And then Lady Twitchard stood between them. Her hostess must have raced from her post greeting guests in order to block Brilliance. But the woman, no matter how well-intentioned, wasnother mother. Brilliance would not allow herself to be deprived of the delights that could only be had in Lord Hewitt’s arms.
Thus, with barely a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Good evening, again, my lady. Did I mention how wonderful your ballroom looks?” And she skirted her hostess as if edging around a prickly raspberry bush, finally reaching Lord Hewitt.
Immediately, he grasped her gloved hand and bowed over it.
“You are exquisite, my lady. Dare I say radiant?”
She shrugged. “That is more aptly said of my dear sister, Ray, but I appreciate your kind words.”
He frowned and removed his glasses, slipping them into a pocket. “Let me try again. Thebrillianceof your beauty outshines every other female here.”
“Oh, I like that very much,” she said. “Thank you. And you look very fine, my lord. So handsome, I could swoon — if I were the swooning type.”
His cheeks flushed an impressive shade of rose. “Thank you.” His gray-green eyes gleamed in the candlelight.
“Hewitt,” said Colonel Twitchard, sidling up from nowhere. “Would you care to —?”
“I will do whatever you wish,” Lord Hewitt said, “afterI have danced with this lovely lady. You cannot expect me to leave her standing here.” Then he gestured to her. “Just look at her, Colonel.”
“Yes, I see,” their host said. When the Colonel actually took in Brilliance’s appearance, head-to-slipper, his eyes widened.
She smiled at his admiring expression — it was sweetly unexpected. Then the cornet player, seated on an oval platform in the room’s center, gave the signal for the start of the first dance — a few short blasts. The sound reverberated along her spine, and Lord Hewitt took her arm and led her to where the other dancers were lining up.
The rest of the musicians, a pianist, a violinist, and a cellist, began to play. Brilliance finally had her heart’s desire, dancing with Lord Hewitt. After a few turns around the room, she told him, “Although I believe you are a superior musician to the pianist, tonight, I am glad you are not playing on the dais.”
“Why, thank you, my lady.”
“Can you believe we have known one another only a week? I vow it feels longer. Tomorrow, I shall be sad to say goodbye to you.”
He startled. “Perhaps we will meet again in London.”
Brilliance had hoped for something more reassuring. While she knew she shouldn’t ask him outright, still she could determine his future whereabouts.
“When are you returning to London?”
“In the autumn,” he said, keeping his gaze steadily upon her.
She thought of all the events she might attend in the next two months.
“I may be betrothed by then,” she said sadly. How terrible she would feel if Lord Hewitt were to come back into her life after she had grown atendrefor another man. But then, if she had given her heart to someone else, she wouldn’t feel quite so terrible, after all. Yet Lord Hewitt might be devastated.
“I only tell you that because I have a full social schedule planned. I would hate for you to decide I am the woman you most admire in all the world only to leave it until it is too late.”
He looked as if he were choking, but a moment later, he recovered and merely shook his head.
“You are as outrageous as ever.”
“Am I?” Brilliance was puzzled. “I am simply trying to save you from heartache.”
“In that case, I am most grateful.” His hand holding hers squeezed a little harder while the other pressed firmly against her lower back.
Was he telling her something?She sighed.
“I hope we may have another dance before the ball is over,” Brilliance said. “Moreover, unless we put our heads together, I doubt we shall find the opportunity for another kiss.”
Lord Hewitt faltered abruptly, and Brilliance nearly crashed into him before he resumed the flow of the dance.
Then she couldn’t help repeating, “Put our heads together! That is funny.” She chuckled. “For it is precisely what I would like us to do, but your cousin and the Colonel have been successfully playing chaperone for the better part of two days, have they not?”
