“I do hope the Prince Regent comes soon, so we might have the windows opened. I’m finding it a bit noisome in here,” Charlotte said with a ladylike hint of boredom as she fanned herself. Only Dare saw the tense line of her mouth.

“NOISOME!” Phylomena shrieked.

Enough was enough. “Lady Brindley, you will retire now,” Dare said firmly, his blue eyes steely in their resolve. He sent a silent message to Phylomena’s escort, who nodded and took her arm. Caroline took her other arm. With only a moderate amount of cursing on Phylomena’s part, they managed to steer her out of the crowded dinner room.

Almost.

“Do not think this is over,” Phylomena dug in her heels long enough to warn over her shoulder as she was led out the door. “It is not! I shall make sure that everyone will know the truth! Everyone will know that you are bound to a deranged wife, a woman you find so repugnant you have yet to consummate your marriage. Everyone will know how you pine with love for me! Be assured I will have my vengeance!”

Dare heard the quick intake of breath behind him at Phylomena’s words and wondered with a brief rush of irritability why Charlotte had mentioned something so private to the other woman. Surely she was aware of his past relationship with the twice-widowed Phylomena; he had been keeping her company when he met Charlotte, and he was under the impression that she would have rather died than condescend to even notice the older woman, let alone speak to her of something so intimate. But when, he wondered wearily as he rubbed the blossoming headache away, had his wife ever acted in a manner that made any sense?

An excited babble started up immediately. People moved away quickly, forming small groups to discuss this latest tidbit of thrilling gossip, tittering and casting periodic glances their way. No doubt it would be the topic of conversation for many months to come. Thank God they would have nothing to do with the ton after Patricia’s wedding.

“I hope you’re happy with the results of your actions,” Dare growled to his wife. Her eyes were wide with surprise, but it was the flash of pain in them that stopped him from continuing. He couldn’t chastise her, it would be senseless. She was simply being Charlotte. She could no more change than the sun could keep from rising each morning. The sooner he became resigned to her, the easier his life would be.

“I believe I would very much like to go home now,” Charlotte said in an unusually subdued voice. Dare took a closer look at her. Her eyes weren’t just wide, they glistened with tears, tears of mortification. He took her hand and pulled her after him toward the dance floor where couples were just taking their places for a waltz. As he swept her into his arms, he said, “Don’t let them see you care, love. Smile at me as if none of them matter.”