"Jonathan. You startled me." She forced a smile.

"I've been looking all over for you." He took her glass and set it down. "And now that I've found you, I want to dance with the prettiest woman here."

"Oh, what a flatterer you are. If you don't watch yourself, I'll be swooning all night." She motioned toward his costume. "Does your boldness have anything to do with who you represent tonight?"

"Not at all." He took her hand and led her toward the dance floor. "I'm trying to sweep you off your feet, if you haven't noticed."

"Oh, so that's what you're doing." She arched an eyebrow. "Thank you for pointing that out to me."

He laughed and gathered her in the dance hold. "I adore your buoyant personality, and the fact that you can make me laugh."

His gaze darkened as he stared into her eyes. Panicked, she struggled to think of something else she could talk to him about. There was no way she wanted their conversation to turn mushy.

She took a quick glance around the ballroom and spotted Justin as he danced with another woman. Seeing him like this didn't bother Victoria, because he was looking at her instead of the woman he danced with, and because of this, he bumped into people around him. Victoria tried not to grin, but she couldn't help it.

"What is so humorous?" Jonathan asked.

She snapped her attention back to him. "I—um, well, I can't help but chuckle over some of these costumes."

"Why so?"

"Probably because I know some of these people, and their costumes do not reflect upon their personality." She nodded to the couple spinning beside them on Victoria's right. "That's Mr. Turney and his wife. I cannot fathom why he chose to dress like Napoleon, when he's a man of God. And his wife—" Victoria peeked at the woman. "Why did Mrs. Turney adorn herself in peacock feathers when she's highly fearful of birds?"

Jonathan laughed heartily and squeezed her hand. "You are such a delight."

She hurried to comment on other people she knew, which made Jonathan laugh, only to keep his thoughts from drifting anywhere near romance. She must keep him from proposing.

"What about Roddy and Bethany?" he asked.

She snorted wish disdain. "Well, I suppose Roderick's suits him well, but he's trying to look heroic—which he is far from it. And Bethany," Victoria paused. She didn't want to be too sarcastic. Jonathan may not know his true relationship to Bethany, but he did love her. "I don't know if a fairy costume suits her, either."

A low rumble came from Jonathan in a form of a laugh as he leaned his head closer. "If you ask me, she should have worn the she-Devil gown."

His comment caught Victoria off guard, and she laughed out loudly. Realizing she'd captured the attention of those around her, she snapped her mouth tight. She and Jonathan shared a silent laugh between them through their gazes.

After the dance, another man came to claim Victoria, which she instantly accepted. She hoped the rest of the evening would be this way and then she wouldn't have to hurt Jonathan's feelings by turning him down when he proposed. The only thing that kept her here instead of hiding, was knowing Justin watched her constantly. That, in itself, was a great relief.

* * * *

Bethany stood in the corner of the room, clutching a goblet of wine, as she stared at Victoria. Fury built inside of Bethany, growing stronger by the minute. The gown she'd picked for Victoria did exactly what Bethany expected. Yet, now men flocked around little Miss Fawson and kept taking her to the dance floor. Bethany counted only twice that the girl had danced with Jonathan, which was not part of the plan.

When Victoria and Jonathan were together, Bethany waited to see any signs that Jonathan had proposed, but none came. This was not acceptable!

And she didn't like it that Victoria danced so many times with the man in black. Since the mask took up most of the stranger's face, Bethany didn't know who he was. She tried a few times to strike up a conversation with him, but he would always move away from her and take a woman out to dance. Bethany's curiosity grew.

Of course, the man's wide shoulders and heart-warming grin also made her want to know him better. If only she could.

But right now the dark stranger danced with Victoria. Again. Just like all the times before, Victoria's eyes sparkled like diamonds, and the man couldn't stop grinning. Neither could Victoria. If Bethany didn't know any better, she'd think Victoria had become smitten with this man.

Yet the more Bethany watched the pair, the more familiarity nudged at her conscience. She knew this man from somewhere.

"You don't look like you're enjoying yourself, my dear."

Roderick's voice snapped Bethany out of her thoughts. She glanced at her husband long enough to roll her eyes before returning her focus back on the happy couple on the dance floor.

"Not as I'd expected to." She sipped her wine glass. "How about you? Have you been able to charm any woman tonight?"

Roderick deep chuckle shook through him. "Ah, my dear. Why do you ask such a question? You are much happier if you are ignorant of my faults."

