Shaking his head, Michael laughed before glancing back at the woman who had captured his special attention.
Jameson’s eyes suddenly fell on the tall brunette with hazel eyes as a tall man and his companion approached her. An inexplicable feeling of intense dislike suddenly filled his chest. The taller man with a pointed moustache and gangly limbs seemed to be introducing the young woman to the taller gentleman with sandy-blond hair.
He couldn’t help noticing the hesitation in her body language as she curtsied politely and accepted the man’s hand.
Is she going to dance with him against her will?
He felt a wave of protectiveness towards her despite never having made her acquaintance. Although the man seemed amiable enough, he hated the fact that he was brazen enough to place his hand on the small of the woman’s back as he led her to the dance floor.
The instruments began to play as men guided their partners onto the open floor, opening the ball with the first dance of the evening.
Chapter 4
Charlotte glanced over her shoulder at her uncle’s watchful gaze as she allowed herself to be led onto the dance floor by Lord Frederick Dunham. The esteemed viscount was handsome enough and amiable when he’d introduced himself, but Charlotte couldn’t help wondering what his affiliation with her uncle was.
Her uncle wasn’t exactly a popular man amongst the ton, although his reputation of being her guardian preceded him wherever they went.
His tall frame towered above hers as he took her hand in his, smiling at her with light brown eyes that matched his sandy-blond hair. His moustache and trimmed beard were neatly trimmed at the sides as the fashion for men dictated they do. A certain amount of warmth emanated from the man that made her hopeful of pleasant conversation, if nothing else.
“Are you enjoying the London season?” Lord Frederick asked her as the music began to play. Violinists stroked their bows in a soft melody, accompanying the gentle sound of keys from the pianoforte.
“I must admit that I prefer being the one who plays the music,” Charlotte answered politely, adamant to be herself no matter the pressure her uncle had placed on her to make a good impression on whomever he chose. She’d made up her mind to show her true self to whoever was thrust in her direction, and if the man in question had a problem with that, he could lump it.
Frederick chuckled pleasantly before spinning her under his arm with expert precision and reeling her back in. “I can’t fault you there; I find balls to be tiresome at the best of times.” His eyes sparkled mischievously as he agreed with her.
There was something pleasant in the manner he spoke to her that set Charlotte at ease. He seemed like the kind of man who could become a close friend and confidant if their acquaintance continued. Glancing over her shoulder again, she noticed that Isabella was indeed dancing with the dark-haired stranger she had been admiring.
Good for her.
Charlotte revelled in her friend’s happiness; she never understood why women hated one another for making successful matches. All of the women of the ton could make successful matches as far as she was concerned, as long as they let her be.
Isabella smiled broadly at her companion, following his lead with ease as they chattered away, oblivious to any of the couples in their vicinity.
“Was something I said amusing?” Lord Dunham asked her curiously before spinning her in once again.
The couples on the floor danced and twirled to the music in synchronized movements as Charlotte felt the heat rising on her cheeks. The man had obviously been paying close attention to her to notice that she had been smiling at her friend.
“I was just thinking of a conversation I’d had with my friend earlier,” she said, trying to save face in the eyes of the man who was clearly interested in speaking to her. The way he searched her face made her feel self-conscious and nervous.
“I should certainly brush up on my conversational skills if you find your mind wandering to previous conversations. I wouldn’t want to bore you,” Lord Frederick teased, making sure to whisper in her ear whenever the chance availed itself to him.
“Not at all, My Lord, I was simply reminiscing on our conversation. What is it that you were asking?” She felt sheepish at having allowed her mind to leave the conversation.
Her uncle caught her eyes from the sidelines, tapping his foot expectantly as he glared at her. She wished from the bottom of her heart that he’d at least let her be when she was carrying out his orders. The satisfied sneer on his face let her know that he was pleased with her efforts for now.
Frederik simply smiled at her, pulling her closer with his hand on her lower back while grasping her fingers a little tighter. “I wanted to know if you enjoy staying with your uncle here in London; do the two of you visit your country home often? I recall him mentioning it earlier.”
He added the last sentence quickly and smiled at her when Charlotte frowned at him. The man certainly seemed to have a host of questions for her.
She tried her best not to feel overwhelmed in the moment.
“No, I can’t say that we do. Uncle Reginald prefers to stay in the city. I would far prefer to live in the country with the freedom to express my musical aspirations, but I must go where it is proper for me to be.” She held back the feeling of bitterness that threatened to engulf her chest. If only her uncle would cast her aside in the country with a roof over her head and a piano at her fingertips.
“I see. I think I agree with you on that score. I far prefer the solitude of the country to the hustle and bustle of London. Tell me, does your uncle often go on business trips? You must travel with him, surely?” He smiled at her with a charming warmth.
“I am afraid that I am left to fend for myself with my lady’s maid when my uncle travels.”
Charlotte smiled at him despite feeling as if she were being interviewed for a position in Her Majesty’s court. Surely, there was a limit to the number of questions a man was allowed to ask a lady upon their first meeting. He’d asked her questions all the way to the dance floor and had continued to ask even more as the music began.
