“You didn’t forget me,” she said, smiling with delight.
“Of course not, I promised I wouldn’t.”
“So you did,” Lucy said, her small hand tightening its grip where it rested in his hand as he led her into the dance.
“You dance remarkably well. I suppose you’ve had a great deal of practice.” Roderick tried not to sound as though he were complaining but he must not have succeeded.
“I have, as a matter of fact,” she agreed immediately. “But it’s much better with a partner.”
Roderick frowned. “Whatever do you mean?”
A light chuckle burst from her before she could answer. “I have practiced the steps many times with just the music and my imagination for company.”
“Was that not too difficult?”
She shook her head a little. “I had an instructor and my brothers to practice with as well. But they weren’t nearly as interested in perfecting the steps as I was. So I made do.”
Roderick’s grip on her tightened and he fought against the urge to pull her scandalously close. “I’ll be happy to dance with you if you ever think to practice anew.”
Her smile dimpled at him before she asked him, “How have you become so experienced at the waltz?”
“I have travelled some, I’m sure you know. The waltz isn’t so new on the continent. I learned there and had several opportunities to practice. Then too, Caroline and the other sisters, felt it important that we all practice anew.”
Lucy’s smile turned teasing. “How did your brothers feel about it?”
“Well, Ashford lives most of the time on a ship so I suspect he hasn’t had the same practice, but my other brothers seem to enjoy the practice since it’s one more excuse they didn’t even need to spend time with their wives.”
Lucy’s sigh sounded disconsolate.
“Why did that make you sad?” he demanded with a frown, not missing a step.
“Your brothers all believe themselves in love with their wives, don’t they?”
“They do. It’s quite endearing, to be honest. I never would have pictured any of them being the romantic sort. But they have taken to it quite naturally. It’s why their wives were so determined that I not wed in order to buy my property.”
“And you managed, didn’t you?” Lucy asked eagerly. “I want to know everything about it. Caroline just mentioned it briefly so I wouldn’t fret, telling me that it was taking longer than you expected but it was still a success.”
“Yes, I’m pleased to report that you were right, they had asked me there to offer me the property at a reduced price. And since I was very certain of how much I could pay, I was able to make a deal right away.”
“Oh, you must be so pleased, Roddy.”
Roderick could tell from the tautness of her body as he held her for the dance that she was sincere in her excitement for him.
“What happens next, then?”
“It sounds like this waltz is coming to an end. I will tell you all about it over supper.”
She nodded and relaxed into the last of their dance. Roderick couldn’t quite follow her suit but he was certainly enjoying himself anyway.
He kept his promise and told her all his plans for the property while they ate – the repairs he had to do as well as some rearranging of some of the chambers to make it more useful for their needs. He also told her about the five scholars who were looking forward to continuing their studies on his property as soon as he had it ready for them.
“You met one of them, earlier in the Season, Sean Smythe. He was actually the one who gave me the final motivation to go ahead and make a move on the property as he just lost his benefactor.”
“But how will you manage, Roderick? If you have to prepare the property and sponsor your friends’ studies, surely you will need a benefactor of your own.”
“I might, temporarily. Adelaide has promised to invest if I run into trouble. I appreciate his offer but I would rather not take on an investor. For better or for worse I want to make the decisions and risks myself and then benefit from the rewards or take the losses also myself.”
Lucy nodded as though she could understand his feelings on the matter. Roderick decided to take his courage in his hands.
