When Justin handed back her card, she immediately recognized his careful handwriting. She ought to, she’d been attempting to replicate it for two days now.
He’d selected both waltzes and the supper dance.
Three dances! He might as well have had the banns read. Would her mother take exception to him?
Rhoda would deal with her later if that was the case. For now, she decided she’d bask in his company.
They entered the Primroses’ large and elegant foyer together, her mother casting her a disapproving glance as she slipped past.
It didn’t matter that many avoided meeting her gaze. The only eyes she cared about tonight were blue, and comforting, and right beside her. She didn’t want to think about next week, or last year, or even tomorrow.
He led her through the receiving line, a few raised eyebrows met their greeting, but nothing she couldn’t handle.
And then they drifted into the glowing ballroom, lit with hundreds, perhaps thousands of candles, and draped in so much greenery that it resembled the outdoors.
“It’s as though the Primroses decorated tonight with your gown in mind.”
Rhoda glanced down at her dress and like a silly debutante, felt herself blushing. “Thank you,” she murmured, annoyed at this unfamiliar bout of shyness.
“How is it that every color seems to bring out your beauty more than the one before?”
At this comment, she laughed and turned to challenge him with her gaze. “Very good, my lord.” Now she could flirt. She batted her eyelashes and simply enjoyed the attentions of so handsome a man.
Ofthisman.
They were in public and she felt the gazes of several eyes upon them both. Likely, they believed she was attempting to corrupt the poor vicar turned earl.
She refused to give their suspicions any credibility.
Although she wouldn’t mind corrupting him just a little.
“What else have you done with yourself in the two days since we last met? In between searching for your fortune?”
He turned her to face him in a flourish. “Count the minutes until I would see you again.”
His delicious compliments delighted her. As did his smile. She knew this game well and enjoyed playing it immensely.
She’d not enjoyed much lately.
“Ah, but Lord Carlisle. I counted theseconds.”
“I refused to eat until I saw you again. Refused to drink.”
Rhoda licked her lips. “I refused tobreathe.”
He stared at her as though mesmerized and then tilted his head back with a hearty laugh. Oh, but shelikedthis side of him.
“How is it that I can laugh with you without knowing what the future holds?” she whispered without thinking.
He turned serious as well but did not completely relinquish the twinkle behind his gaze. “Perhaps that is why you feel joy. We must value what we feel in the moment. Your heart knows this.”
The stringed quartet nearby chose that moment to begin playing. It was not a dance, not yet, of course, but the music seemed to enhance the emotion clouding the space around them.
“So, we must embrace the joy of today, and when the hopelessness comes, pin our sights on tomorrow.”
“Well said. When did you put off your cynical ways?”
“When I met you.” Was she flirting again or pouring out her soul? “I think I’d forgotten how to laugh.”
