He bit his tongue to keep himself from calling her back to him and instead merely inclined his head. “Your Grace.”
She pivoted then and darted off into the crowd. He sighed as he watched her go. The few moments spent with her had not revealed her to be a monster, which would have certainly made his life easier. He could have reported back to his cousins, called his duties complete and collected a tidy sum of blunt.
Instead he’d been left with the uneasy attraction to a woman he certainly should have no interest in. And a feeling that when she walked away it was the first time he could draw a first breath since they had been introduced.
“Bollocks,” he muttered beneath his breath before he turned and made his own way into the crowd away from where she had gone.
* * *
Flora found herself glancing across the crowded ballroom for what had to have been the tenth time that long night. She knew what she was searching for, even if she might not have ever admitted it to anyone else. And when her gaze fell on Mr. Roarke Desmond, her ridiculous heart throbbed just the tiniest bit faster.
Of course, admit it or not, she had clearly made herself too plain, for Bernadette made a little snort at her side. “He’s a handsome gentleman.”
Flora tore her eyes from him and speared her friend with what she hoped was a reasonably innocent expression. “Who?”
Bernadette pursed her lips. “Mister…what was his name?”
“Desmond,” Flora said, and then blushed as she realized she’d just proven Bernadette’s point. “Ugh, you are terrible.”
Bernadette shrugged. “I don’t see what the problem is. You don’t have to hide it if you feel a little regard for a person.”
“I don’tfeelanything,” Flora said with a shake of her head as she stole another glance at him. “I met the man all of two hours ago and we talked for less than five minutes. I’m looking. There is no harm in looking.”
“I agree,” Bernadette said, this time a little softer, and when Flora glanced at her she realized her friend was staring at Lightmorrow, who was now laughing with Valaria’s secret fiancé, Callum. Bernadette must have felt Flora looking because she tore her gaze away and refocused it on Flora. “Andyoucould do more than look if you are of a mind, you know.”
Flora tried to think of a witty rejoinder at that statement, but her hands had begun to shake and she felt the color go out of her cheeks.
Bernadette made a soft sound in her throat and stepped closer. “Oh dearest, I apologized. I should not have teased. I know what a struggle it’s been for you these past few years.”
Flora sighed. “I’m in the odd position that I actually both loved andlikedmy husband. Very different from a great many merry widows who are ready to pounce on their next conquest before the grave is even fully covered by dirt.” She caught her breath. “I don’t mean Valaria, of course.”
“Of course not,” Bernadette reassured her. “Valaria was in a very different situation—no one could blame her for celebrating her husband’s death rather than grieving it. But this is not an all or nothing situation, is it? You can have loved Stuart and miss him, but not lock yourself away forever as if you died alongside him. You have money and freedom, you could seek a new husband if you wished. Or…or a lover.”
Bernadette blushed as she said it, and Flora couldn’t help but do the same, especially when she glanced at Mr. Desmond again and found him watching her with unmistakable interest in his expression. When was the last time she’d felt that kind of regard? When was the last time it had elicited a stir of reaction in her stomach when she had?
She shook her head. “This is all rather silly a conversation, isn’t it? Whether or not I found someone here tonight to be a handsome gentleman, whether or not I intend to open my future up to the possibility of a connection to another man, there is not much chance I’ll ever see Mr. Desmond again. So I needn’t worry about him, even if I do promise to consider your very good advice about my potential future.”
Bernadette glanced over her shoulder at Mr. Desmond again and then wrapped her arm around Flora. “Whatever you wish.”
Flora elbowed her gently. “Now, do you want to talk about that intense dance you shared with Lightmorrow earlier tonight?”
Bernadette threw up her hands. “Great God, but you and Valaria are singular. No, I don’t want to discuss it. I want to go have some watered-down punch and giggle like debutantes about Lady Beasley’s ghastly hat.”
Flora smiled as they moved together toward the refreshment table at the back of the room. “Very well. That sounds perfect.”
And it did. Almost. But even though she would not speak about Roarke Desmond again that night, she feared she wouldn’t be able to dismiss the stirring in her body that the handsome man had created.
CHAPTER4
It had been three days since Roarke’s encounter with Flora at Lightmorrow’s ball, but she had rarely left his mind since that night. He told himself it was because he was doing his due diligence on the matter. Research into her habits and the company she kept, casual rides past her home on Kent’s Row to get an understanding of her circumstances. Discreetly following her if she went out shopping or to visit with friends.
And yes, he was determining a pattern in his research, there was no denying it. But there was also no denying that he also found himself increasingly interested in the lady. She was…kind. That was the overwhelming impression he got from anyone who agreed to speak about her. She was kind to those around her, regardless of their rank and circumstances.
That was rare enough in itself.
And as for his research project, he had seen no hint of a man in her life. There was no rumor of men either. To his great pleasure, even if he shouldn’t have felt such a reaction. His cousins would be livid, he knew.
He was sitting in the park across from her home now, watching the door to her house. She came out every day at the same time, strolled the park by herself, without even a maid in attendance. That had startled him enough the first time he saw her do so that he had followed at a short distance to see if she was, indeed, meeting someone. And if not, that she remained safe while she roamed alone.
