Free The Husband List -2 by Victoria Alexander

the ball alone.
    “Lord Weston, Lord Cummings,” Richard said mildly.
    Silence fell among the three men as if each one was assessing the respective merits and weaknesses of the others in preparation for mortal combat. It would have been a humorous sight under different circumstances: Robin dressed as a Roman soldier, Kit costumed as a French musketeer, Richard in what appeared to be the same clothes he’d worn to her salon. All three were sporting the half-masks that were de rigueur for male guests at Lady Forester’s annual masquerade.
    Gillian groaned. Thus far, the evening had been every bit as awkward as she’d expected. She’d tried to avoid Robin and Kit in the few days since she’d told them of her plans to marry Richard, though each had found time to pay her a visit in a futile attempt to convince her of the error of her decision. At the moment their disapproval was silent but obvious nonetheless.
    “Interesting choice of costume, my lord,” Kit said at last, inclining his head toward Richard. “What precisely are you supposed to be?”
    “Precisely?” Richard spread his arms wide and glanced down at his clothes. While not exactly shabby, they had definitely seen better days. “Why, isn’t it obvious? I’m a penniless earl planning to marry a wealthy heiress.”
    Gillian sucked in a hard breath.
    Robin’s eyes narrowed. Kit’s widened with disbelief.
    Richard laughed.
    It might have been the shock of hearing his laugh, deep and unrestrained for all the world to witness. Or the looks on the faces of her two dearest friends. Or the moment Richard’s gaze met hers and she distinctly caught his wink. The absurdity of it all bubbled up inside her, and she joined in his laughter.
    “This is not funny,” Robin said indignantly.
    “Not at all.” Kit’s brow furrowed.
    “Oh, but it is. I’ve never seen a Roman quite so astounded or a musketeer nearly so stunned.” Gillian lowered her voice and leaned toward her friends. “And I must say you two deserve it. You’ve treated me like I don’t have a brain in my head from the moment I first took you into my confidence, and I’m tired of it. In point of fact, I’m beginning to believe you’re right in that I have indeed made one stupid decision—”
    “Gillian,” Robin started, “we never—”
    “I say, you needn’t—” Kit sputtered.
    “—and that was confiding in the two of you!” She turned toward Richard and cast him her brightest smile. “My lord, it is hot and stuffy and I would like nothing better than to be escorted to a spot where I could get a breath of fresh air.”
    “I am, as always, at your service.” Richard took her elbow. “Gentlemen.”
    Gillian nodded in dismissal and allowed Richard to steer her through the crowd and away from a staring Roman and an openmouthed musketeer.
    “I am sorry, Gillian.” Richard bent closer to be heard over the din of the throng. “I simply couldn’t resist. They were so blasted protective and rather condemning and ... Good Lord.” He stopped and stared at her. “They did know, didn’t they? About your legacy? I just assumed—”
    “They know,” she said with a sigh. “And they haven’t been at all helpful.”
    “No?” He raised a brow. “I’m surprised they didn’t offer to marry you.”
    “They did.”
    “I see.” He again took her arm, and they started toward the doors at the far end of the room.
    It was pointless to try to explain anything to him here. She could barely hear herself think, and the last thing she wanted was for all of London to learn anything about her arrangement with Richard through a misplaced shout. She’d already noticed more then a few curious glances cast in their direction. She hadn’t been seen in the company of anyone other than Robin and Kit in years, and Richard was viewed only as a silent figure always on the edge of a crowd.
    They made their way across the ballroom packed with revelers in costumes ranging from the exquisite to the