“Because I feel as if everyone is looking at us,” she said, “which is absurd. No one is. And whyshouldthey?”
“Because they know,” he suggested, “that we have both just been set free?”
Her eyes met his again and she drew breath to speak. But she said only one word.
“Oh,” she said.
He smiled at her. “Claudia,” he said, “let’s enjoy the waltz, shall we? And to hell with anyone who may be watching us.”
“Yes,” she said primly. “To hell with them all.”
His smile broadened to a grin, and she threw back her head and laughed—drawing several direct glances their way.
After that they enjoyed the sheer exhilaration of the dance, twirling together, scarcely looking away from each other, only partially aware of the kaleidoscope of color and candlelight swirling about them. They did not stop smiling.
“Oh,” she said when the music came to an end, and she sounded half regretful, half surprised to find herself brought back from the world they had inhabited together for almost half an hour.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said.
Her eyes widened.
“There is still half an hour to suppertime,” he said, “and there is to be more dancing afterward. No one will be returning to Lindsey Hall for at least two hours.”
“It is not a mere stroll on the terrace you are suggesting, then?” she asked.
“No.” He released his hold on her and clasped his hands at his back. Around them there was a swell of conversation, the dance at an end. “The alternative is to spend the rest of the evening dancing with other partners and being sociable with other people.”
She looked back at him, some of the severity returning to her face.
“I will go and fetch my shawl,” she said.
He watched her go. This was not going to be a comfortable thing, was it? For either of them. Being in love when one knew it could lead nowhere was one thing. Being free to do something about it was another. But freedom could be deceptive. Even with Portia out of the picture, there were obstacles a mile high and two miles wide.
Was love enough to surmount them all?
But all obstacles, he had learned from thirty-five years’ experience of living, however large or small, could be overcome only one at a time with patience and dogged determination.
Ifthey could be overcome at all.
He strolled toward the ballroom door, deliberately ignoring the beckoning hand of Wilma, who was, fortunately, far away from the doorway. He went to wait for Claudia.
23
Claudia had been very strongly of the opinion earlier, while shewaltzed with Joseph, that they were being watched with interest as a possible couple. But while she was fetching her shawl it occurred to her that perhaps the looks—if there hadbeenany—had been simply ones of incredulity that she should so presume. Or possibly even looks ofpity.
But when had she started to think of herself as unworthy of any man, no matter who he was?
She was no one’s inferior.
By the time she had made her way back to the ballroom and found Joseph waiting for her outside its doors, there was purposefulness in her stride and a martial gleam in her eye.
Andwhenhad she started to think of him all the time asJoseph?
“Perhaps,” she said, “we ought to go for just a short stroll.”
He grinned at her. There was definitely a difference between a smile and a grin, and hegrinned. She bristled with indignation. She was making a cake of herself in front of a large number of the aristocracy of England, and he wasamused.
He took her by the elbow and guided her toward the outdoors.
