“James, Robert, you remember our youngest daughter, Elizabeth?” Lady Norwood said proudly.
Oh, hell.
Chapter 9
Elizabeth ran her eyes over the man standing in front of her. She was not going to faint or scream, she decided as she tried to remain calm. She shoved her hand inside her reticule and pulled out the small piece of parchment and opened it while keeping her eyes focused on the small group in front of her, smiling charmingly as she prayed that this was all a mistake. As discreetly as possible, she looked down at the piece of parchment in her hand. She groaned inwardly. On the paper, clearly written, was the name of Robert Bradford.
This could not be happening...
Robert’s smile disappeared only to be replaced by a sharp scowl in her direction. She was about to say a few choice words to him when James stepped forward. Good lord, the man was still a sight to behold.
“Lady Elizabeth.” He took her hand and bowed over it. “You’ve grown into a lovely young woman.” She curtsied even as her eyes shot back to Robert. Her face burned with embarrassment just thinking about what they’d done. His scowl intensified when he noted her blush.
“They’re about to begin the supper waltz,” her mother said with a pointed look at their hands, intensifying her mortification when she really hadn’t thought that was possible.
“Ah, Lady Elizabeth!”
Robert looked back and almost laughed. Lord Dumford was coming to claim her. Good. There wasn’t anyone who deserved it more than this woman. It surprised him how quickly she went from being his minx to this horrid woman in his mind. All those memories that he’d tried to repress over the years came flooding back to him. God, he hated her. It didn’t matter that he still wanted her. He hated her and that was all that mattered.
“May I have the pleasure of the supper waltz and then perhaps escort you to supper?” Lord Dumford asked with that damn pompous tone that grated in the worst way.
“I’m sorry, my lord. I’ve already promised another gentleman to dance and dine with him tonight,” she said sweetly, very kindly actually.
“Who?” Lord Dumford asked rather rudely.
“Me,” James said firmly.
Damn it!
James held out his hand. “I believe this is our dance, Lady Elizabeth,” James said smoothly. Their parents were practically giddy.
This was planned!
They wanted James and Elizabeth together.
The hell that was going to happen!
He would not stand for it.
Elizabeth had no choice but to accept his offer. Although she wouldn’t mind fulfilling a childhood fantasy by dancing with James, she needed to speak with Robert and get their stories straight. Once that was done, she would happily beat him upside the head with her book, she decided with a smile.
“I believe you’re correct, my lord,” Elizabeth said as she took his offered arm, leaving Robert behind to glare after them.
They took their place among the other couples on the dance floor. James smiled down at her. “I must say, Elizabeth, you look nothing like the child I remember.”
“Fourteen years will do that, my lord,” she said coolly, making him visibly wince.
“Ouch. I suppose I should now apologize for my absence. I did not do it to be cruel, my dear. I had to support my brother and all that.”
“I thought as much. You were always close to my family, so I assumed your absence was in support of your brother.”
“Well, you couldn’t blame the boy. You were clearly driving him on the path to Bedlam,” James said with a grin.
She took pride in that. She really shouldn’t, but she did. “He wasn’t such an angel, if I recall,” Elizabeth pointed out just as the waltz began.
He chuckled. “No, he certainly wasn’t. I do recall an incident where he cut off your hair.”
“Yes, I believe someone put tar or some sticky substance on his saddle,” Elizabeth said innocently.
