Leap of Faith by Elizabeth Johns

Author:Elizabeth Johns [Johns, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-27T18:30:00+00:00

After waltzing with Miss Whitford, Dominic knew he needed to distance himself from her, or he was as good as making a declaration. He signalled to Carew that he was going to the card room and to keep an eye on things. Dominic needed to make sense of Sir Julian, for if he was at Almack’s, he would do anything to win.

Small stakes only were permitted in the card room at the Assembly Rooms, but the ruse he’d thought of was worth a try.

He looked around for familiar faces, but there was no one there under the age of sixty, so Dominic greeted a few people and then abandoned that idea. It was highly unlikely this crowd was privy to Sir Julian’s wagers. He remained for the length of the set, then decided to return to the ballroom to help watch over his charges.

His mind was in a whirl. What would someone bet high stakes against Dominic for? To trap him into marriage, or force him into a compromising situation?

Or was the game more malicious, and intended to ruin the girls with no hope of marriage? In no way could Dominic be convinced that Sir Julian meant to court and marry Miss Whitford honourably, lovely though she be.

He returned to the ballroom and found his mother beside her friends.

“Will you honour me with a dance, Mother?”

One of her friends gasped while another gasped and tittered.

“Run out of Whitford sisters, have you?” Mrs. Drummond-Burrell asked.

“I thought it might be nice to dance with the most handsome woman in the room.”

“Odious boy. There are plenty of other eligible ladies to dance with. And a waltz, too! It’s not done!”

“Is it a written rule, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell?”

She shook her head and waved them on their way.

“Stop acting like you are an aged dowager, Mother. You dance better than most of the chits just out of the schoolroom!”

“Very well, there is no need to flatter me. I assume you want something?”

“I need to speak to you without a thousand ears listening.”

“Did Sir Julian do something? I saw Carew intervene when he attempted to speak with Miss Whitford.”

“Did he? I only stepped into the card room for one dance.”

“Oh, yes. He attempted to waylay her on the way to the retiring room.”

“There must be a way to discover what he is about. We have already made utter cakes of ourselves by coming to Almack’s!”

“I would not go that far. You have made it clear to him you will protect them at all costs.”

“All costs?” Dominic was afraid that was what Sir Julian was counting on. “Perhaps I should have him followed.”

“It is not a terrible idea. Perhaps a discreet footman or two? Sadly, most servants can be bribed.”

“I cannot believe he is going to such lengths to begin secret wagers involving innocent young girls. You will keep an eye on them, I know.”

“I do not need a second warning, Dominic. I want no harm to come to those girls any more than you do. They have certainly alleviated any boredom you might have felt.

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