Anna applied her fan to cool her hot face and glanced with longing toward the open ballroom doors of Lord Windermere’s residence. “Goodness, it is warm tonight.”

Her companion was again Lord Wade, who seemed to be everywhere she’d been in the ballroom tonight. He’d asked her to take a turn about the room, since the dance floor was smaller than most and the numbers attempting to dance too great. It was safer this way, he claimed, and Anna had grudgingly agreed with him.

“It is indeed, even with the doors open,” he remarked, glancing toward them, too.

They sidestepped a couple from the dance floor who had lost their way, and smiled at each other as they resumed their promenade.

Lord Wade was being very nice to her. Perhaps it was time to see if he sought her out because he was interested in romancing her. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to simply step outside together for a breath of fresh air?”

He looked at her, eyebrows raised high. “By all means, ask your father to escort you if you need a respite from the ball,” he offered. “I’d be happy to take you back to him if you prefer.”

Anna was disappointed in his reply. If Lord Wade was interested, he should have leapt at the chance to stay at her side. Since he seemed indifferent, did that mean he found her uninteresting?

Lord Wade caught her eye, and then laughed softly. “Trust me, it’s for the best,” he promised.

“Of course.” She glanced at the chaos of the dance floor, rather than think about her lack of suitors. “Lord and Lady Windermere’s ball has proved immensely popular, don’t you think? And while I dearly love to dance, this was very pleasant, too.”

“Safer. Thank you for not dancing with me tonight,” he replied as her father came into view at the far end of the room.

She nodded toward their hosts across the room—and stared in shock. Lady Windermere was caught in her husband’s embrace yet again. “They look so happy together.”

“Besotted indeed, as all newly married couples should be,” Wade advised sagely.

She looked up at him in surprise. “They act so differently from other married couples I know.”

“Openly combative one moment and yet still obviously smitten with each other the next. It’s early days yet for their marriage.” Lord Wade smirked. “There’s nothing like a good argument between lovers to fire the blood.”

Anna’s face heated, but then she sighed with longing as her cousin placed a tender kiss to his wife’s palm, smiling devilishly before he sauntered off into the crowd. Lady Windermere watched him go with a happy smile playing over her lips.

The pair were rather plainly in love, which was nice to see in a couple their age, but they made her envious, too. She wanted that for herself. She wanted to marry a man who wanted nothing more than to be with her. “Do you believe in love, Lord Wade?”

“Indeed I do. That’s why I’m yet to marry.”

She glanced at him, curiosity stirred. “I thought you might not have married because you haven’t met the right woman.”

“I’ve met her, but we’re unfortunately stuck at the denial stage—before any of the lovely intimate pleasantries can commence.”

She thought she knew what he meant and struggled not to blush in response. Had he not even kissed the object of his affections yet? Since Anna clearly wasn’t the one to catch his eye, she felt instant sympathy for his situation. She hadn’t met the right man yet either, she supposed.

“Poor Lord Wade.” Anna laughed softly. “I wish you well in the end but with that naughty tongue of yours, you will probably have to wait a good long while yet.”

Anna slapped a hand over her mouth but instead of being offended, Lord Wade burst out laughing.

“At last!” he cried.

“I am so sorry. I should never have said anything of the sort,” she promised him. Why had she said that out loud?

“Nonsense. Your honesty is so refreshing. I have been waiting for you to say exactly what you think for so long. I never thought this day would come,” he chortled again. “I’m impressed.”

“Shh,” she warned, glancing around her anxiously. “Be silent.”

Instead, Lord Wade laughed even harder. He wiped at his eyes with his thumb. “I knew I liked you. We’re friends, yes?”

Friends wasn’t so bad, she supposed. At least Lord Wade could always be counted on to stand up with her at a ball when she lacked a dance partner. “Yes.”

Anna and Wade had to pause their stroll when the path became congested. She looked around, seeking a way forward, and fell straight into Lord Sorenson’s gaze. She became vaguely aware of Lord Carmichael standing at his side, but she couldn’t look away from Lord Sorenson. He was very handsome, and there had been that brief, delicious moment when he’d held her in his arms.

