her or away from the revelry around them? He gave instruction to the footman to find their carriage, and they waited in silence for it to come around.
“Your Grace,” someone bellowed out.
The breath caught in Jessica’s throat as she turned slowly to see who had called after Hayden. By the sudden grip on her arm it was obvious he was surprised anyone had figured out his identity. Jessica didn’t make eye contact with the gentleman who approached. He was portly, with a dark gray beard and graying hair. He wore a simple mask that matched his head-to-toe ensemble of black. Jessica could not place him, but his voice was somewhat familiar.
Hayden’s expression was carefully blank as he turned to face the older man.
“Hilliard,” he said simply.
Jessica recalled who the man was now. An old friend of her husband’s and not someone she wanted to recognize her. Though the odds were in her favor, being that she’d only ever been introduced to him on two occasions. In all likelihood, he’d not remember her. But who else would anyone assume to be on the arm of the duke?
“I thought that was you, old chap,” Hilliard said. “I won’t keep you long, as I see your hands are full this evening.”
If Jessica hadn’t powdered her face to near white, all present would note that it burned hot red the instant he insinuated her being here in a different capacity with Hayden than a friend. Had this man seen them kissing?
She ducked her head. Hayden must have been as uncomfortable at being discovered as she, for his arm came around her shoulder, the position tucking her face down and aiding in the concealment of her identity.
“Should have figured you’d be here,” Hayden said with an air of boredom.
Hilliard puffed out his chest, so obviously full of pride by association with those at the house party this evening. “I’ve known the Malverns for what feels like forever. Just wanted to catch up with you”—he leaned in closer, lowering his voice—“to see if that matter we discussed had been dealt with.”
Hayden cleared his throat, his hand resting over his chest as he answered. “The results are promising.”
Was this a political association he had with this man or something more personal in nature? Their conversation was oddly cryptic. Suddenly she felt as though she knew Hayden less than she thought.
Hilliard patted Hayden on the arm and gave an approving nod. “I’ll let you get back to the rest of your night. Just wanted to ensure the information I gave you proved to be fruitful.”
Thankfully, the other man didn’t acknowledge her. As he disappeared around the corner Jessica looked at Hayden. “Whatever in the world was that about?”
“Nothing of importance.” He turned them toward the exit once again.
“It sounded like nothing I’d be interested to know until you forced that point.”
“Jessica, not now. We have bigger worries.”
“Yes, like the fact that you’ve just been discovered in attendance at a Malvern house party, and by one of the Malverns’ oldest friends. There may well be repercussions from our attendance. It won’t be long before it’s found that I was the lady on your arm all evening.”
And their kissing would probably be recalled by half the attendees. She massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Tonight, it seemed, had been more than she was ready to handle.
“No one will ever know it was you, Jess.”
She glared at him. Did he honestly think no one would put two and two together? Where Hayden went Jessica was often in attendance, and vice versa. This was turning out to be a nightmare.
“You’re mad if you believe that,” she said to him.
She walked away from him as their carriage came around the drive. Just as the footman gave her his hand in assistance, Hayden’s hands came around her waist possessively and lifted her up the stairs. He didn’t say a word as he climbed in after her. Once the carriage was moving away from the Malvern estate, he
“Your Grace,” someone bellowed out.
The breath caught in Jessica’s throat as she turned slowly to see who had called after Hayden. By the sudden grip on her arm it was obvious he was surprised anyone had figured out his identity. Jessica didn’t make eye contact with the gentleman who approached. He was portly, with a dark gray beard and graying hair. He wore a simple mask that matched his head-to-toe ensemble of black. Jessica could not place him, but his voice was somewhat familiar.
Hayden’s expression was carefully blank as he turned to face the older man.
“Hilliard,” he said simply.
Jessica recalled who the man was now. An old friend of her husband’s and not someone she wanted to recognize her. Though the odds were in her favor, being that she’d only ever been introduced to him on two occasions. In all likelihood, he’d not remember her. But who else would anyone assume to be on the arm of the duke?
“I thought that was you, old chap,” Hilliard said. “I won’t keep you long, as I see your hands are full this evening.”
If Jessica hadn’t powdered her face to near white, all present would note that it burned hot red the instant he insinuated her being here in a different capacity with Hayden than a friend. Had this man seen them kissing?
She ducked her head. Hayden must have been as uncomfortable at being discovered as she, for his arm came around her shoulder, the position tucking her face down and aiding in the concealment of her identity.
“Should have figured you’d be here,” Hayden said with an air of boredom.
Hilliard puffed out his chest, so obviously full of pride by association with those at the house party this evening. “I’ve known the Malverns for what feels like forever. Just wanted to catch up with you”—he leaned in closer, lowering his voice—“to see if that matter we discussed had been dealt with.”
Hayden cleared his throat, his hand resting over his chest as he answered. “The results are promising.”
Was this a political association he had with this man or something more personal in nature? Their conversation was oddly cryptic. Suddenly she felt as though she knew Hayden less than she thought.
Hilliard patted Hayden on the arm and gave an approving nod. “I’ll let you get back to the rest of your night. Just wanted to ensure the information I gave you proved to be fruitful.”
Thankfully, the other man didn’t acknowledge her. As he disappeared around the corner Jessica looked at Hayden. “Whatever in the world was that about?”
“Nothing of importance.” He turned them toward the exit once again.
“It sounded like nothing I’d be interested to know until you forced that point.”
“Jessica, not now. We have bigger worries.”
“Yes, like the fact that you’ve just been discovered in attendance at a Malvern house party, and by one of the Malverns’ oldest friends. There may well be repercussions from our attendance. It won’t be long before it’s found that I was the lady on your arm all evening.”
And their kissing would probably be recalled by half the attendees. She massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on. Tonight, it seemed, had been more than she was ready to handle.
“No one will ever know it was you, Jess.”
She glared at him. Did he honestly think no one would put two and two together? Where Hayden went Jessica was often in attendance, and vice versa. This was turning out to be a nightmare.
“You’re mad if you believe that,” she said to him.
She walked away from him as their carriage came around the drive. Just as the footman gave her his hand in assistance, Hayden’s hands came around her waist possessively and lifted her up the stairs. He didn’t say a word as he climbed in after her. Once the carriage was moving away from the Malvern estate, he
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