“False hope?”
“Yes.”
“How is visiting his structure giving him false hope?”
“Grace, you cannot be so naive as to the happenings of the world,” he said. “Mr. Milton fancies you.”
She let out a laugh.
“I doubt it.”
James frowned.
“How could you?”
“He is merely a friendly acquaintance. One that has proven to be quite pleasant whenever we meet, but I don’t believe he has any sort of affection for me. And even if he did, it wouldn’t amount to anything. Or at least, I’m very close to being certain that it wouldn’t.”
“Why wouldn’t it amount to anything?”
“Because I’m not… That is to say, I don’t feel…” Her brow creased as she tried to find the appropriate words. With a lowered voice, she spoke. “Mr. Milton is a fine man, but I do not react the same way with him the way I do with you.”
Though the words came out quiet and quick, a flash of yearning crossed James’s face and even that made Grace’s heart race. He cleared his throat.
“I don’t think you know what you do to me when you say such things, Grace.” She ducked her head, feeling suddenlyoverwhelmed by the moment. “But Mr. Milton is undoubtedly under the impression that you may fancy him as well.”
She frowned as she gazed up.
“I don’t think so. I haven’t given him any sort of hope that might lead him to believe that.”
“Men do not need nearly as much coaxing as one might think. You’ve already said yes to his invitations twice.”
She shook her head.
“And?”
“And if it were me, I’d believe that you were feeling a particular way.”
Grace couldn’t believe that Mr. Milton believed there was anything more than friendship between them. They had just danced after all, and while she had considered replacing James with him in her experiment, internally she knew that it wasn’t a possibility because there wasn’t any inkling of desire between them.
“You are mistaken. There isn’t any feeling between me and Mr. Milton.”
“There may be on his behalf though. You cannot know his thoughts on the matter. And if you go with him to Kelvingrove Park, whatever his feelings are now, they’re liable to grow.”
“Are you suggesting that I renege on my intention to go?” James didn’t answer, though his expression seemed to speak volumes. “I cannot. I already promised to go.”
The dance concluded then and though their conversation was far from over, James appeared contrite and remained silent as they removed themselves from the dancefloor. Surely he understood that she was expected to go, and in the company of her aunt and Arabella, it was hardly a romantic sort of venture.
He had to know that. Didn’t he?
“James, I—” she began just as the Baroness Glengirth and Aunt Belle came into view.
The baroness was a short woman, dressed in a black velvet gown with lace trim that was covered in what appeared to be hundreds of bows. Her square, wrinkled face sneered at James.
“Ah, my former escort,” she said, her voice sour. “Come to abandon my dear Lady Belle and her companions as you did me the other night?”
James gave her a nod.
“Baroness, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