Of course, she’d been too upset to enjoy the moment fully. But she did remember how comforting he had been, and the scent of him, his aftershave and warmth, was very nice, too.

They nodded to each other, and then Lord Wade drew her onward. After a moment, he cleared his throat. “Now, confess: who do you fancy yourself in love with?”

“I’m not in love with anyone,” she said quickly, praying he’d not noticed her staring at Lord Sorenson.

“Oh, I think you are. Is it Lord Carmichael who now causes you to blush, or is it someone else entirely who has caught your eye and imagination?”

“A friend wouldn’t ask me such a blunt question,” she said, doing little to hide her discomfort.

“So, it’s someone new. Not a bad choice, I suspect.” A sly smile curved his lips. “It is hard not to notice your attention is divided tonight,” he said quietly.

She glanced at him swiftly. “No, it is not. I would never be so rude to you.”

“I think the fellow has utterly turned your head, and in so short a time, too. It might even be love at first sight.” He nudged her shoulder with his in a companionable manner. “You needn’t be embarrassed. I’ve known from the start how the wind blew with you. You hadn’t yet met the one who caused your lady parts to quiver.”

She gaped and then snapped her mouth shut. He couldn’t have said that out loud? He couldn’t know the effect Lord Sorenson had on her?

She didn’t dare meet his gaze, and her face grew very hot as she tried not to think of Lord Sorenson and her lady parts. She wanted to flee from her embarrassment, especially when she realized her nipples seemed to have grown unusually sensitive beneath her gown. She had to get away from everyone until the sensation passed.

Unfortunately, Lord Wade took her arm and hooked it through his before she could take one step away from him. Anna kept her lips tightly shut. She would pretend everything was normal. It was the only thing she could think to do.

“It’s a perfectly natural sensation. I’m happy for you. We’re going to remain good friends, Miss Beasley, no matter what happens next. You’re still the second-most interesting woman in the room.”

Anna stared at him. “Second-most?”

“I knew you were still listening to me.” He chuckled as she remembered what he’d confessed to before. What a goose she was. Of course, she would come second to the lady he admired. “Friends help each other see the truth, especially when it’s to their advantage, and give their friend a chance to make someone see what they are missing out on.”

Anna shivered, suddenly chilled. Lord Wade had no idea what he was talking about. She had no chance of keeping Lord Sorenson’s attention. Her chances were less than hopeless. “He’d rather look at other women than me,” she confessed quietly.

“Such an imbecile. Sorenson will come around eventually.”

She looked at Lord Wade, startled. “I wasn’t talking about him.”

“I was.” Lord Wade laughed again. “All men are devils until the right woman tames them. Sorenson watches you even now.”

Anna glowered at Lord Wade. “He watches everyone.”

“He’s watching you now. Again. Look to your left and see.”

Anna did—and her gaze fell on Lord Sorenson immediately. Carmichael was no longer with him, but Lord Sorenson was staring at her and Lord Wade, a frown line growing between his brows.

Hadn’t he been farther up the room, closer to her father, a moment ago?

Anna turned away from him quickly, determined to put the earl from her mind. Lord Sorenson’s interest was purely about how long she could hold her tongue about the murder she’d stumbled upon.

She looked around the room, resuming her search for an agreeable husband. “As I said, he looks at everyone a great deal. Do you see Lord Carmichael anywhere about?”

“Carmichael? Why would you want him?”

She pulled a face. “So I might avoid him.”

Lord Wade smiled slightly. “Yes, I’d heard you’ve been enemies since childhood. Surely he’s not so bad.”

“Indeed he is that bad.” She dredged her memory for an example of Carmichael’s real nature. “I have many good reasons not to like him. For instance, one day, just after he and his parents came to stay for a visit, Carmichael took my new parasol without my permission into a neighbor’s dovecote so he might observe the birds without getting their leavings splattered over his coat. The parasol was a rare gift from his mother. It was beautiful and dear to me.”

