“That is less than ideal,” she continued. “My presence here cannot be found out. I was not invited.”
“Then perhaps you should have worn something less becoming,” Leonard said. “Though even then I’m sure you would have drawn attention.”
“Are you teasing me?” she asked.
He raised a brow. “Not in the least.”
Running a self-conscious hand over her dress, she did her best not to look around—something that was incredibly difficult for her, since she always wanted to know what her surroundings were and to look for a quick escape if need be. But she needed to look as if she belonged there, and nervously glancing about would not help her cause.
“Perhaps we should switch places then. I will stand by the windows and you can cover me with your body.”
His eyebrows hitched further.
Doing her best to be discreet, she gently took his arm and spun him around as she walked to the door and turned to face him. It was so smooth, almost like a dance. His hand slid down her forearm just before he released her.
“Now, what would you like to do, Samuel,” Honora said, strangely out of breath. Goodness, what was wrong with her? “This is your night, after all.”
His brown eyes flitted about the room, his mouth forming a small smile, almost as if it were ever present on his face. It was a natural look for him.
“Just watching, honestly. It’s been ages since I’ve attended a ball.”
“How long?” Honora asked, keeping an eye out in case someone decided to approach them, and she needed to busy herself with something.
Samuel took a slow breath. “Probably six years.”
“Well,” she said, looking at a young woman approaching with her mother. “It seems you have already gained some attention.”
Brow scrunching, Samuel looked toward them. “That’s Mrs. Birks, and, presumably, one of her daughters.”
Leonard looked behind him, observing their approach. “One of their recently available daughters,” Leonard mumbled.
“Let us see who they are here for,” Honora said with a grin.
Leonard looked at her. “I think it obvious who they are here to see. The one smiling at everyone who passes.” He rolled his eyes, looking at his brother until he finally cracked a small grin.
“Me?” Samuel’s eyes widened, and his face took on a sudden flush.
“Well, either way, they certainly aren’t here to see me,” Honora pointed out, “so you had both put on your best faces.”
Samuel leaned slightly to his right, as if putting more weight on his walking stick. As the woman and her daughter arrived, he gave it some slack as if to show he had no need of it.
“Mr. Stanton,” Mrs. Birks said, beaming. “How wonderful it is to see you out and about.”
Samuel smiled, all modesty. “Thank you. It is good to be out.”
“Your health is well, I take it?”
He paused. “As good as it’s been,” he allowed.
Mrs. Birks listened with half an ear as she took her daughter’s hand. “May I please present my daughter, Miss Tabitha Birks.”
The young lady was quite pretty, though she seemed to have a quiet disposition. Which would actually be quite a perfect pairing for Samuel. Honora met Leonard’s gaze, lifting a single brow before correcting her face lest she get caught making insinuations. Leonard, however, looked between the two with those little lines creasing the skin just above his nose.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Samuel said, taking Miss Birks’s hand and bowing over it. One would never know he had not been in society much at all over the years, for his manners and ease were without flaw.
“Is this not the most beautifully adorned room,” Miss Birks said.
Samuel took a moment to look around. “Quite lovely. But nothing compared to its occupants.”
