“Yes,” she said, “but I wish my aunt would enjoy it more.”
He froze. She stared back at him expectantly, almost hopefully, and a strange buzzing sensation filled his head. This girl knew what he was doing, and what he wanted, and she was trying to help him. “How so?” he asked cautiously.
She glanced at Evangeline, who was watching them. “I think she gave up much she holds dear to play at chaperone.”
She’d said her niece was clever, and took after her. He ought to have remembered that. But he couldn’t forget that the young lady’s mother had reproved Evangeline for her behavior, and virtually cast her out of their family. “Has she expressed any discontent?” he asked cautiously.
She bit her lip. “Not a word.”
He wondered at that, and turned the conversation toward her. Evangeline had told him about Miss Bennet’s unexpected ballooning trip with Viscount Burke, which had caused her great anxiety. But the young lady surprised him again. “Would you do me a great favor, sir?”
“Of course,” he said politely.
“Would you ask her to dance?”
He looked at her sharply, but her expression was open and guileless. And it aligned too well with what he’d planned, so in the end he decided to risk it. “I would ask her for every dance, if she would consent to just one. I am not the party you need to encourage,” he murmured as he led her off the floor at the end of the quadrille.
Her face lit up and she gave him a small, happy nod as he bowed and excused himself. He went back to Clemency, who was fending off polite conversation from Sir Paul Brentwood.
“How did it go?” she whispered.
“Perfectly.” He paused. “She told me to ask her aunt to dance.”
His sister clutched his arm in excitement. Richard could see Miss Bennet, holding her aunt’s hand and speaking to her veryearnestly. And there was Burke, at last, carving his way through the crowd toward them without subtlety. He had a waiter with champagne at his heels, and for several minutes the three chatted, appearing in very good charity with each other.
Richard knew Evangeline wanted to bring off this match, if there was a match to be made, and so he stayed where he was. Clemency whispered in his ear about something or other; he didn’t listen.
And then Miss Bennet looked directly at him, and when their eyes met, she gave him a confident nod.Do it,he could almost hear her say.She’ll say yes.
When Sir Paul spoke to him, it was all Richard could do to understand the words. Gerhard came back, wine in hand, and Richard let him step into the conversation and carry on with their host. Clemency obligingly piped up and chattered about something.
Suddenly, his sister jabbed him in the ribs. “It’s almost the supper dance,” she hissed. “If you are going to ask her, do it now!”
Without hesitation he turned on his heel and went.
They were drinking champagne and laughing as he approached. Burke wore a look of focused fascination as he spoke to Miss Bennet. Richard wondered briefly if there would be a proposal this very evening. Miss Bennet glowed with happiness.
“Your pardon, Lady Courtenay,” he said. “I beg you to honor me with the supper dance.”
She turned, her face soft with surprise.
“Oh, do!” burst out Miss Bennet. Her color was high, and she swung the champagne flute loosely in her hand. “As you know, I am already engaged, so you are quite free to dance yourself.”
Richard silently thanked her, even though she was likely tipsy and high-spirited because of Burke’s attention.
Evangeline gave her niece a look, then slowly put her hand in Richard’s. “I would be delighted, sir. I will see you in the supper room, Joan.”
He shot a look of rapturous gratitude at Miss Bennet, who beamed back, and led Evangeline to the edge of the dance floor.
“Everyone will be watching us,” she breathed as she went into his arms. It was to be a waltz.
“Because they, like I, are transfixed by how beautiful you are tonight.”
She smiled wryly, looking more like herself. “Flattery!”
“Well, it is certainly the truth in my case, and who is to know what all these strangers are thinking? I rate it even odds that I am correct.”
“Even odds! Then you are just as likely wrong.”
