Mac Meriweather wasn’t devastatingly handsome according to society standards by any means. But to Letty, his square jaw, blunt nose, and captivating gray eyes made him exceptionally pleasing to look at.
“I do hope my dancing did not wound you too badly,” she said, eyeing him playfully.
She had warned him numerous times during their time together that she was not as graceful as other ladies on the dance floor.
He chuckled, and the deep timber sound did strange things to her lower belly. “I found your lack of coordination refreshing, and since I have vowed to always be your dance partner, you will only improve.”
She stumbled over her own feet, again, trying to ignore the seed of hope she felt in her abdomen. “Always?” she asked, searching for the truth.
When they’d first met, she’d assumed any acquaintance of her brother’s would be as disagreeable as he was. However, Mac was charming, passionate, and engaging. He was genuinely interested in conversing with her about printing instead of ignoring her opinions because she was a woman. She envied his passion for his business and how he was able to stand on his own instead of depending on his father’s money.
It mattered not that he was acquainted with her churlish brother—the only thing that mattered to Letty was that he wasn’t like any of the fortune hunters paraded in front of her by her mother, like Baron Oakfield.
“As long as you’d have me.” He stopped walking, facing her, his gray eyes dark and cloudy.
Swallowing, she wet her dry lips. “I will consider you a worthy choice on one condition.”
He leaned forward, the corner of his lips twitching with a smile. “Yes?”
“As my permanent dance partner, you must also teach me everything you know about printing.” Turning her head, Letty tried to hide the color that was rising on her cheeks, but her gaze locked on the disapproving glare of her mother.
She didn’t care if her mother did not approve of her starting her own magazine or of the company she kept. It was her life to do with as she pleased.
“Letty, it will be my pleasure to be your permanent partner, and your teacher.” The words hung thick in the air between them. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest trying to hide how his words affected her.
Her lips parted, and she was sure her eyes were as big as the moon as she looked up at him. The fingers of his free hand discreetly teased her gloved one where it laid in the crook of his arm.
Her skin tingled immediately at the contact, heart beating wildly in her chest. It was like a fire had been lit inside of her at that single touch … and she wanted more.
She smiled, enjoying their flirtation. “We’ll see if you’re worthy.”
A brief shadow passed over his face before he quickly glanced away, and Letty could wonder about the cause.
“I hope that I am.” His gaze roamed around the ballroom until he froze.
“Meriweather, I’m surprised to see you, and with my sister of all people,” Letty’s brother, Bertram, said as he walked up to them with the rest of her family close behind.
Her father’s heir and only son was eighteen years Letty’s senior and had loathed her from the moment she was born. Over the years, she had tried to form a relationship with him similar to the one she had with Cleo, but unlike her sister, who did not see Letty as a threat, Bertram only saw her as competition for their father’s attention and money.
“Cedemoor, Lady Leticia granted me the honor of her company,” Mac said, addressing her brother by their father’s lesser title.
“How fortunate for you,” her brother replied coldly, peering at where Letty’s hand rested securely in the crook of Mac’s arm.
She hated the condescending look on Bertram’s face. It was the same look he’d given Letty her entire life. Was it her fault that she’d been born, splitting his inheritance in half? It wasn’t like she would inherit the title and the land. Letty was thankful that she was blessed with such a kind father; there were many ladies of her acquaintance who were left destitute once their father died.
“That was good of you, Meriweather. I do hope my daughter’s dancing wasn’t too much of a bother,” her father teased, his eyes shining in delight.
She shook her head at her father’s comment. Her entire family constantly mocked Letty about her dancing.
Beside her, Cleo tried to contain her laughter by covering her mouth with a gloved hand, but the shake of her sister’s shoulders gave her away.
Letty side-eyed her sister before discreetly stepping on the other woman’s toe, turning her sister’s laughter into a gasp of shock.
Good, that’ll teach her to laugh at me.
“Is everything all right Miss Hayward?” Bertram asked her sister, who was glaring at Letty.
His hazel eyes and lightly tanned skin were identical to their father’s. Though unlike the earl’s, his eyes had a coldness to them, his lips forever set in a thin line of disapproval.
