James kept his voice low. “Do not provoke her.”
Roderick glanced at Eleanor. “I would not dare.”
Eleanor’s gaze remained polite. “Your Grace.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“You may either proceed into the ballroom or you may remain here and help receive guests,” she said, still smiling. “If you remain here, you will find I expect you to be useful.”
Roderick paused, then grinned. “I withdraw all prior assumptions. You are absolutely dangerous.”
Eleanor’s smile did not change. “Choose.”
Roderick bowed again. “Ballroom, then.”
He turned as if to leave, then stopped and looked at Arabella. “Miss Barker, will you permit me the honor of escorting you in?”
Arabella’s eyes widened slightly. “I do not require an escort.”
“It is not about requirement,” Roderick said. “It is about principle. A lady does not walk into a ballroom alone if she can help it, and I am, unfortunately for you, available.”
Arabella hesitated.
Eleanor’s hand touched Arabella’s lightly, a silent question.
Arabella’s chin lifted, stubborn. “Very well,” she said, as if granting charity. “But do not speak too much.”
Roderick’s grin turned wickedly pleased. “I will speak only enough to keep you from dying of boredom.”
Arabella’s expression suggested she would prefer boredom to him.
Roderick offered his arm. Arabella took it reluctantly, as though it might bite her.
As they walked away, Roderick said in a voice that carried just enough, “I promise not to flirt.”
Arabella replied without looking at him. “You cannot promise that.”
“I can promise anything,” Roderick said.
“And that is precisely the problem,” Arabella said.
James watched them go, then turned back to the receiving line.
Eleanor’s expression had resumed its calm composure, but he caught a flicker. Concern, perhaps. Or calculation.
“You did that on purpose,” James said under his breath.
Eleanor’s gaze stayed forward. “He offered.”
“He offered because he enjoys pressing.”
Eleanor’s tone remained mild. “Then perhaps he has met his match.”
James glanced at her. “Arabella will not forgive you if he humiliates her.”
Eleanor’s eyes flicked to him. “Arabella does not humiliate easily. Unlike Charlotte.”
James said nothing.
