“And that the daughter of my commanding officer is married to Lord Hartwick’s son? And that they are friends of yours? All of that smacks of coincidence to me,” Kingsbury said.
“Coincidence and fate are two different concepts, my lord.” Both concepts were poppycock. George’s voice echoed in her head, reminding her to be agreeable. She refrained from arguing further.
When they reached the dance floor, Lord Kingsbury swung her into his arms. His hand at her waist sent her stomach fluttering. Why? She had danced with a half dozen other men this evening and felt nothing at the touch of their hands. Now, this strange warmth spread from where his hand spanned her back all the way to where the tips of his fingers held hers lightly in his grasp.
He looked down at her, his gaze intent only on her. “Ready?”
She nodded, but her nerves got the better of her as they started, and she stepped forward instead of backward, bumping into Lord Kingsbury’s hard chest. “Sorry,” she mumbled.Get a hold of yourself.
Their second attempt to begin went more smoothly. His hand tightened at her waist, and she let herself be led through the steps. By the time they made a pass around the floor, she had stopped counting in her head and could look up at her partner without stumbling. Without her spectacles, the crowd around them was a colorful blur as they danced. Adeline focused on the man in front of her. She took notice of the golden tan skin at his throat and his freshly shaven jaw. She raised her gaze up farther and found him staring down at her.
“We don’t have to argue about fate. Perhaps instead, we could talk about my coin collection.”
Adeline’s mouth fell open briefly before she realized he was teasing her. She huffed and shifted her gaze back to his cravat. The rogue.
His chest rumbled with a low laugh. “I couldn’t help myself. Please don’t be mad. If it makes you feel any better, I also have had several stimulating conversations this evening. Riveting topics have included the damp weather, the importance of proper rain gear in said weather, and how mud is so determinantal to horses’ hooves.”
Adeline chuckled. “It is nice to know that the dull conversation is not exclusive to me. So, Lord Kingsbury, what topic is of interest to you?”
“You. You are of interest to me.”
Adeline almost stumbled but caught herself at the last moment and executed a small turn before returning to Lord Kingsbury’s arms. “I can’t imagine why. What do you want to know?”
“Did you manage to get all your books home safely?”
“Yes, indeed. I am readingObservations on Visionby a renowned professor at Cambridge.”
“So, you have a wide variety of interests then, not only astronomy?”
“Yes, although astronomy is my passion. Mr. Young’s book was of interest to me for personal reasons.” She pointed to her eyes. This elicited another frown from Lord Kingsbury. Perhaps he didn’t care for corrective lenses.
“How poor is your vision without your spectacles?”
“Sir, that is a rather personal question.” Adeline sighed as he stared down at her, patiently waiting for an answer. They executed another turn. “Objects within five feet or so are perfectly clear, but farther than that, they become increasingly blurry. Especially faces. My spectacles sharpen my vision and help my eyes focus. I usually wear them, but tonight, my father decided they were unattractive and pocketed them.”
“I thought your spectacles were rather adorable. They amplify your beautiful eye color. Your father is foolish to deprive you of them.”
Had he said her eyes were beautiful? “I am often at the mercy of his opinions.”
Lord Kingsbury twirled them through another turn. He leaned down to speak next to her ear, his hot breath sending a shiver down her spine.
“Then I will remember to stay close when I see you sans spectacles.”
Was this gorgeous man flirting with her? The corners of his green eyes crinkled with mirth. Adeline grasped for something flirty to say in return, but her mind, usually so sharp, seemed out of witty repartee for the night. Instead, before she could stop herself, she blurted out, “Did you know that most of the stars and constellations are named from ancient Greek and Roman mythology?”
“Yes, in fact I did. As a sailor, the stars are an essential part of navigation.”
“What is your favorite constellation?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you testing my knowledge?”
Adeline felt her cheeks heat. She lowered her gaze to stare at his cravat again. “No, I was just curious.”
“I think maybe Orion, the great hunter.”
“That is a good one. Do you know the story behind it?” she asked.
He shook his head.
