She shoved those dreadful thoughts away, picked up a piece of paper, and dipped the quill into the ink. After penning the note that would seal her future, she sanded it and waved the paper to dry.
It was done. She would give herself up to the passion she had inside of her and allay her curiosity. The only thing left to do was get the message to him before midnight.
After returning to the ballroom, she scanned the room for him. She found Emory only two feet from the man she wanted to ignore. While Emory didn’t appear to notice her stare, Selby naturally did. It seemed the wretch was spying on her tonight, though she had no idea why. Instead of dwelling on Selby any further, she waved a footman over.
“Yes, miss?”
“Bring this to the man by the terrace door,” she whispered, pointing toward Emory.
The man hesitated.
“Over there,” Avis said, again pointing to Emory.
“Ah, yes, miss.”
She couldn’t watch. Instead, she turned and walked toward Jennette knowing her plan was in motion.
Banning continued to make inane conversation with Billingsworth’s friends, wondering when Avis would try to contact the man again. He hoped he had forestalled her first attempt when he jostled her on the dance floor. Letting Billingsworth make a fool out of her…or worse was not an option. Banning would do everything in his power to make certain Avis didn’t give herself to that letch.
“I have great news to announce tonight at midnight,” Billingsworth said to his small crowd of admirers.
“About what?” one of the men asked.
“My latest novel. Walking with Emily is going to be a huge success.”
Banning smiled along with the rest of the group but wondered exactly how Billingsworth’s unpublished novel would be a success when he couldn’t find a publisher. Banning watched as a footman headed toward the group with a note on a silver salver. He’d seen Avis talking to the same footman and could only assume she meant the missive for Billingsworth. Banning moved slightly closer to him, ready to grab the note if necessary.
“Sir, I believe this is for you,” the footman said to Billingsworth.
“Actually, if the note is from Miss Copley, it would be for me,” Banning said with all the arrogance an earl could possess.
The footman turned toward Banning with a bow. “My mistake, my lord.”
“Are you certain, Selby? Perhaps the lady had an assignation with me in mind,” Billingsworth said with a coarse laugh.
The men in the group chortled, except Trey and Somerton who both gave Banning curious looks.
He slipped the paper into his jacket pocket. “It is a note regarding some business I am supposed to have with her cousin, Lord Watton.”
“Of course. The Ice Maiden wouldn’t have anything to do with assignations when she can keep herself warm with her words,” Billingsworth said, raising chuckles from his toadies.
The urge to strangle the man forced Banning’s hands into fists. How could the bastard talk so poorly about her when he greedily took her money and pretended to be her friend? And Banning hated how people called her the Ice Maiden, especially since he’d coined the term for her. But that had happened a very long time ago.
He moved away from Billingsworth’s group, found a secluded corner and opened the note.
Meet me in the study at midnight…A
He would certainly do just that. He crumpled the paper back into his pocket and checked the time—quarter past eleven.
“Lord Selby, have you forgotten our dance?” the tinny voice of Miss Olivia Roebuck sounded from behind him.
The woman would not leave him alone. She had been after him the entire Season. Banning turned and faced the young woman. Her blonde hair styled into a halo of curls, and her big blue eyes looked angelic, but he knew better. Several times in the past few months, she had tried to get him into a compromising position. He only agreed to dance with her tonight because the girl’s mother pressed him into it.
“Of course, Miss Roebuck. I believe this is our quadrille.”
“There is a waltz coming up next if you would prefer to wait?”
“No,” he said a bit too roughly. “I would love to dance with you now.” And be done with it.
He only prayed the quadrille wouldn’t last too long. He had to keep his unexpected appointment with Avis.
Miss Roebuck droned on about some new on-dit as they walked to the dance floor, but Banning kept his eyes on his prey. Avis stood in the corner with his sister, talking about something, and he doubted it was the latest gossip.
As soon as the dance ended, Banning returned the pouting girl to her mother and searched for a corner to pass the next few moments. His gaze landed on Avis as she stood across the room. She leveled him a glare before averting her eyes to the dance floor. He loved the way her cheeks turned rosy when he stared at her. As the minutes passed, he wondered what he would say to her. Some measure of the truth, but just how much? He’d never told anyone what he’d seen Billingsworth do to those girls all those years ago.
Miss Reynard had suggested lying to Avis, and it might just come to that. He skirted the crush on the dance floor and reached the hallway just in time to see the door to the study close behind her. Standing outside the room, he stared at the door.
A rush of apprehension overwhelmed him. He suddenly felt as though he could be making the biggest mistake of his life. But he had to stop her. He’d failed the others. He would not fail Avis.
Forcing the unease away, he slipped inside.
Avis turned at the sound. Her mouth dropped open, and her amber eyes widened in surprise or shock, he wasn’t sure which.
“Wh—What are you doing here?” she sputtered.
Banning smiled. “Were you expecting someone else?”
He hadn’t thought her eyes could get any bigger, but they did. She backed herself against the large, cherry desk.
“You must leave—now!” she exclaimed, pointing to the door.
“I cannot do that, Avis.”
“Selby, get out of here!”
Slowly he advanced on her until he stood only inches away. Her chest rose and fell in quick succession emphasizing her full breasts, which she seldom exposed to this degree.
“I’m expecting someone,” she cried. “You must leave before he arrives.”
A loud cheer from the ballroom turned both their heads toward the door.
“He won’t be coming.”
“Who?” she whispered, looking up at him.
“Emory Billingsworth.”
Chapter Four
She slapped her hands down on the desk behind her as if to brace herself. “What are you talking about, Selby?”
Why couldn’t Billingsworth meet her? There had to be a good reason. Thank God, he had actually listened to Jennette’s gossipy prattle at breakfast about Lady Hythe.
“That cheer was the ton’s congratulations on Mr. Billingsworth and Lady Hythe’s engagement. He won’t be coming in here.”
“His engagement?” she whispered. She blinked as if attempting to keep tears at bay. “Did he send you in his place, to inform me?”
“No.”
“Then how did you…?” Her face