“That sounds a reasonable precaution but…” Lord Wade began, but then frowned. “How long was he inside the dovecote?”

“An hour and more. When I saw him, he just passed me the ruined parasol and thanked me for the loan of it.”

Lord Wade scowled. “I think you’re very wise to keep your distance from that one then.”

“I wish I could, however, my father is his godfather, and he holds Lord Carmichael in great affection. Avoiding him is not always possible but I do my best.”

Lord Wade smiled again. “You cannot hold his friend accountable for the childish behavior of a mutual acquaintance?”

Anna’s cheeks heated. “Which friend?”

“You know the one: tall, red-haired, handsome, and with a fondness for following you about this ballroom.”

“He is not.”

“You two make quite the pair.” Lord Wade laughed. “You’ve been sneaking peeks at him since the night you met him at Almack’s, and he’s doing the same now.”

“I certainly do not look at him more than anyone else,” she declared hotly, not enjoying Lord Wade’s insistence.

“Not a bad choice, if you ask me.”

Anna bristled, unhappy that Lord Wade was becoming overly familiar. No wonder Miss Hayes did her best to avoid him. She might have to withdraw her friendship if he kept this up. “I did not ask your opinion.”

“No one ever does. Usually to their detriment.” He smiled serenely. “I can spot an ill-fated match from twenty paces. And a better one in less time than that.”

“If you are so skilled at matchmaking, perhaps you should consider stop being cowardly and face the facts. You are never going to win yourself a wife unless you take action. You should worry more about making a marriage yourself.” She gasped quickly, shocked again by her own boldness at suggesting such a plan. “But not to me, of course.”

“No, not you. We’d never suit for marriage.”

Despite being cross, Anna felt bad suddenly for how she’d spoken. “I’m sure the lady would be happy to marry you if you are sincere in declaring your affections.”

“Matchmaking is not a skill you possess, Miss Beasley, or our association would have borne better results by now.” He sighed. “Your father is beckoning us to him.”

Anna glanced ahead. Her father did appear anxious to have her return. He was craning his neck in a way he usually had no need to. Had he heard of last week’s murder at last? Anna’s stomach pitched and roiled in worry that he might learn what she had stumbled upon. “Thank you for your company, Lord Wade.”

“As ever, it has been an enlightening experience talking with you,” he promised.

They joined her father and Lord Wade quickly excused himself. She watched him flee toward the card room and then looked up at her beloved father. “Is something wrong?”

“No, no.” He glanced around them, smiling broadly. “But I have news. Good news indeed to share.”

Anna tried to smile too—to feign excitement she didn’t feel at his words.

“Lord Carmichael has asked to stand up with you tonight,” he whispered. “I promised him that you were free and very willing to dance with him at short notice.”

Anna groaned under her breath. Lord Carmichael was a pain in her backside. She’d hoped to fill her dance card only with potential suitors.

She thought quickly of a way to avoid the dance for as long as possible. “If you will excuse me, I need a moment to myself.”

“You are lovely already,” her father promised. “But by all means, seek the retiring room to improve upon perfection.”

He brushed her chin with his knuckles, beaming at her until she had to flee his presence. If only Papa wasn’t so determined to have Carmichael squire her about the dance floor. He would be disappointed when Carmichael eventually married, most likely to Miss Angela Berry, and very soon, too.

Anna knew which rooms had been set aside for the ladies and followed a pair of chattering women in that direction. However, as soon as those ladies slipped inside the retiring room, Anna sidestepped into the very first chamber she came to and shut the door firmly behind her.

She pressed her hand to her chest, excited by her daring escape. She would be scolded if she were discovered here alone but there was no choice.

She would have to speak to Father about her intense dislike of Lord Carmichael. She had to stop him from making arrangements for them to dance together behind her back, and soon.

The air suddenly stirred beside her. “What are you doing here alone, Miss Beasley?”