help me into one of the coaches when a voice behind us said, “Adelaide?”
We both turned to see Warren Doyle approaching. I stepped back down. “How did you get through?” exclaimed Cedric. “Those guards are supposed to keep everyone out.”
“Mister Thorn, I’m the governor’s son. They don’t keep me out of any place.” Warren studied Cedric a few moments and then turned his enamored smile on me. “Adelaide, I know more invitations will flood your door now, so I wanted to issue mine in person. My hope is I’ll get to call on you soon. But my mother is also hosting a dinner in a few nights, and we would love for you to join us. Along with a couple of other girls, of course.”
“That’s very kind,” I said. “I’m sure—”
“We’ll check her schedule and get back to you,” Cedric interrupted. “As you said, we’ll no doubt receive other invitations. And there are rules to be followed.”
Warren looked Cedric over. “You’re very big on rules, Mister Thorn. I admire your integrity.”
“We’ll be in touch,” Cedric said pointedly.
“Thank you for the invitation,” I said, offering Warren a smile in the hopes of relieving the tension. He smiled back, bowed, and then melted into the crowd.
I glared at Cedric. “It’s like you don’t even want a big commission.”
He thought about it a moment. “I do. But maybe not from him.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t think I like him.”
“You don’t even know him!”
“I know he’s arrogant and full of himself.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
“Adelaide.” He leaned toward me, dangerously and improperly close. “You saw how he was. How arrogant he acted.”
“To you. Because you were provoking him. I’m not saying that I want to run off with him here and now, but we certainly can’t cross him off yet. That’s my decision to make—not yours.” I glanced around and pitched my voice low. “We’re supposed to be working together on this! I can’t do my job here if you offend every suitor who comes my way.”
“Your job?”
“Yes,” I said. “I can read men. I know their romantic intentions better than you ever will.”
Cedric’s voice was snide. “Right. I’m sure you learned all about men’s ‘romantic intentions’ after years of desperately throwing yourself at them in stuffy ballrooms. How exactly did that work out for you, my lady?”
A flush filled my cheeks. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand the ways of the upper class. Between your common blood and pagan—”
“Is there room here?”
Sylvia strolled up to us with a weary smile. It was obvious she hadn’t heard our conversation, or she might have been more uneasy. Cedric instantly put a charming expression back on and lent her a hand. “Of course.”
When she was inside, he helped me up. As I was about to step in, he stopped me, holding my hand with his other arm around me. He leaned close to me so no one else would hear. That closeness threw me off, making me briefly forget everything but his eyes and lips.
“Adelaide, I’m not trying to—”
“What?” I demanded, my agitation returning. “What is it, exactly, that you’re trying to do?”
We were suspended like that for a moment, and then his face hardened. “Nothing. Like you said, I’ve only got common blood. I’m not trying to do anything.”
He lifted me inside and shut the door, telling the driver to go.
Chapter 15
My emotions were a storm within me when we got back to the house. I was fuming at Cedric, of course—and I had every right to, after the way he’d behaved. At the same time, I inexplicably felt like crying. Even in the tensest moments of our early times together, we’d never truly fought like that. Having left with that anger between us made my chest ache. As hurt and furious as I was, I couldn’t stand the thought of us at odds. It was confusing, and my own heart was a mess.