She swallowed hard and looked up to meet his gaze. Once again he was struck by how stunning her eyes were. He didn’t think he’d ever seen such a combination of blue and green before.
“If anyone asked me,” she said slowly, “that would be what I would tell them. It is all I recall, at any rate.”
He wrinkled his brow at her reassurance, kindly made and somehow unexpected. “If you said something else, it might bring you a little renown.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Please don’t presume you know me well enough to believe I would trade renown for someone else’s reputation, Your Grace. I didn’t help your sister or your mother in order to gain something from the act. Thereisdecency without price in this world. If you do not know that, I am sorry for you.”
James arched a brow at her heated response. When she was emotional, she was far more animated and a blush crept into her cheeks and down her neck, disappearing into the bust of her gown.
“I apologize, Miss Liston,” he said, inclining his head. “I did not mean to imply that you would be mercenary. Truly.”
Her expression softened a touch. “I’m sure there are some who might be. I’m simply not one of them.”
“Then we are luckyyouwere the friend my sister was with,” he said. “And once again, I thank you.”
“Your sister is lovely,” Miss Liston said, looking over his shoulder into the crowd of other dancers.
When he turned her, he saw that Meg was dancing with Simon. She was smiling and laughing, and his heart got lighter seeing it.
“She is, indeed,” he said. “She likes you.”
The music had begun to slow and Miss Liston looked up at him with wide eyes. “Does she? I cannot imagine why. We do not have anything in common.”
He laughed at her candor, even if he didn’t believe her words. “You are both clever. And clearly you are both kind. That is the foundation of many a friendship, Miss Liston.”
The music stopped and he bowed to her, then offered her a hand to escort her from the floor. When they reached the edge, he swept the cloak of his personality around him and said, “It was a great pleasure to dance with you, Miss Liston. I hope you will allow me the pleasure again.”
To his surprise, she didn’t titter as other women might have. Instead, she folded her arms across her chest like a shield and pressed those surprisingly full lips together until they were a tight line.
“Your Grace, we both know this was a pity dance, thrown at me as some kind of reward for my help. And clearly it was also a way to determine if I would use whatever I saw tonight against you. Please don’t pretend it was something more. I understand the way the world works.”
He drew back. “Youaredirect.”
Panic flooded her face and she shifted with discomfort. “Well, a woman of my position must be practical and not allow herself to get swept away by foolish notions.”
“Like that I could have actually enjoyed dancing with you?” he asked with a slight smile. “It is so hard for you to believe.”
She shrugged. “I’m not exactly in your sphere, Your Grace.”
“Miss Liston, whether you believe it or not, Ididtruly enjoy my time with you,” he said, and was surprised to find he actually meant those words. Normally when he danced with ladies, he went through the motions, trying to be polite while he awaited escape. This dance had been different. Emma Liston was…interesting.
She bent her head. “Well, I…I…thank you. Now I should go find my mother. Good night, Your Grace.”
He inclined his head. “Good night, Emma.”
She stiffened at the use of her given name, but she didn’t correct him before she turned away and rushed off through the crowd, leaving James alone to watch her. And watch her he did, until she vanished into the crowd and left him entirely confused by their encounter.
Chapter Three
Emma stared at her plate with unseeing eyes. What did her rapidly cooling food matter when all she could do was relive her dance with the Duke of Abernathe again and again? Like a fool, she kept thinking of his strong arms around her, the warmth of his body as they spun around the floor, the focus of his dark stare as he spoke to her.
Of course, she’d ruined it all by being so damned direct with him.
“Emma!”
She jerked her head up to find her mother leaning across the table, eyes locked on her. Emma sighed. She knew that look. It was themarry, marry, marrylook that made her mother so crazed sometimes.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Emma said. “I was woolgathering.”
