She shook "her head with something close to pity for the poor young pups. None of them would garner more than a polite smile from her friends tonight— of that, she was quite certain.
Arriving at the spot where they were, Alex adopted her best stage whisper and said, "You lot really ought to keep moving —you're attracting a crowd."
With equal starts, the threesome looked up and scanned their surroundings, prompting their admirers to smile, sweep into elaborate bows, and generally make fools of themselves.
Nicola rolled her eyes quite publicly and leaned in to hug Alex. "Ridiculous. Do they really think fawning is going to help their common cause? And hello to you, Lady Alexandra." She spoke the title exaggeratedly, holding Alex at arm's length to study her. "This color is incredible on you. The neckline, too. My God — if they were interested in us... they're quite beside themselves now! I think Waring is in need of smelling salts. Did I see you come in with Blackmoor? He has his work as escort cut out for him this evening!"
Alex laughed at the exaggerated compliments as Vivi spoke. "Good Lord! How did there come to be so many of them? Which one of us do you suppose they're here for?"
"I'm not certain they've crafted much of an opinion on that front, to be honest," Alex said with a smile. "I should think that if any one of you showed the smallest amount of interest, any one of them would come running."
"Dear God, don't do that, then!" Nicola replied with mock alarm.
"What interesting creatures." Ella spoke with such an undertone of scientific research that the rest of the girls couldn't help their laughter.
Looking over Alex's shoulder, Vivi lowered her voice and spoke just loudly enough for the group to hear. "Careful, Alex, here comes someone whom I daresay knows exactly 'which one' he's here for."
Before Alex could turn to see who Vivi was speaking of, she heard the rich, amused tenor of Freddie Stanhope's voice. "You four shouldn't be over here all by yourselves. The sharks are circling."
With genuine pleasure, Alex smiled up at her friend. "We were just noticing that ourselves, my lord. You are certainly well met."
"Indeed," Nicola boldly added, "unless you are circling as well, my lord?"
Freddie put his hand to his chest in mock hurt. "Certainly not, my lady. You wound me to suggest such a thing." He added a distinctly lewd waggle of his eyebrows, sending the girls into giggles.
In a conspiratorial whisper, he continued, "Shall I escort you beauties elsewhere and away from these young pups?"
Ella replied with amusement, "I'm not certain they wouldn't follow, but your plan seems as good as any."
Freddie leaned toward Ella. "I wouldn't be concerned. Not one of them appears to be committed to proper wooing — if they were worth their salt, I would have had to throw elbows to get so close to the four of you."
"Intriguing," spoke Alex. "So now that you have laid claim to us — someone will have to throw elbows to intercede?"
Freddie turned a wickedly handsome smile on her. "Lady Alexandra, I'm not the kind of man to lay claim to four women at once — I'm merely offering my protection to all of you. For now" — he paused, pretending to consider a vital question — "I shall simply fill your dance cards."
He proceeded to do just that, ending with Alex. As he looked down at the little card dangling from her wrist, he shook his head in mock disappointment.
"Why, Alexandra Stafford — it can't be possible you have the next waltz free. Unless... you were saving it for a dashing suitor?"
"Indeed, my lord, I was." Alex cocked her head and considered him. "But I suppose you’ll do."
And, with that, he whisked her into his arms and onto the dance floor. He didn't waste any time before flirting wickedly. "You're the most beautiful woman in the room, Alex."
She smiled up at him. "And you are the greatest bounder in the room, Freddie."
"True. Yet you can't help but enjoy my company. Admit it."
"I never said I didn't enjoy it... but I'm told it's risky. Ella and Vivi think you've got me in your sights."
"And if they were right?" His voice was deeper than usual, and she imagined this was exactly the tone he'd practiced to send young women into fits.
She scoffed. "Save it, Stanhope. If you thought even for a minute that I might possibly fall for you, you'd run. Far. And fast."
"Too true, my brilliant, perceptive friend. Too true."
"Someday, Freddie... someday, some young lady is going to set you on your ear. And you won't be able to resist her."
"Never."
"And, with such pompous self-confidence, it's a certainty."
"I shall shamelessly flirt with you and drive her away."
"This isn't shameless flirting already?"
"Not at all! I'm just getting started." They swirled under the twinkling lights as Alex's laughter drifted across the dance floor and he continued casually, "But, my lady, you seem to have an altogether different admirer who can't take his eyes off you. And, at this particular moment, he doesn't appear at all pleased that you are enjoying yourself in my arms." She started to look to see to whom he was referring, when he stopped her quickly. "Don't look, kitten.
Then he’ll know we're discussing him."
"Who?"
"You mean you don't know? You haven't noticed him watching you all evening? All season?"
"Freddie, WHO?"
"Blackmoor, of course."
"You're touched." Alex laughed, shaking her head. "He's not been watching me all season, and if he has been watching me tonight, it's only because he feels obligated to. He's my chaperone for the evening."
Freddie laughed shortly. "Really? Your chaperone! It seems to me that your family are the ones who are touched, Alex. They're practically feeding you to the lion."
"You don't know what you're talking about, Freddie. Blackmoor has no interest in me other than pseudobrotherly admiration."
"Oh? I've two sisters myself, if you’ll remember, Alex. And I've never looked at one of them quite the way he's looking at you right now."
It took all of Alex's strength not to look. "Which is how, precisely?"
"As though he doesn't know if he wants to kiss you or kill you."
She gasped, a blush coming to her cheeks. "Freddie!"
"Don't shoot the messenger, sweet."
"You're sorely mistaken."
"Perhaps." The music came to a crescendo and they whirled to a halt, Freddie bowing low over her hand and lingering a touch longer than was entirely proper. He winked up at her and whispered, "Let's find out, shall we?" Then, louder and with a rakish grin, "Shall we find the exit to the garden, my lady? I daresay we both could use some... air."
"I don't think that will be at all necessary, Stanhope." The statement cut through the air like a knife, and Alex felt her stomach drop with the realization that Blackmoor was standing immediately behind her. She looked up at Freddie, wide-eyed, not quite knowing what to do.
He spoke with an air of bored dismissal. "Blackmoor, what a surprise. What is it you want?"
Blackmoor's tone brooked no refusal, but was surprisingly hushed, only loud enough for the three of them to hear. "I want you to stay away from Lady Alexandra, Stanhope. She is most definitely not in need of a walk in the gardens with the likes of you."
"I suppose you would be a better companion?" Freddie drawled. Alex could sense that this conversation was not going to end well but had a nagging suspicion that Freddie was quite enjoying himself.
"Most certainly. I'm practically her brother." Freddie gave a short laugh at this, which made Blackmoor even more angry. "More importantly," he continued, "I'm her escort this evening, and I say where she goes and who she goes with. And she is most certainly not going anywhere with you."