"Which means you have charmed a few women already tonight," she grumbled. "Just don't ruin the night for your brother. I happen to know he is going to propose to Victoria tonight."

"Indeed?" He gulped down his brandy. "Why hasn't he done so yet?"

"Because it just so happens that other men find our dear, innocent, Victoria appealing this evening as well. Especially the one dancing with her now."

"And what exactly do you wish me to do?"

"Not a thing, Roddy, only because I know you wouldn't lift a finger to help your brother find a wife." When the music ended, Bethany shoved her nearly empty goblet in her husband's chest. He grabbed it before it spilled. "But I, on the other hand," she continued, "will indeed help Jonathan find a wife, even if it means taking out the competition."

Shoulders back and chin erect, she marched toward the stranger, but very muscular man was guiding Victoria away from the dance floor. When the girl's eyes met Bethany's, they widened. It almost appeared as if blood had left her powdered face as well.

Bethany put on her practiced fake smile. "Are you two enjoying yourselves this evening?"

"Uh, of course, we are." Victoria's answer was hurried.

The man nodded and said softly, "Yes."

Bethany pushed herself between them and sided up closer to the man in black. "I must admit, sir, you have me intrigued."

"I do?" he answered. "Why?"

"Because I do not know your identity."

Victoria released a laugh. "Oh come now, Bethany. This is a masked ball, is it not? We are not supposed to know each other's identities until midnight."

"True, but still—" She faced the man fully, standing very close to him. "I would very much like to dance with you, if you don't mind."

The man shrugged then offered his black-gloved hand. "Why should I mind? I enjoy dancing with lovely ladies." His attention moved back to Victoria. "Again, Miss She-Devil, it was a pleasure dancing with you."

Victoria curtsied. "And it was a delight being your partner."

The man met Bethany's stare again. "Shall we?"

"But of course."

She studied the man the best she could, but since the dance was a country dance, she couldn't get very close to him, and when she did, it was only for a moment. At times he seemed familiar, but she couldn't figure out where she knew him.

When he passed her, she inhaled deeply. His scent was very masculine, but still it didn't bring back any nostalgic memories. And since his mask took up most of his face, and left very little holes for his eyes, the only thing she could really study were his lips. That's where he looked familiar. Even the way he carried himself. Yet, she was at a loss for his identity.

"Pardon me, sir, but have we met before?" she finally asked.

"I don't believe so." He tilted his head as if studying her. "But then you're in mask so we may have met, I just don't realize it."

She laughed. His voice didn't sound familiar, either. Then again, he spoke very softly. "I would very much like to get to know you."

He shook his head. "Not until after midnight, remember?"

She pouted. "But I'm the Mistress of Maitland Manor. I can break the rules."

The corner of his mouth lifted in a lazy smile. "You are correct, although—" He leaned closer to her ear as he passed her. "I don't break the rules."

"Augh!" She swatted his shoulder playfully. "You are just wicked!"

He laughed, but it, too, sounded very soft. Perhaps she didn't know him after all. But, when a man as superbly masculine as this one was, she would very much like to know him better. Waiting for midnight would be torture, to be sure.

As the dance ended, he mocked a small bow. "It was a pleasure, Mistress."

"Yes, it was." She smiled fully.

He didn't say another word as he walked her off the floor, then he turned and moved away. He weaved through the crowd, and a few times she couldn't see him, so she had to move around couples to see where the stranger headed. In the corner of the room stood Victoria, and as he passed her, he slowed and leaned into her.

Bethany knew the two of them shared some kind of secret. Even from where Bethany watched, she could see Victoria's face light up when she looked upon the man in black.

Grumbling, Bethany moved to a wall to try and watch the mysterious duo, but dancing couples kept blocking her vision. She couldn't understand why Victoria seemed so friendly with this man. From the research Bethany had done on Victoria, the girl hadn't acquired any beaus while living with her uncle. In fact, even when Bethany had invited her to the manor, she knew the girl didn't have many friends, either. Now the question was—when had Victoria met this man? By the way they danced together and smiled at each other, Bethany could tell tonight was not their first meeting. Victoria would have had to meet him here at the manor. The man was definitely not one of the staff, because none were so muscular.

Recognition finally hit her like a tidal wave crashing into her. Justin! Now she knew why he looked familiar.