Page 33 of The Notorious Lord Sin
Not that she knew that was what the dowager viscountess was up to, but she could imagine she was. She certainly wanted her son to marry well, and no doubt that went for her daughters also.
The idea of Dominic dancing with anyone but herself made her blood boil. She was so changed since she had first seen him again after all the hurt of their past.
But then, so too was he, which was fortunate. He was caring, had apologized for his treatment of her, even though he only knew half of what he did.
What would he think? How would he react should he know that she had borne his child? That little Lady Maya was his and not Lord Hervey's.
"Thank you for your assistance this evening, Lady Hervey, at Almacks. I'm certain Lady Sefton is now quite enamored of us," Anwen said, satisfaction twisting her lips.
Dominic shook his head and chuckled. "We will see soon enough, I suppose. Should you receive another invitation, then your summarization is correct."
"I hope Lord Devlin is present this evening. Or Mr. Kane for you, Anwen. They are the gentlemen we wish to see, are they not?" Kate asked her sister.
"Oh yes, Mr. Kane has a small estate in Reading and is worth a thousand pounds a year from what I'm told. Not a lot, I know, but he's deadly handsome, and I should think kisses very well."
Dominic cleared his throat and gave Paris a look of horror. "I'm not sure what you spend on gowns will be satisfied with a gentleman who is only worth a thousand pounds a year," he said, pulling at his cravat.
His words chilled a little of the amusement they were all having in the carriage, and the look of devastation on Kate's visage gave Paris pause. Was he putting someone's wealth above that of their heart's desire?
The carriage rolled to a halt, and the girls tumbled out before Paris and Dominic followed at a more sedate pace. "Why would you have said that to Lady Kate? So what if Mr. Kane is not as rich as you? She has a substantial dowry and can satisfy income more than enough for both of them."
"My apologies," he said, helping her with her cloak. "I merely meant I do not want my sisters jumping into a union merely because of a pretty face."
"As you did with me until you found out I was poor and jumped ship?" she bit back, not satisfied by his answer.
He pulled her to a stop before the ballroom doors, stepping close. She breathed in the deep scent of vanilla that drifted from his attire this evening and fought to keep her head. He smelled so good, but not good enough not to remain annoyed with him.
"No, nothing of the kind. You know what I did to you was a mistake and one that I'm paying for even now when you keep throwing it against me at any chance you have."
She walked ahead, knowing that was true, but what did he expect? Especially when he said odd things as he had to his sister in the carriage.
They entered the ballroom, and Paris watched as Dominic's sisters greeted their mother and were soon hurried toward a group of young ladies and gentlemen who stood talking some distance away.
His mother, once happy with her daughters’ situation, turned. Paris inwardly swore when the dowager spotted her beside Dominic. Dominic’s mother's mouth twisted into a displeased line as she sauntered toward them, nose high in the air as if she commanded the ballroom over the hosts.
What a snobbish prig she was, and how Paris loathed the woman who had been at the center of all her misfortune. Who had been cruel and unkind to a woman of no rank or fortune, and because of which her daughter now would never know her true father.
"Lady Hervey," she all but spat, taking in Paris's attire as if what she wore was offensive in some way. Beneath her exulted standards that were no standards at all. The woman's cruel and nasty character toward anyone she deemed unworthy made her so.
"Lady Astoridge. What a pleasure to see you again," she said, her tone mocking.
The dowager blinked slowly, and Paris fought not to smile. She hoped she understood that any dislike was wholly mutual.
"I hear that you helped escort my daughters to Almacks." She turned to Dominic, pinning him with a hard stare. "Why did you not ask me, my dear? I'm more than capable, and I've been in society much longer than Lady Hervey."
Dominic took two glasses of ratafia from a passing footman and handed one to Paris. "Lady Hervey was kind enough to accept my request of her, and there is no harm in others escorting Kate and Anwen. It does not always have to be us, and anyway," he said, taking a sip of the sweet drink. "Lady Hervey is friends with Lady Sefton, and I think it helped my sisters in their quest for a successful evening."
His words brooked no argument, and the dowager could not say much to what he said. Unless she wanted to look even more spiteful than she already did.
"Humph," she huffed. "Well, let us hope it does help them, for both need good matches. The Astoridges only marry well," she said, glancing at Paris as she said the words.
Paris fought not to glare at the old biddy. How could a person who had such sweet daughters be so vindictive and mean? It made little sense at all.
"My escorting your daughters will not hurt their chances of finding a good match, my lady." She paused, debating her next words and deciding to go forth with them. "Even a woman such as myself who started off with no fortune or rank when first coming to London had a successful Season. No matter the work that others put into my time here to try to make it not so."
The dowager gaped before narrowing her eyes. "I hope you are not insinuating anything, my dear. I would hate for us to have a falling out since you seem familiar with my son once again."
"Mother ..."
