He shot her a sidelong glance.“I was doing quite well before you arrived.No one approached me or spoke to me.”
“They were afraid you’d wrestle them to the ground or throw them into the mirror.”She took a discreet step away from him.
“It’s possible,” he admitted.His mouth turned up at the corners, and Hannah relaxed, glad that she’d made peace with him.“What do you want, Lady Hannah?”
“Nothing, really.I thought it would be rude to leave without saying hello.”
“You’ve said it.Duty accomplished.”
She refused to be put off by his abrupt air.“You don’t feel comfortable here, do you?Amidst all this.”She gestured toward the opulent decorations.
“I’d rather be on a battlefield.Shooting enemies.”A wicked look of amusement lit up his eyes.He glanced over at a group of matrons talking in a corner.
“Target practice?”she suggested.
“You’re tempting me.”His gaze flickered toward two gentlemen, whom she just now noticed were staring at them.“I don’t think you should be standing here, speaking to me alone.”
“My maid is here.”Hannah glanced over at Estelle.“And we’re already acquainted.For all those guests know, you could be my brother.”
He sent her a lazy smile that made her skin turn to gooseflesh.“I’m most definitely not your brother, sweet.”
She stared down at the floor, uncertain of how to respond.“Well.What happened between us is all in the past.Right now, we are traveling companions, nothing more.”
“Really?”The dangerous glint in his eyes sent a blush through her cheeks.
“Of course.”She took another step back, pretending everything was fine.
At that moment, the two gentlemen strolled forward.They looked as though they were about to ask for an introduction, but Michael sent them a dark glare.Hastily, they tipped their hats and continued on their way.
“Now what was that about?”Hannah demanded.“You looked as though you were about to tear them apart with your bare hands.”
“I was acting like any brother would.”Michael’s gaze fixed on the doorway as though he expected the two gentlemen to return.“Keeping you safe, just as you asked.”
If he’d had a firearm at that moment, Hannah had no doubt it would be aimed at the gentlemen.His behavior bordered on barbaric, with a hint of jealousy.
“If a gentleman asks me to dance this evening after supper, I have no choice but to accept,” Hannah pointed out.“You can hardly prevent it from happening.”
“Can’t I?”
She ignored the remark, continuing, “I suspect you don’t dance at all, do you?”
“Do I look like the sort who enjoys dancing?”he gritted out.
“No, you look like the sort who enjoys glowering at others.”She tilted her head to study him.“I would wager that you don’t know how to dance.”
He took a glance around the saloon.Except for her maid, there was no one else in sight.Even the matrons had already strolled away.
The musicians were still practicing a set, and without warning, Michael took her hands in his.He didn’t ask but began dancing with her.His hand pressed against the curve of her waist, guiding her masterfully through the steps.
She couldn’t have been more surprised.When had a soldier learned how to dance like this?
He took her through the steps of a waltz, spinning her around without a single misstep.
“In school,” he replied, answering her unspoken question.“Every last one of us learned to dance.I hated every minute of it.”
“But you’re good,” she whispered.“Better than I thought you’d be.”
He whirled her around, bringing her against one of the mirrors.The cool glass pressed into her back, and he stopped short.
