“She is quite popular this evening, my lord.” Emily stared at his neck cloth. If she stared into his eyes, her brain would cease to function. He would test her, however, by dropping into an exaggerated bow, one foot pointed in her direction.
“Have you been claimed for this set, or will you make me the happiest of men and allow me the pleasure?” A pang shot through her at the words. They almost sounded like a proposal.
Idiot. Fool!
She glanced around, making certain he was, in fact, asking her before rising somewhat haltingly. So much for her pride.
“I will dance with you, my lord, if that is what you are asking.” She continued to avoid his gaze and in doing so caught Mrs. Cromwell watching the two of them with a snide expression.
Had he told the lady he would dance with poor Miss Goodnight, a lowly wallflower, in order to prove his gallantry? “Unless you’d prefer to dance with Mrs. Cromwell again. It’s really not necessary, you know, dancing with me, just because we are both well acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Nottingham…”
Was she to make a cake of herself, after all?
She sounded as bitter as she felt.
At last, she forced herself to meet his gaze. He’d raised one brow but extended his arm for her to take, nonetheless.
“You should know by now that I lack such manners, Miss Goodnight. Have you not considered I might be seeking your conversation to liven my evening? If I remember correctly, you have a habit of… saying the most fascinating things.”
Oh, sonotcharity. He sought to be entertained by her unfortunate habit of failing to maintain her dignity in most social situations. “Very well.” What else could she say? He was an earl, after all. And Cecily’s husband’s closest friend.
Pretending this wasn’t the Earl of Blakely,herEarl of Blakely, she tucked her hand into his arm and allowed him to lead her onto the floor. Oh, but the other dancers weren’t lining up for a country dance.
It was to be a waltz!
She gulped.
Her stomach did a quick flip as he placed one hand upon her waist. “So, I’m fascinating.” She snorted. “Ought I to be flattered?”
Her hand shook as she placed it on his shoulder. Surely, he would feel her trembling when he clasped her other hand in his. If he held her even half as inappropriately as he’d held Mrs. Cromwell, he’d feel… everything.
“Absolutely.” The music began, and he stepped boldly into the dance.
Backward, she was to go backward. She struggled to match her feet to his until he paused. “Don’t watch your feet.” He released her side for a moment and tipped her chin up to look at him. “I promise I won’t dance you into a table or a plant.” His eyes laughed. At least he wasn’t condescending. If he’d been condescending, she would have abandoned him then and there.
Although she’d learned to waltz years ago, she didn’t get much practice.
Oh, but now she had the perfect excuse to lose herself in his eyes.
His hand once again settled upon her side, exerting just the right amount of pressure for her to know which foot to move.
And then they were dancing.
“You see?” he teased. “I’ve only run down a few other couples.”
In addition to being extraordinarily good looking, mysterious, and heroic, he also had a delightful sense of humor.
No wonder she’d fallen in love with him!
“I must say,” she admitted without thinking, “I was surprised to see you in attendance. Your father is here, you know. As are Lord and Lady Hartley. Have you reconciled with the duke then?”
His jaw had tightened at the mention of his father. He and the Duke of Waters had been estranged for nearly ten years. Rumor was that Lord Blakely had refused to honor a betrothal made by the duke when Lord Blakely was much younger. In an effort to bring him up to snuff, the duke had cut him off. Luckily for the earl, he’d experienced success in trade… although members of thetondid not speak of such. The funds he’d amassed, however, kept Lord Blakely from having to kowtow to his father’s wishes.
According to Cecily’s letters, Lord Blakely was far from destitute.
“I won’t be chased away from anything by my father.” A steely edge crept into his voice.
“Ah, so you have not reconciled then.”
