“I believe there is to be dancing soon, if that is more to your taste,” Roderick offered.
“It isn’t, so thank you for the warning.”
Again, Rod found his ready amusement touched. He wasn’t sure why the woman’s contrariness would seem like a good jest rather than annoy him as it usually would. Perhaps it was because he was already offering her the consideration he would to a family member in anticipation of the possibility of taking her as wife. He ought to keep his wits about him instead of giving her his loyalty without cause.
“What would be to your taste, then?” Roderick asked.
“Why are you asking?” the woman asked, staring at him with challenge shining in her gaze.
Rod blinked, returning her stare. “It seems like a reasonable question to ask at a social event, or so I thought,” he replied, his eyebrow raising in the way all Northcotts were known for, despite his best efforts to remain friendly.
Suddenly the young woman laughed and it completely transformed her, making Roderick mentally stop in his tracks as he had already been retreating from her and thinking over his list of other possible options.
“My apologies, Mr. Northcott, social engagements are not my favourite way to spend an evening and so I am never in the best of humour when I find myself at one.” She waved her hand as though to dismiss her previous behaviour and appeared suddenly contrite. “And I will admit to having a dreadfully suspicious attitude. Do accept my apology. I’m sure you were merely expressing polite interest. I shouldn’t have questioned your motivations.”
Suddenly Roderick felt guilty for his mercenary reason for taking an interest in her. But he had no intention of harming any woman who would become his wife, so he had nothing to feel guilty about. And he needed to arrange his affairs as soon as possible, he thought as movement he noticed from the corner of his eye brought his attention back to Sean as he introduced himself to another gentleman. Roderick didn’t have time to be lily-livered about matters.
“Apology accepted, Miss Bastion,” he said with a smile, but then he turned to the woman’s companion. “What about you, Miss Adams, are routs and such to your taste or are you of the same mind as your friend?”
The woman appeared truly stunned by his question. Roderick wasn’t sure if it was the content of his question or the fact that he had addressed it to her. He supposed a paid companion was nearly invisible in many social settings. What a dreadful existence.
Miss Adams’ mouth opened as though she were about to reply but then no sound came forth. The poor woman’s eyes widened and the heat of embarrassment filled her face.
Roderick carried on as though nothing were amiss. “I’ll admit, I had thought routs were my favourite, or rather my least dreaded social invitation to accept, but I am beginning to question my viewpoint.”
“Oh, not because of us, I hope,” Miss Adams exclaimed before appearing shocked that she had spoken.
Roderick blinked. Why would she have even asked such an awkward question? He needed to set her at ease but had no idea how to accomplish such a task. Lucy would know, was the sudden, unwelcome thought that crossed his mind.
Roderick ordered his gaze not to even consider moving toward her no matter how his thoughts might conjure her.
Chapter Five
Lucy was doing her best to enjoy her evening despite the conflicting impulses she was dealing with. Why did she have to find the more intellectual discussions so very fascinating? Why couldn’t anyone discussing the latest news and gossip truly capture her attention? She honestly did enjoy gossip. It wasn’t a ploy when she breathlessly discussed the lateston dit.
Well, maybe the breathlessness was a trifle put on. It was rare that things were truly that fascinating. But she found people deeply intriguing and really was interested in what they might get up to. She would never wish to harm anyone and so never shared anything scandalous or hurtful, but she loved knowing about what people were up to, who was courting whom, and whose family was expanding. If there were bits of intrigue thrown in from time to time, that was all the better.
But nothing could hold her attention like a conversation centred around the sciences, and that truly mortified her. If her father were to ever find out – she shuddered at the thought. Never mind that he had already taken up residence in the family crypt and could never know anything of her doings, she couldn’t bear for him to be disappointed in her.
And so she shouldn’t care what Roderick was doing at the Crossley Rout. She certainly shouldn’t be incensed that he was speaking with that dreadful Miss Bastion and her poor, put upon companion. Nor should she be plotting how to find out what he was about.
“Oh, Roderick, I hadn’t noticed you there,” she said as she nearly bumped into him, causing him to snort. She almost clamped a hand over her mouth. She shouldn’t be so familiar.
“You mean in this very last second, right, because I’m fairly certain you’ve been keeping an eye on my progress throughout the entire house.”
Lucy wanted to rail at him and stamp her foot, but she contained herself to a strategically elevated eyebrow, willing her face not to flush and give away her embarrassment at the truthfulness of his statement.
“I haven’t any idea what you’re on about,” she said airily before putting a lie to her statement with her next one. “I must ask you, why were you speaking with Miss Bastion and Miss Adams?”
“And I must ask you why you think it might be any of your business,” Roderick countered, making Lucy think of stamping her foot once more.
“Come, Mr. Northcott, don’t be beastly. We’ve been friends since we were children, surely, we needn’t stand on ceremony with one another.”
“If that was the case, I would think you wouldn’t be calling me Mr. Northcott.”
Lucy opened her mouth to argue, but this time she couldn’t prevent the blush that swept from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She managed not to stick her tongue out at him, just barely. She kept her voice low and leaned in closer to him.
“You know I cannot call you Roderick in company.”
