For a minute, she and Hayward were both silent as they danced. He took her hand as they circled one another, staring at each other before he released her hand then took the other, circling the other way. Phoebe realized how modest Hayward had been in commendation of himself. He was indeed a fine dancer. Though he was light on his feet and clearly skilled, he still looked like a gentleman when he danced. More than once had Phoebe seen a few men dancing with the same elegance that women aspired for, prompting her to laugh. Hayward was different.
With his dancing, she didn’t want to laugh, she merely wanted to praise his skill.
“You have done yourself an injustice, Your Grace,” she said timidly as the steps of the dance altered. They held hands and stood side by side, completing a pas de bourrée alongside another couple.
“What injustice?” he asked, looking at her.
“You are a fine dancer indeed.” At her compliment, he laughed warmly.
“How funny you should say such a thing,” he said, before turning the two of them so that they walked around each other, with not a touch between them, only their gazes connected. “I was just thinking on what a fine dancer you are and wondering why you were not on the dancefloor sooner.”
“I…erm…” she faltered, trying to come up with a reason. She could hardly tell the charming man before her that she didn’t dance because of fear of her husband’s thoughts on the matter. “I rarely dance,” she said in the end.
“Then that is a great shame for this assembly,” he said quietly to her, moving them to stand opposite one another again. “I am sure many gentlemen would have enjoyed sharing a dance with you.” The charm was sweet indeed and she found herself smiling. “There we are,” he said, just as two dancers passed between the middle of them.
“There’s what?” she asked, looking up to him again.
“That smile,” he said, pointing at her before taking her hand returning to the beginning of the dance, circling each other hand in hand. “We have it at last.”
She smiled again, startled by how easy he made the effort. Whenever Graham told her to smile it was an order, and it always ended up being fake. There was nothing remotely false about this smile, as this one had been encouraged from her, not ordered.
“I do not think I have seen you at these events before,” she said, trying to change the topic a little.
“That is because in truth, I like to avoid them,” he whispered to her as they circled back the other way, as though telling her a great secret.
“Why?” she asked, curious to know.
“For I prefer a life that is rather different to this,” he admitted with a sigh. “I do not know what my sister has told you about me.”
“Very little, in truth,” Phoebe confessed, to which he nodded.
“Well, I prefer to travel,” he said with a smile playing on his lips. She could see instantly how happy such a life made him.
“Where have you been?” she asked, desirous to know more.
“The continent mostly, though I am planning a trip to Egypt soon.”
“Egypt? How thrilling!” Phoebe could feel her heart racing faster at the mere idea. The rest of their dance was spent with her asking questions about Egypt whilst Hayward happily spoke of it. As they came to the end of the dance, bowing and curtsying to one another, Hayward looked up, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
“What a good idea that was,” he declared. “I was hoping for a smile, but that one is even greater than I had dared to hope for,” he pointed at her face before offering his hand to escort her from the floor.
She giggled under her breath as she let him lead her away. One glance around the room showed her husband was still nowhere to be seen. She was thrilled by it, it meant she had escaped the fear for a few minutes to indulge in a little happiness.
“Now, I really must speak with you,” Lady Dodge appeared in front of them, not long after they had left the dancefloor. Hayward dropped Phoebe’s hand and she missed the warmth the moment it was gone.
“What is this about?” he asked, with evident worry.
“It is about helping Lady Ridlington leave her husband.”
Phoebe looked to Hayward, waiting to see his response.
Chapter 4
“What did you just say?” Francis couldn’t believe his ears. He half thought he was imagining what his sister had said, all because of the punch.
“I need your help. To aid Lady Ridlington in leaving her –”
“Shh!” he said instantly, realizing that he had heard Diana perfectly correctly. He took Diana’s arm, leading her away from the hustle and bustle of the other guests. Out of the corner of his eye, he was aware of Lady Ridlington following the two of them. He only released Diana when they were at the far side of the room, separated from the other guests by a table filled with food. “You cannot say things like that in a place like this. What if someone overhears you?”
