And he’d yet to have asked her about the price of corn. “My lord,” she murmured, dipping into a gentle curtsey.
He led her to the center of the floor and turned her to face him. As the musicians raised their instruments, Viscount Darlington placed one hand on her waist and took hold of hers with the other. She placed her palm on his shoulder and waited for the fluttering to commence.
There was pleasure but no butterflies. No tingling awareness…
He expertly steered her around the room with long graceful steps. It was almost magical. Itshould have beenmagical.
Last fall, at his sister’s wedding ball, Penelope had watched him as he’d danced with Lady Eliza Frost. Rumor had been that there was an understanding between the two families. They were to have become engaged upon the holidays.
“Are you affianced?” she asked for no other reason than curiosity.
“I am not.” He gazed at her with some intensity. Was that a meaningful look in his eyes? Surely, she’d imagined that. “Are you?”
She raised her brows. “Is there any reason you would think that I might be?”
“You are different,” he responded, and then added. “I simply wondered…”
This wasnothappening. Unsure of how to respond, Penelope laughed nervously. The indifference with which he’d always treated her before was absent tonight.
“How are your northern estates faring? Has the tenant unrest continued?” They’d discussed these issues last summer.
Rome twirled her expertly. She was a little breathless when his hand settled on her waist once again.
“The estates are the same.” His mouth pinched as he spoke but then he seemed to shrug off any tension. “I understand you assisted Danbury with Augusta Heights last month. Sounds like you’ve achieved quite a coup in landing him such a sought-after steward.” Another twirl. When he took her in his arms this time, he was smiling again.
“Merely good business,” she said noncommittally.
“You never answered my question.” He leaned in and spoke close to her ear. Rome Spencer’s scent was masculine and clean. She found herself comparing it to Hugh’s, which was similar, yet different. Danbury’s was muskier, darker. The thought of it caused her to shiver. Rome looked satisfied at her reaction.
How should she answer his question?My lord, I’m increasing and hoping to bring Danbury up to scratch as soon as possible. And no, he knows nothing of the entire situation. In fact, he does not even remember bedding me.
“I remain, of course, unattached,” she said instead. It was the answer he would expect, was it not? It was the only answer she’d ever expected to give to such a question.
“Ah, my good fortune then.”
How should she deal with this sudden interest from Rome? What if Hugh refused to marry her? Would it be prudent to encourage Viscount Darlington in case Hugh didn’t come up to scratch?
No, no, no! She could not do that to Rome. She would not do that to any man! What she’d done to Hugh was bad enough! Regardless of what happened, she must, above all, hold onto her self-respect. If everyone in the world turned against her, at the very least, she needed to like herself.
She would most certainlynotattempt to pass another man’s child off as Rome Spencer’s heir. Rome was due to inherit an earldom. In addition to that, he was a good and decent person. She would not do such a thing to him.
Even if she wanted to, she was far too advanced for it to be believable.
She was no longer even a maiden! Rome Spencer, or any gentleman for that matter, might be disappointed, or perhaps even disgusted, to discover they’d married a woman who was not chaste.
It would be Danbury or no one.
“What of Lady Eliza?” Perhaps she could turn Rome’s thoughts in another direction.
He frowned. “Lady Eliza,” he said through pinched lips, “is now Mrs. Blackwell.”
Penelope raised her brows. A woman who would give up Rome Spencer, a man due to inherit a prominent title and vast wealth, to become a mere Missus, must have been very much in love, indeed.
“The lady and her husband eloped just before the new year.” Rome had been considered one of London’s most eligible bachelors for years. Surely, he had not expected that when he did finally choose a woman to offer for, she would prefer another instead.
“Wereyou betrothed?” She knew it would be inappropriate for him to discuss this with her, especially here, surrounded by other dancers, in the middle of the ballroom, but really, they’d known each other for simplyages.
Rome took in a deep breath and then let out a long sigh. “Not publicly. No announcement was made, but yes. I asked, and the lady accepted.” He looked pained. “I’ll expect your confidence on this matter, of course. The lady’s reputation is at stake, that and her family’s.”
