Passion-wise, well, she had yet to discover if there was anything between them. Of course, with the lack of heart racing, temperature rising, entire body shivering reaction, Grace doubted there was much, but even that was more welcoming than how she felt around James. At least with Mr. Milton, she would be able to focus on her experiment with an unaffected mind and she wouldn’t have to experience this constant ache in her heart.
With a final step, the music ended and each of the dancers bowed or curtsied and when Grace gazed up, Mr. Milton was there, offering his arm to her to escort her back to her aunt.
“You really are quite the dancer, Miss Sharpe.”
“Mr. Milton, if you insist on teasing me, I should refrain from continuing to seek out your company.”
The man put his free hand to his heart as they reached Aunt Belle and Arabella at the refreshments table.
“With that threat, I promise I will never tease you again.”
Grace couldn’t help but be mildly pleased at his sincerity.
“You may tease me, Mr. Milton. I am not so rigid.”
“Then perhaps you might join me for a picnic sometime next week?”
“A picnic?” Arabella spoke, confused. “Sir, it is November.”
“Yes, surely you do not intend to freeze my poor niece to death.”
“Not at all, my lady. I’ve a project I’m partially heading near Kelvingrove Park,” he stated, turning to Grace. “We’re building a wrought iron glass house, but one of enormous size. I’d like to show it to you, if you are interested.”
“How enormous?” Grace asked.
“Grace,” Aunt Belle hissed, as Arabella appeared dumbfounded.
Mr. Milton smiled.
“Quite. Of course, I would expect the company of your aunt and companion to join us. It really is an impressive feat of ingenuity, if I do say so myself.”
“I don’t see why not then.”
“Er, my dear, would it not interfere with your work with Dr. Hall?”
Grace’s smile fell.
“No. It would not, I’m sure.”
Aunt Belle, whose expression had gone from mildly hopeful to downright irritated, shook her head.
“Very well, Mr. Milton, we will join you. But I should change my mind if you don’t behave like a proper host and start paying attention to your other guests,” Aunt Belle snapped, tapping her cane on the parquet wooden floor. “It is not becoming of a gentleman to invite so many guests that he cannot speak to each and every one of them.”
“Aunt Belle,” Grace tried, but Mr. Milton only laughed.
“Of course, my lady. I’ll send word to your house in the next day or so to confirm our plans. Until then.” He bowed and disappeared into the crowd behind him.
“Rather forward that one,” Belle said, and to Grace’s surprise, Arabella nodded in agreement.
“What is that matter with you two? I thought you liked Mr. Milton.”
“We do, er, well, we did,” Arabella said. “It’s just, well. Lady Belle is right. He shouldn’t be ignoring all his other guests. It isn’t polite, is it?”
“No, it is not,” Belle retorted.
Grace frowned at the two, unsure what to make of their sudden aversion to Mr. Milton, who again, had been the main topic of discussion for that past week.
“I don’t understand. The both of you were quite complimentary whenever you spoke of him—”
