Free Seducing an Angel by Mary Balogh Page B

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    But she would draw him into her web, whether he really wished to be there or not. She needed him.
    No, not him .
    She needed his money.
    Alice needed it. So did Mary and Belinda. And even dear Roger.
    She had to remind herself of them. Only so could she bear the burden of self-loathing that suddenly descended like a real physical weight across her shoulders.
    He was an amiable, courteous gentleman.
    He was also a man . And men had needs. She would service those needs for the Earl of Merton. She would not be stealing his money. She would give good value in return.
    She need not feel guilty.
    “I have enjoyed the break from dancing too,” she told Lady Carling.

5
    “L ADY Paget,” the Duchess of Moreland said when the ball was over and crowds of people milled about, looking for spouses and offspring and shawls and fans, bidding friends and acquaintances good night, heading for the staircase and the hall below so that they would be there when it was the turn for their particular carriage to draw up in front of the steps. The duchess had just introduced herself “Did you come in your carriage?”
    “I did not,” Cassandra said, “but Lord Merton has been kind enough to offer me a ride home in his.”
    “Ah, good.” The duchess smiled. “Elliott and I would have been delighted to take you to your door, but you will be safe in Stephen’s hands.”
    Stephen . His name was Stephen. It somehow suited him.
    The duchess linked an arm through hers.
    “Let us go and find him,” she said. “This end-of-evening crush is always the worst part of balls, but I am delighted there is a crush tonight. Meg was terrified that no one would come.”
    Cassandra saw the Earl of Merton striding toward them before they had taken more than a few steps.
    “Nessie,” he said, smiling at them both, “you have found Lady Paget, have you?”
    “I do not believe she was lost, Stephen,” she said. “But she is waiting for you to take her home.”
    It seemed to Cassandra that it took an age for them to leave the ballroom, descend the stairs, and make their way across the hall toward the front doors. But she soon realized why they were in no hurry. The duchess and Lord Merton were the Countess of Sheringford’s sister and brother, and no doubt their carriages would be at the very back of the line.
    Eventually there was no one left but the duke and duchess, Lord and Lady Montford, to whom the duchess introduced Cassandra, the Earl of Merton, Sir Graham and Lady Carling, and the Earl and Countess of Sheringford, who had just finished bidding their guests good night.
    And Cassandra.
    The irony of now being so very conspicuous when she had come uninvited to the ball did not escape her. Neither did the discomfort of being the only nonfamily guest still present. Especially under the circumstances .
    Both Lady Carling and Baron Montford had offered to take her home in their carriages. She had assured both of them that Lord Merton had been kind enough to offer first.
    “Well, Meg,” Lord Montford said, “it is a good thing no one came to your ball. I dread to think how pushed and pulled and crushed we would all be feeling now if anyone had .”
    The countess laughed.
    “It did go rather well,” she said. And then, with a sudden look of anxiety, “It did , did it not?”
    “It was the grandest squeeze of the Season so far, Margaret,” Lady Carling assured her. “Every other hostess for what remains of the spring will be desperately trying to match it and failing miserably. I overheard Mrs. Bessmer tell Lady Spearing that she must discover who your cook is and lure her away with the offer of a higher salary.”
    The countess protested with a mock shriek.
    “You have nothing to fear, Margaret,” the duke said. “Mrs. Bessmer’s main claim to fame is that she is a notorious pinch-penny. Her idea of more pay is doubtless to offer your cook one-fifth of what you are paying her.”
    “I could challenge Ferdie Bessmer to pistols at dawn if