“You’re a very good dancer,” Lord Hennington commented. “Better than most of the ladies here, to tell the truth.”
Lavinia smiled. “Thank you,” she said. “It’s so kind of you to say so. And you’re a good dancer as well, Lord Hennington. I don’t believe I’ve enjoyed myself so much with anyone else at this party.”
That wasn’t what she had done when the duke had broached this subject, she realized. She had shared a story about teaching herself to dance with Edwina—a story that, no doubt, had made her look foolish and awkward. It certainly hadn’t increased his regard for her at all.
She was finding it much easier to behave the way she knew the duke would have told her to in Lord Hennington’s company. The duke would have told her to be confident, and she had done that by accepting the compliment Lord Hennington had paid her.
The duke would have warned her not to tell stories about irrelevant topics that would make people believe she was strange, or to make the conversation all about herself. She had managed that too, and she had done so with ease.
Was itbetterto be in the company of a gentleman who didn’t make her feel anything?
She looked at him again as they danced and tried to imagine spending her life with him. Being his wife. What would it be like? There was no question that it would be a very relaxing experience. But would it be one she could truly enjoy?
“I’m so glad you’re having a good time,” Lord Hennington said. “And I’m very grateful to have had the chance to meet you, Lady Lavinia. I had hoped I would meet a lady who caught my eye during this party, but you have exceeded what I hoped for.”
The music drew to a close.
“Thank you for the pleasure of your company,” Lord Hennington said, smiling at her. “Perhaps you’ll join me for a dance again later?”
“It would be a pleasure,” Lavinia said, meaning it. There was one thing she could say honestly about Lord Hennington—she liked him. Even if he didn’t make her heart beat faster, even if he didn’t make her trip over her words—she enjoyed his company.
If she hadn’t had to worry about finding herself a husband, she would have been more than happy to spend all her time with him during this party, just because it felt good to be around him. She could relax with him. She could be herself without having to worry about how she was perceived. She never had to doubt that he liked her in return.
If only that could have been enough! It sounded so perfect, all the things she was feeling. That should have been what it was like to fall in love. Feeling this degree of ease with another person should have meant that he was the one for her. And yet, looking at him now, she felt nothing but a flat, almost bored sensation. She liked him, but that was all it was. She suspected that was all it would ever be.
Lord Hennington walked her over to the side of the room, bowed over her hand, and smiled up at her. The whole thing made Lavinia feel rather sad. She was sure he felt something for her and wished she could have reciprocated—but she knew she couldn’t.
She stood with her back to the wall, determined to sit the next dance out. Even if her father was watching, he could hardly complain after seeing her dance with Lord Hennington.Hecouldn’t know that Lord Hennington meant nothing to her.
“Well, you didn’t look nervous,” said an all-too-familiar voice.
She looked up. Sure enough, there was the duke. He’d managed to approach without her noticing, and now he stood beside her, looking out at the dance floor.
“You were watching me, Your Grace?” she asked.
“I wasn’twatching. I saw him escort you back over to the wall.” He said it as if it was a vital distinction, as if he wanted to make sure Lavinia understood that he hadn’t been paying her any deliberate attention. Lavinia wasn’t sure whether to believe that or not. She also wasn’t sure whether or not it mattered.
“Well,” she said, “I’m glad to know that I didn’t appear nervous.”
“Because you weren’t nervous.”
She looked at him. “Not especially, no.”
“You look lovely tonight. That dress really is remarkable on you. I knew blue would be a good color for you.”
“Thank you again for providing it for me, Your Grace,” Lavinia said. Whatever else might have transpired between them, she knew that she did owe him a debt of gratitude for that much. “I was excited to wear it tonight, and if my sister is to be believed, it looks better than anything I brought to this party myself.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” he said.
They stood in silence for a moment. Lavinia wondered what he was thinking—why he had come over to speak with her in the first place. What could he possibly want?
He looked down at her. “Dance with me,” he said.
It wasn’t a request, exactly, and yet she sensed that if she had refused, he wouldn’t have pushed her. “Why?” she asked him. “I thought you didn’t want us to spend time together anymore. I thought you said we were going to be finished associating with one another.”
“One last dance,” he said. “One last time before we say our goodbyes.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?”
