She looked away. “I suppose I can see your point. It would be better not to be complete strangers if we can help it.”
“So? What do you say? You still haven’t given me an answer.”
She gave a nod that looked more confident than she felt. “Ask me again.”
He huffed out a half laugh. “Lady Hale, may I have this dance?”
She paused pretending to think it over before she said, “Very well. I supposed we can dance, but only once.”
“Of course. Betrothed or not, anything else would simply be improper.” he smiled a crooked, almost daring smile, offering his hand once more. This time with a flourish that made her stifle a smile.
She hesitated a moment more, glancing around for any possible sign of Rose. Only when she was sure escape was no longer an option did she take a deep breath before placing her hand in his.
His hand was warm and firm, a striking contrast to his proper demeanor. He closed his fingers around hers, seeming to encompass her hand completely. She hoped he couldn’t see the way heat pooled in her cheeks.
“Shall we?” he asked as the song finished up.
Veronica couldn’t bring herself to speak, so she forced a nod. Why was her heart pounding so hard? There was nothing between them. She didn’t even like him.
He smirked, leading her to the floor.
They took up their positions and the musicians began.
Christopher proved himself to be a wonderful dancer, leading her through the steps with a practiced fluidity. Veronica loved thenotionof dancing—the grace, the elegant balance of pursuit and acceptance—but the reality often fell flat.
Not tonight. Not entirely.
Despite his ease of movement, the conversation left something to be desired. Silence stretched between them and no matter how hard she tried, Veronica couldn’t think of a way to break it.
Halfway through the song, he finally took pity on her and said, “I should apologize for my prolonged absence.”
His words jarred her. Blinking, it took her a moment to gather her thoughts before putting on a mask of indifference. “Should you? I hadn’t noticed.”
He chuckled. She expected him to bring up what she had been saying to Rose. there was no way he hadn’t heard it. “I have been away until recently.”
“Not that it matters to me, but where have you been? Have you gone on one of those long European tours that seem so popular these days?”
“No, I have been focused on my studies at Oxford.”
She looked up in surprise. “I didn’t know you were going to university.”
“Yes, well, you would have if I’d have told you.”
“Then why didn’t you?” she demanded without missing a beat.
“I suppose that is a fair question.”
“Not fair,necessary.You show up to dinner, tell everyone we’re engaged and disappear for more than a year. What was I supposed to believe of you?”
“It wasn’t as though any of it was my choice,” he sighed. “Truthfully, I would have waited until at least a year after I finished my studies to even consider marriage, but you know how these things can be.”
“This was arranged for you?” she blinked in surprise.
“Just the same as you.”
Veronica frowned. “No one told me that.”
He cocked his head to the side, an amused grin on his face. “It would seem we are in the same boat, so I thought we might as well make the best of it.”
