Or rather, what he might haveconsideredrelatively easy by his standards.
For Fanny, the result was a bit different.
As Mrs. Thomas began to play a lively tune, Fanny began the dance by spinning the wrong way. When Lord Castleford tried to lead her, she managed to step on his foot. It didn’t take long to realize that while he might be a strong partner, it was nearly impossible to teach someone who had little to no rhythm.
As the dance came to a close, Fanny winced. “I’m sorry, but Ididtry to warn you.”
“It’s fine,” he said with a slight grimace. “I’m sure it will only take a few days for the feeling in my feet to return.”
Fanny’s jaw went slack. While she hadn’t been expecting him to shower her with false flattery, he might have at least been abitmore considerate toward her inadequacy. “We weren’t all born into privilege, my lord, with the advantages of a skilled instructor.”
“I’m not sure even those circumstances could have helped your cause, Miss Grouseman,” he returned dryly.
Fanny’s mouth fell open completely.The audacity of the man!
“Perhaps a waltz next, my lord?” Mrs. Thomas suggested.
“I don’t think so,” Lord Castleford said. “I believe perhaps a quadrille—”
“Actually,” Fanny spoke up. “I think the waltz sounds ideal. I’ve always wanted to try it.”
Lord Castleford’s mouth lifted in the corner. “It’s very brave of you to attempt such a piece, Miss Grouseman. I do hope my toes can survive the torture.”
Fanny’s brows lifted. “Yes. It would be a shame if I were to trod upon your instep onpurpose.”
Lord Castleford threw back his head and laughed richly. As the music started, he drew her into his embrace. “You know, you’re rather lovely when you’re angry.”
In spite of her irritation, Fanny found her pulse leaping in response as he began to lead her about the room in three-beat time. She stumbled along at the beginning, so she turned her attention to the floor, determined to do her best not to make an even bigger fool of herself.
After a few turns, she felt a gentle finger on the bottom of her chin. With the slightest pressure, Lord Castleford brought her gaze upward. Fanny’s heartbeat accelerated as his green eyes caressed her face. “You’re thinking too much,” he murmured deeply, the sound going straight to her core. “Don’t concentrate on the steps of the waltz. You have tofeelthe music.”
Held by his unflinching stare, she drew courage from his strength and expertise. Soon they were flying across the floor as if they’d been dancing together all of their life. When the music finally came to a close, he slowly released her and took a step back. Fanny was breathing heavily, and not just from her exertions. Her hands were trembling, so she quickly tucked them in the folds of her skirts.
“You did very well, Miss Grouseman,” Lord Castleford said rather huskily. “I should think that’s enough for today.”
“Indeed.” Fanny swallowed tightly. “I confess I’m rather... tired.” She gave a rather awkward curtsy, and then turned and rushed from the room.
***
ONCE MRS. THOMAS REALIZEDthat her services were no longer required, she left Jonathan to his own devices. He walked over to one of the windows and grasped the sill tightly enough to make his knuckles turn white.This isn’t supposed to happen...this isn’t supposed to happen...He kept repeating the words to himself, but it didn’t change the strange stirrings in his heart.
Jonathan sighed, his breath fogging on the pane before dissipating just as quickly. Only then did he realize that action rather mirrored his current existence. His life until this point, had been nothing more than a shroud, an illusion for the man who lay dormant beneath, the one he’d refused to let out for fear of the pain that might ensue should he allow his emotions to take hold. He had witnessed the downward spiral his parents had suffered over the years, his father’s countless affairs that led to the inevitable demise of his mother, and it had put him off of any long-standing relationship, allowing the insouciant rake to run free.
So it was rather ironic that it had taken a fateful trip to Cornwall for him to face a difficult crossroads — to continue on the same, destructive path he’d always followed, or to finally take a chance on something else, somethingmore.
Not only had he dared to take on the folly of reviving what would likely be a dead mine, but he’d never expected this odd yearning when he was around Fanny. She made him feel...alive.It was as if he had only been a shell of a man before he met her, someone who went through the motions of living without actually knowing what it truly meant. And while he had always been careful to retain his distance from any other woman, in the short time he’d known Miss Grouseman she had managed to burrow into that shallow organ in his chest and cause it to beat with a purpose. Not only did he enjoy sparring with her, just to see her cheeks flush with frustration and her dark eyes to sparkle, but she had a quick wit that fascinated him.
And he’d had to control himself, more than once, from bending down and kissing that tempting mouth.
Jonathan shook his head as he pulled the handkerchief from his pocket and ran his thumb over the gold embroidery. He kept it with him at all times without even knowing why, except that his experience with that fortune teller had been more disturbing than he cared to admit.
Could she have been right? Were certain paths intertwined for a reason? And could those same paths lead people to where they were supposed to be?
Or perhaps the truth was that people didn’t choose their own destiny. Maybe each individual’s fate was already decided and one’s choices madethe person.
He frowned thoughtfully as he tucked the square of linen back into his pocket. Restless, he spun on his heel and called for his horse to be saddled. A brisk ride always helped to clear his head, and right now, his thoughts were as murky as the waters of the Thames.
***
