Maintaining an eye on the door, but trying to seem aloof at the same time, Alaina caught an awkward stumble coming toward her. She barely side-stepped the man’s bumbling approach and her quick action nearly caused her to topple the whole refreshment table. Alaina gave a quick sigh of relief when she only gave the table a gentle bump, setting the glasses and dishes on the table to shaking, but her solace was temporary. Thisgentleman, if he even warranted the title, had clearly been drinking too much before his arrival and had almost caused the both of them to be covered in foodstuffs.Would the foolishness and bad luck of this season never end?
Thankfully, the gentlemen halted just short of the table and seemed to go about his business without a care. It was Lord Finch’s drunken display and her lack of action, not far from her mind, that gave her the courage to confront this latest buffoon. Alaina refused to be forbearing with yet another fool!
“Usually, a person can wait until arriving at a ball to partake inlibations,” Alaina gritted through her teeth, loud enough that she was sure the man could hear. “There are always plenty supplied at these sorts of functions, if you are capable of waiting. And you run less risk of embarrassing yourself or others.”
The target of Alaina’s remark seemed to only partially acknowledge her statement, a grunt escaping him as he continued to look at the spread of snacks, finally settling on a small, candied fruit and popping it unceremoniously in his mouth. Not to be ignored, Alaina stomped her slippered foot in an unladylike manner.
The gentleman finally turned to face her, and Alaina was taken aback by the steel-blue eyes that pierced her as if they were made of ice, a small cut marring his otherwise perfect brow.
“Pardon my uncoordinated approach, my lady. I assure you I would never tip the table and ruin yourbeautifuldress.” The quip seemed to insult and compliment at the same time; Alaina could not be sure.
Alaina’s initial anger turned to shock as she made note of the man’s crisp speech, one certainly not marred by drink. The about-face in her perception caused her words to tumble from her mouth with little thought. “I was just worried that… Well, what I mean is…”
The man’s eyes swept the length of Alaina, as if finally assessing the person before him, while he pressed her to finish her thought. “What? Were you worried I was already in my cups? That I am a drunk? I assure you I just slipped a bit on the floor. I am not usually so clumsy.”
There was something about the man, a challenge in his eyes maybe, that compelled Alaina to speak before he could turn away. Unfortunately, she could not find an appropriate topic and her mouth outpaced her mind. “I am sure you have quite the story with your eye.”
“Pardon?” the gentleman countered, taking an ominous step toward her. Alaina immediately regretted her statement, wishing to fall in upon herself as his glacial eyes once again stared at her with enough intensity to freeze her in place. Alaina was taken aback by his height, finding it difficult to not tip backward to meet his eye in the crowded ballroom.
He was impeccably dressed, his dark gray coat and breeches tucked into tall black boots, contrasting with a silver waistcoat, white shirt, and cravat. Alaina could see that everything was expertly tailored, his coat tapering to his perfectly flat stomach, and his breeches hugging his narrow hips enough to make Alaina feel the color rising in her cheeks.
Alaina cleared her throat as she searched for her next words, coming up with only a measly reiteration of her question before remembering herself. “Your eye? I do apologize, sir. I did not mean to offend.”
A chuckle escaped the gentleman’s lips, as if in disbelief at having to converse with her, and he promptly set her upon her heels. “Is that your idea of polite conversation?”
“Y-es, I mean no, not really. It is just that it looks like it hurt,” Alaina stammered, standing as tall as she could manage, only barely making it to his shoulder. She refused to yield any ground, even if she could not find her voice.
The man’s eyes narrowed, and it felt to Alaina that many moments passed before he spoke once more. “And I bet you are curious as to how I came by the injury. It seems like your curiosity got the best of your manners.”
Alaina’s disbelief at his directness caused her mouth to drop open, and she was rendered momentarily speechless.He was lecturing her!
The man crossed his arms across his chest, and leaned in a bit, as if to make sure she heard him. “You know the saying: curiosity killed the cat.”
Alaina felt warmth rise to the tips of her ears and she regretted ever opening her mouth, but then she noticed a twinkle settled in his eyes as a quick chuckle escaped his lips. He was laughing at her, or the situation. Either way, his reaction perturbed her, and she snapped, “What has you so amused?”
The man’s voice belied the twinkle in his eyes. “Who says I am amused?”
“W-well,” Alaina started timidly, before she squared her shoulders and pressed on. “I cannot say if you are or not, but it is my usual experience that laughter indicates pleasure in something.”
Now the gentleman let out a more full-bodied laugh. “I fear pleasure and amusement are two separate concepts, at least in my mind.”
Alaina’s brow furrowed as she mulled his last statement. The man’s eyes darkened as they stood in silence, and Alaina’s confusion deepened. Alaina opened her mouth but was stayed by a familiar voice.
“Yoo hoo! Alaina, darling, I simply must introduce you to someone.”
Alaina saw her mother fast approaching, her rich amethyst gown shimmering as she made her way through the crowd. She was joined by a stately lady, petite with lustrous ebony hair and alabaster skin, setting off her stylish silver dress. She glanced back at the gentleman and saw he was calmly waiting as if to continue their repartee, or possibly just to observe the upcoming introduction.
Alas, it was time to greet the new arrivals, and she plastered a pinched smile on her face. “Mother, how delightful for you to join me. I thought you would be enjoying your time with the other chaperones.”
“My dear, as the ballroom got more crowded, you appeared as though you might be swallowed up at any moment.” Charlotte looked askance at the gentleman. “Not to mention, I have met the most wonderful and interesting woman, and I thought I should introduce you.”
Turning to her new companion, Alaina’s mother continued, “This is the Dowager Duchess of Ashford.”
Alaina felt a flicker of disbelief cross her face, but quickly bowed her head and executed a graceful curtsy, hoping her quick motion covered her face and emotions. How had her mother even found the dowager at the ball, let alone garnered an introduction? “It is wonderful to make your acquaintance, your grace.”
The dowager quickly took both of Alaina’s hands in her own, stepping closer and leaning in as if they were old friends. “Please, my dear, as I have already told your mother, you must call me Eleanor. I am not one to stand on ceremony with people, as long as I like them. Your mother and I were just getting equally bored sitting with the old biddies over there and we struck up a conversation. I just had to meet her daughter as well.”
“As you wish, Eleanor. I would be honored if you would do the same; please call me Alaina.”
