"A sunset?" She lifted her chin in defiance. "If Lani's gown is a sunburst, surely mine goes a step further."
"It goes a good deal further," Jared said grimly. "I'd like a word with you, Cassie."
"But Lady Carradine says I must run along and meet Lady Huntley." She shrugged. "If you wish to speak with me, I suppose you may come with me." She started across the ballroom.
Jared was walking beside her, looking straight ahead. "Why, damn you?"
"At least I didn't wear a sarong. It did occur to me."
"All you had to do was behave with a little decorum for one evening. Was that too much to ask for Josette?"
"I'll behave with decorum as long as these people treat Lani with courtesy."
"Has Carolyn indicated in any way that she won't?"
"Not yet." She glanced at him. "But we've just gotten here. I don't trust her."
"So you come to the most circumspect ball in England looking…"
"Like a harlot?"
"I didn't say that and I didn't mean it."
"That's why you gave me this gown. You wanted me to look like one of your lady birds. Well, here I am.
"And every man in the room is wondering if he has a chance of luring you into his bed."
She was suddenly tired of being on the defensive. She smiled tauntingly. "It's a possibility. I've been without a man for a long time, and you were an excellent tutor." She turned to him and said mockingly, "Come, Jared, introduce me to your friends. Let me choose a man to pleasure me."
He went white. He had been angry a minute ago; now he was a step beyond. "Damn you to hell."
She had never seen him more dangerous. She didn't care. She felt as she had when she and Kapu had swum through rapids, too late to stop, too exciting to turn back. She had to go on. "Why are you so angry? You would bed your Carolyn without a second thought. Perhaps you've already done it tonight. Don't I have the right to choose my own-"
"No, you do not." His voice was hoarse with searing intensity. "You no longer have any choice at all. You've just forfeited it."
"By wearing a gown you chose? By telling you a woman is not a slave? I think not. Go back to Lady Carradine. She will say anything you wish her to say." Her pace quickened as she approached Lady Huntley. "I assure you I don't mind your abandoning me. I'll make my own way with these people."
"I'm tempted to do it. Any of these women could cut you to the bone with one remark."
"Why would you care?"
"Oh, I would care." He smiled savagely. "It's a privilege I reserve for myself." He stopped before Lady Huntley, Lani, and Josette. He took Lady Huntley's hand, and his smile became totally ingratiating. "Ah, how delightful you look tonight, Amanda. That color always becomes you. May I present my kinswoman, Cassandra Deville? You've already met her gracious stepmother."
"Something's wrong." Cassie watched worriedly as Lani was taken by Lady Huntley from one group to the other, leaving Cassie and Josette to their own devices. "I don't like this."
"What is it?" Josette asked.
"I don't know." Lani was smiling, but she had the frozen expression she had worn when suffering Clara's worst abuse. "Can you find out?"
"It will take time. These people are not fond of me, either. Can't you ask her?"
Lani had committed herself to this ball to help Josette. Cassie knew Lani would not complain. "No."
Josette shrugged. "Then I'll find out." She drifted off into the crowd.
Cassie immediately felt isolated without Josette's comforting presence. She was surrounded by strangers-glittering, alien. She wanted to run away. The women's glances were shocked and disdainful, and the men did not meet her eyes at all. Her gaze searched the crowd for Bradford, but he was deep in conversation with a golden-haired young man in a corner.
And Jared was once more standing beside Lady Carradine in the foyer.
She met his gaze and recognition rippled through her. How could he dare look at her with such lust and possessiveness when he stood beside that woman? Her desolation was submerged by a flare of anger. These fine ladies would not accept her, but their men should not prove difficult. Men were seldom guided by anything but their bodies. She had no experience at the game herself, but she had spent years watching Lihua practice her mating skills. She deliberately looked away from Jared and sought out the golden-haired young man to whom Bradford was speaking. She waited until she caught his eye, then smiled.
The young Adonis broke off what he was saying to Bradford.
Good. She half lowered her lashes and ran her tongue lightly over her lower lip.
The young man was coming toward her.
She slanted a quick glance at Jared. Yes, no doubt about it, he had witnessed the little charade, and it had infuriated him. She felt a surge of fierce satisfaction. It would not hurt to goad him a little more.
She looked around the room to choose another man.
"Stop watching her, Jared," Bradford said in a low voice as he handed his nephew a glass of punch. "You're causing more stir than she is. After all, it's only a gown."
"You know better." She was a scarlet banner that every man in the room wanted to claim. And the bitch was deliberately dipping that banner in invitation. Neither she nor Lani could dance, but that did not hinder pursuit. The two women were at opposite ends of the room, but both were surrounded by men vying for attention.
Let me choose a man to pleasure me.
"That crystal goblet is going to break if you put any more pressure on it," Bradford observed. "You'll get a nasty cut."
"Then take the damn thing." He thrust it back into Bradford's hand. "I didn't want it anyway."
"It was better to have a goblet in your hand than a sword."
"I didn't have a sword."
"That didn't mean you might not acquire one." He took a sip of punch. "Tell me, whom are you going to call out? Young Fred Monteith? He appears very ardent. Or the Earl of Tempkar? No, he couldn't put up a very satisfactory fight. He must be almost seventy."
Jared shot him a sour glance. "You appear to be in fine spirits."
"Actually, I'm not at all happy at the way things are proceeding," he said. "But not because of those hounds baying at the moon. It's probably just as well they're causing a distraction. I don't like the set of Lani's mouth."
"What?"
"When she's upset, she holds her lips a little tighter and turns her head with a quick, jerky motion." He frowned. "Things aren't going well."
"I don't see any sign-"
"But, then, you can't see anything but a scarlet gown and your own lust. It might do you well to use your head instead of your nether parts for thinking." He turned to look at him. "Did you ask Cassie why she wore that gown?"
"I didn't need to ask. Defiance has a voice of its own."
"And she probably wouldn't have told you the truth anyway." He nodded at Lani. "Cassie wouldn't let her be alone even if it meant being ostracized herself."
"Very noble."
"But you don't want to believe it."
"I believe she loves Lani."
"I'm weary of arguing with you," Bradford said finally. He put his glass down on the banquet table. "I have to go to Lani. She's definitely upset."
"And you think she'll tell you why?"
"Probably not. But she'll know I'm there supporting her. Please refrain from glaring for the rest of the evening. Some of these guests think I raised you with a modicum of manners." He started toward the groups surrounding Lani and Cassie. "And you might repair the damage you've done by ingratiating yourself to our hostess again. If I'm wrong and all is going splendidly for Lani, we want it to continue."