His head jerked to her, his eyes wide.
Her eyes widened as well. Had she really just said that? Goodness, what was the matter with her? Love was in the air, and apparently it was contagious.
“What did you just say?” he asked, his chin dipped.
“I said nothing.” She lifted onto her toes, looking at the dancers.
His mouth opened. “No, you most certainly said something.”
“I don’t think so.”
He took her hand and pulled her until she was flat on her feet again. “We shall discuss this later,” he whispered into her ear, causing gooseflesh to break along her neck as his breath washed over the exposed skin on her throat.
They would not be discussing anything if she had something to do with it. The man was just beginning to warm up to her. She didn’t need to send him running again.
The dance passed on, and Leonard could not seem to keep himself from flicking his eyes to his brother every thirty seconds. Luckily, the dance was a more somber one. A country jig would have put a quick end to his evening of entertainment.
The final notes of the song rang out, and Leonard’s shoulders dropped. “Thank goodness.”
Samuel delivered the young woman back to her mother, then slowly walked over to Honora and Leonard.
Samuel looked simultaneously exhausted and elated. His face was pale, but his cheeks had a healthy dose of color to them, and his chest labored a great deal. He snatched his cane from Leonard, leaning on it even as his smile persisted.
“Well, are you proud of yourself?” Leonard drolled.
With a quick breath, Samuel nodded. “That was worth every second of misery I am sure to endure for the remainder of the evening.”
Leonard choked out a laugh, putting a hand to his brother’s back. “Let us get you home.”
“Oh.” Honora stopped. “I have to retrieve my bag. I will meet you at the carriage.”
Leonard paused, then promptly waved her off.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Leonard and Samuel waited in the carriage for Honora to make her appearance. And he was getting a little worried as time lagged.
But she could handle herself. That much he knew. Yet, his leg still insisted on bouncing away.
Samuel sat across from him, leaning heavily on the wall of the carriage, his eyes nearly shut, but a whisper of a smile lingered on his lips.
“Happy?” Leonard’s voice caused Samuel’s eyes to fly open.
He sat up. “Yes. Incredibly so.” Samuel rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I was going to wait for Honora to get here, but I wanted to say thank you.”
“For what?” His brow scrunched.
With a sigh, Samuel leaned back. “For not letting me give up on myself. I do think I am capable of more than the doctors or our parents say. But sometimes . . .” He stared out the window, and Leonard patiently waited. “Sometimes,” he continued, “it becomes easier to believe them than to fight them.”
Leonard’s lips tightened. “I understand.”
They shared a look, heavy with unspoken words.
The door to the carriage opened, and Honora appeared with her bag. She had changed back into her dark, modest dress and bonnet, covering her hair.
“About time you showed up,” Samuel said with a grin, leaning over and shutting the door after she took the seat beside Leonard.
“Sorry, I had to hide for a moment as a particularly slow servant made their rounds.” She removed her bonnet and swiped at her hair. “Goodness. What an evening.”
