Ned sent her a wry glance. “Do you sneak down these stairs very often?”

Emma flushed as she remembered the day she and Belle crept down the back stairs dressed as maids. The day she met Alex. “Belle told me about it,” she mumbled.

Following Belle’s advice, they moved soundlessly down the back stairs, tiptoed through the deserted kitchens, and slipped out the side door into the velvet darkness of the night.

Lady Mottram’s party was already well underway when Alex and Dunford, both impeccably dressed in austere black evening clothes, strode through the ballroom doors.

“Do you see them?” Alex asked in a clipped voice, using his height to scan over the heads of the guests.

“No,” Dunford replied, craning his neck.

“Emma’s not here,” Alex stated.

“What do you mean? She’s got to be here.”

“She isn’t. I can spot her hair a mile away.”

“Wait!” Dunford suddenly exclaimed. “I see Belle.”

Alex followed Dunford’s line of vision until he, too, located Belle’s blond head. She was surrounded by her usual throng of admirers. “Woodside is hanging all over her.”

Dunford furrowed his brow. “And she isn’t doing anything to discourage him. Follow me.” He moved decisively through the milling crowd, Alex right at his heels.

“Belle!” Dunford exclaimed jovially when he reached her. “You’re looking even lovelier than usual.” He leaned down and kissed her hand. Belle regarded him with the utmost suspicion. “And Viscount Benton!” He slapped the man on the back. “It’s been an age. I’ve been meaning to ask you about that waistcoat you’re wearing. Been admiring it for some time. Where did you have it made?”

With Woodside’s attention satisfactorily engaged, Alex focused his energies on Belle. “Lady Arabella,” he said curtly, dismissing the rest of the young bucks with a quelling stare. “I need to speak with you in private.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” Belle replied with a lift of her chin.

Alex turned to Dunford and Woodside. “Would you mind if I stole Lady Arabella away from you for just one moment? I promise to return her immediately.” He winked at Woodside. “I know how fond she is of you, and I wouldn’t want to deprive you of her company for too long.” With that, he smiled dangerously at Belle, grabbed her wrist, and practically yanked her out onto the balcony. “Where is your cousin?”

“She’s not pining away after you at home if that’s what you’re worried about.” Belle gulped, instantly aware that she had told Alex too much.

He caught her guilty look immediately. “Where is she? Is she in danger? Lord only knows what kind of scrape she’ll get herself into without someone to watch over her.” Alex had no rational basis for the gut-wrenching fear that coursed through him, but somehow he knew that Emma was involved in something dangerous. He also knew that there was no way he could stand back and watch her be hurt in any way.

“She’s perfectly able to take care of herself without your assistance. Besides, I wasn’t aware that she was any concern of yours any longer.”

“Do not toy with me, my lady,” Alex warned. “Where is Emma?”

“Look here, your grace,” Belle returned in a scathing voice. “You have behaved abominably. I don’t know what you said to her, but it must have been dreadful because she won’t even speak about it. She walks around the house with the most morose expression I have ever seen, and every now and then she just starts to cry. I hope you’re satisfied!” she spat out. “It’s all we can do to keep her mind occupied so that she doesn’t have to think about the swine who was courting her! Luckily we’ve got—” She broke off suddenly.

“Luckily what?” Alex demanded. “What are you doing tonight that is keeping her occupied?”

“Did I say ‘swine?’” Belle asked offhandedly, tipping her head and tapping her finger against her chin. “I meant ‘vermin’!” she hissed. “Now leave me—and Emma—alone!” She snatched her arm away from him and flounced back into the ballroom, heading straight to Woodside and Dunford.

“I am so sorry for Ashbourne’s rude behavior,” she said prettily, smiling up into Woodside’s pale blue eyes. “He was questioning me about my cousin. He’s been dangling after her, you know.”

Woodside leveled a shrewd look at Belle. “I was under the impression that she reciprocated his feelings.”

“Not anymore. In fact, that is why she stayed home tonight. She’s still a little upset about the entire affair. But I don’t want to talk about Emma tonight. I’d like to learn a bit more about you, my lord. Ned has told me so much about you.”

A lecherous gleam sparkled in Woodside’s eye as he convinced himself that Ned had chosen to offer his sister in exchange for the ten thousand pounds. “I’m sure he has,” he murmured.

Dunford stifled a groan as he spotted Alex striding angrily toward them. “Woodside, you wouldn’t mind if I borrowed Lady Arabella for a waltz, would you? I know that Ashbourne just stole her away, but I really must talk to her, too.”

“I don’t want to dance, Dunford,” Belle bit out.

“I think you do,” he said in a silky tone, pulling her out toward the dance floor.

Woodside let out an irritated sigh as he watched his prey once again being led away from him. He was just about to go off in search of a drink when Alex appeared at his right shoulder.