“I’ll accompany you.” As they made their way, she scanned the room. Four of the mothers of her students were in attendance, not including Lady Astor. That made her a little uncomfortable as she was not likely to dance with anyone else. She just hoped those mothers wouldn’t hold it against her. As long as she behaved in an appropriate manner, so they would be pleased to put their daughters into her care, all would go well. Though that did make her consider whether to accept future invitations to balls.
As she and her sister obtained their punch, the dance ended, and another began. She secretly wished she could sneak into the library and read, but she needed to be present when the doors to the garden opened. She would keep an eye on Teddy as well as Lady Caroline. The last thing she wanted was another confrontation, especially at Elsbeth’s ball.
“Lady Joanna?”
A shiver ran down her back at the sound of the male voice behind her. She turned to face James. “Your Grace.” She dipped a curtsey, wondering where Mariel had wandered off to.
“I thought I might see if your next dance was spoken for?”
Her heart leapt at the idea, and she smiled. “Since I have no dances promised for the rest of this evening, I’d be pleased to dance with you.”
He frowned. “No one has requested a dance?”
“I’m rarely asked to dance.” She waved her hand, a bit uncomfortable by how forbidding he appeared. “It’s of no consequence. Having few to no dances promised leaves me free to mill about as I choose.”
His brows raised before he chuckled. “For anyone else, I’d be doubtful, but for you that makes sense, so I approve.”
She lifted her glass. “I’m so pleased you do for whatever would I do if you didn’t?”
“I’m sure whatever suited you.”
She’d just taken a sip and almost spit it out as a laugh attempted to come out. Instead, she coughed. “Excuse me. I’d best set this down.”
“Yes, because I believe our waltz is the next dance.”
She froze. “A waltz?”
He smiled. “I assure you. I was taught by an expert teacher.”
She swallowed hard. Two waltzes with the first part of the evening was unusual. Certainly Lady Astor was aware of that.
“Come, I insisted on one for us.” As he led her out to the dance floor, she felt the gazes of all those in the room for the first time. Even if they weren’t looking at her with James, she felt them anyway. For him to ask her to dance the second waltz of the evening sent the wrong message. Did he know what he did?
He took her hand in his and smiled, something in his eyes causing her heart to jump. “Enjoy the dance, Jo. Let’s give them something to discuss in their morning calls tomorrow.”
At the assurance that he did know what he did, her chest filled. He wanted to dance the waltz withher. She smiled. “It would be an honor.”
His own smile grew and then he winked at her. She was so caught off guard by his action that she stumbled into the first steps with him.
He didn’t seem to mind, guiding her in the patterns until she regained her equilibrium. “Your dance with Lady Elsbeth was flawless from what I observed.”
“I did as you commanded. I practiced. That is what applied learning is all about, is it not?”
She nodded before facing forward as they danced side by side. As that pattern completed, he turned her toward him and grasped her about the waist. She lifted her arm and swore there was a twinkle in his eye as his hand enclosed hers. Before she could comment, he swept her into the turns.
She couldn’t seem to look away, his gaze changing, his blue eyes darkening. Or was it simply the lights in the ballroom? It was as if they floated across the floor, the music entwining around them, through them, tying them together in its notes as if they were one. It was magic, pure and simple, beyond reason, beyond logic, beyond thought. In that moment, she understood being part of another person. Her split-apart.
Neither of them said anything and yet it felt as if they said everything. Dare she hope he felt it too, the feeling that they were supposed to be together?
As the music stopped and the dance ended, his arm left her, as he trailed his hand along her back. He brought their entwined hands down, tucking hers in the crook of his arm. “I think it’s time to open the garden doors.”
Without asking, he guided her off the dance floor and to the closest set of doors. His footmen immediately opened them, and he led her out onto the terrace she remembered. She should say something about his expert dancing, but the words lodged in her throat. That wasn’t what she wanted to say.
He walked her down into the gardens. There were no flowers, but there was much greenery as he led her past the cupid fountain. Once on the other side of it, he stopped and turned her to face him.
She looked up expectantly, her heart pounding, anxious to hear what he would say.
As he cupped her face in his hands, he whispered. “My Jo.” His face lowered, and he lifted her chin to brush his lips against hers.
