She’d been hiding behind a tree, left alone by all the other guests, and yet a teasing light danced in the back of her eyes.
Max admired her spunk—grudgingly.
“Which is the supper dance?” he asked.
“A Scotch reel.”
“A reel it is, then.”
With his mother looking on, Lady Caroline held out her wrist as Maxwell removed the small pencil he always carried with him.
Her hands were small, but sturdy, and he found himself appreciating pale, soft skin while he scribbled his name on the card. “I shall look forward to it with great anticipation,” he said.
“As will I.”
He returned his mother to her friends, and spent the next half an hour making meaningless conversation with a few old acquaintances.
When it was time to fulfill his responsibility, he found her standing beside a petite girl with golden hair, laughing as though she hadn’t a care in the world.
He’d almost wager Lady Caroline had forgotten about him.
“My lady.” He bowed.
Her companion’s brows shot up.
“My lord.” Lady Caroline dipped into yet another curtsey, almost toppling herself this time—but rather than show any embarrassment, she giggled a little, the corners of her full lips turned up and her eyes amused.
Her companion closed her eyes in dismay, but Lady Caroline’s smile only deepened.
She was an interesting person, for a lady. Perhaps it was because her vitality had not been siphoned off by the endless etiquette lessons forced on other Mayfair debs.
Taking her arm, Maxwell escorted her onto the floor. “Are you always like this?”
“Am I always this elegant and graceful, you mean?”
Had he insulted her? He supposed so, but before he could take back the sentiment, she laughed yet again.
“Only at balls. Or musicales. Or garden parties. And only in London. I am grace personified everywhere else. If this were one of our village assemblies, my dance card would have been filled a fortnight ago. You’d have to fight the men off in order to dance with me.”
Maxwell shook his head at her absurdity, but bit back a grin. He could almost like this young woman.
She allowed him to lead her to her position on the women’s line and Maxwell took his spot across from her.
He’d danced with more than one debutante this season already, just as he always did—but only out of duty. Although several marriage-minded mamas considered him good husband material, he knew better.
That being said, on this particular occasion, he found himself almost anticipating the lively dance.
Lady Caroline stood across from him, bouncing on her toes as she held his gaze.
And like a common chucklehead, he nearly grinned right back.
But before he did something so undignified as that, the music began. There would be no talking during the reel. It was far too lively for that.
And yet… his gaze rarely left her. Of all the ladies on the floor, Lady Caroline Rutherford was by far the most entertaining.
The Scotch Reel was not an easy one. And although his partner followed most of the cues, she missed a few of the intricate steps. On those occasions, she met his eyes, threw back her head, and laughed.
She wasn’t the only one who missed a few steps, but rather than laugh at themselves, other ladies and gentlemen pretended otherwise.
