Kara forced herself to smile wider, nodding politely at Marquis Tarren, who excused himself to join his two sons. The old widower had been talking her ear off ever since Marden went to get them both a new round of drinks. She was glad that she didn’t have to sit alone and look awkward while drinking more than she should, but the moment the man—who was older than her father—started dropping hints that he was looking for a new wife, she regretted accepting his company.
Luckily, his two grown sons were very much against their father finding a wife tonight, so they dragged him away, holding him by the arms and murmuring something in his ear.
Kara took a deep breath and raised her glass to her lips, only to remember that it was empty. She searched for Marden’s striking purple suit, but he was
