I’m here. She willed him to look at her. When he didn’t, she glanced down at the dance card tied around her wrist: six dances left.
“He’s handsome in a roguish sort of way,” Goldie’s statement had Caroline spinning around in disapproval. “Not nearly as good-looking as Reed, of course.”
“Of course,” Caroline echoed, before flicking her stare back to where Max had been standing.
Finding him again, she watched as he bowed over one of the elderly lady’s hands. And mesmerized by his shiny black hair, sharp jawline, and the confident way he held his shoulders, she silently apologized to her brother.
Because Maxwell Black was, indeed, better looking than Reed. Even without his spectacles.
Had he captured his saboteur? Or was he here for… her?
Just then his gaze swept the room, landed on Caroline, seemed to flicker, and then…
Kept right on moving.
Cool embarrassment flushed her veins, but then she shook her head. If he was here about the paper, he wouldn’t be obvious about it. Her employment there was meant to be a secret. Of course he wouldn’t walk right over.
Or more likely, without his spectacles, he had not recognized her.
He would find her later—when he wasn’t the object of so much attention.
She was only a little disappointed when Lord Northwood appeared for the dance he’d reserved. And she wasn’t at all disappointed to see Maxwell lead a petite blonde girl onto the floor, one who giggled and blushed at something he whispered near her ear.
“You are positively radiant this evening.” The earl spoke loudly from across the space between couples.
So, Caroline sent him an awkward smile and then curtsied as the orchestra began to play. Forward, back. Take her partner’s hand, which was cool and clammy, walk in a circle, step back, and begin again. The dance wasn’t lively, but she had to concentrate, which wasn’t easy, as only two spaces existed between her partner and Maxwell.
She would eventually take his hand. Her heart skipped half a beat and butterflies danced in her belly. All this talk about romantic intentions… She forced her thoughts back to the dance.
Forward, back. Take her neighbor’s partner’s hand, this one damp and hot, walk in a circle, step back, and begin again. One more time.
Forward, back.
Maxwell’s hand was warm and dry.
“I thought you weren’t coming this evening.” She spoke just loudly enough for him to hear as he turned her in a circle. His scent hit her unexpectedly, spicy.
Alluring.
But the man himself didn’t even look at her. “My lord?” She frowned, and he still hadn’t answered by the time she stepped back and moved on to her next partner.
Was he angry with her? She searched through the details of her day—of the work she’d completed since his morning visit. She’d delivered quality articles to Mr. Wallace that afternoon. One that speculated over a duke’s youngest son and his marriage prospects, another about a local marquess who claimed to have discovered a new star. Was he angry about the article she’d written about Reed’s charitable donations?
They had all been well-written and relatively verifiable, although not quite the usual stuff one read on other gossip pages. But she’d been hesitant after the harm her story had done to Goldie and Lady Westcliff’s mother.
At least two scandals were being bandied about, but unable to confirm the truth in either, Caroline hadn’t turned those in.
Because the truth was important, despite what everyone said.
“Psst! Lady Caroline!”
Lost in her thoughts, she’d fallen behind in her steps and had to skip a few times to catch up with Lord Northwood. But when she glanced toward Maxwell, seeking some sort of acknowledgement, again, he seemed to deliberately look in the opposite direction.
By the end of the dance, her mood had changed from confusion to disappointment. She’d thought they were friends. Just that morning, he’d told her he trusted her.
The night wore on, and although her plans to leave early were squashed, she made a very deliberate effort to be charming to the gentlemen who’d claimed dances.
She also did her best to ignore Max’s presence, but mostly failed. Because she didn’t have to see him to know he was there.
