Returning his flask, she coughed until her eyes watered. Then she took a breath.
“Thank you, my lord. At first, I thought it most vile, but I do feel calmer.” She wiped her mouth on the back of her glove.
He nearly laughed at her disastrous manners. Not wanting to make her anxiety worse, he held the flask out again.
“The next sip will go down more easily. After a third, you will be happy to be here.”
She took it and sipped slowly. When her gaze locked with his, he caught his breath while she sipped twice more before handing it back.
“Has your case of the nerves subsided?” he asked, wondering how she grew lovelier every time he saw her. Tonight, she was stunning, and he longed to drop hot, little kisses along the smooth column between her sweet chin and her shapely collarbone. And then farther, if she would allow.
Nodding by way of response, she offered him a radiant smile.
Mrs. Stallwell returned. “The lemonade was sour and warm, so I procured for you a glass of wine.”
Rupert was about to mention what a bad idea it was to mix claret on top of the brandy, but Lady Delia drank down half of it without pause. After hiccupping and belatedly covering her mouth, she laughed loudly and drained the glass.
“Oh dear,” Mrs. Stallwell said, frowning at her cousin.
The Master of Ceremonies announced the first dance. Rupert took her arm, bowed to Mrs. Stallwell and led Lady Delia away.
LORD PERISH WAS ANangel!Moreover, he was correct. Deliawashappy to be at the ball. Even happier to be his partner for the dance. There was no grand march. Instead, they started out with a lively Lancier.
The steps came easily, although when Lord Perish turned to circle around another lady, Delia lost her way, going around a male dancer in the wrong direction before bumping into another lady.
After an awkward moment, she was reunited with Lord Perish.
“Keep your eyes upon me and do what I do.”
When they parted again, she did as he said, making it back to him without mishap. Regardless, she felt hotter than she had previously. Her cheeks were probably scarlet, and she was glad when the dance ended.
Back at her cousin’s side, she saw Frances had procured two more glasses of wine and reached for one, taking a long sip, wishing she could lie down in cool grass with Lord Perish next to her.
“I think you have had enough,” he said.
“Do you?” His words struck her as monstrously amusing. Delia laughed while setting the glass upon the small table. It fell off and shattered.
“My goodness!” she said. “They don’t make glassware of any quality anymore.”
“What on earth?” her cousin asked. Lord Perish said something into Frances’s ear.
If they were going to rudely conduct a private conversation, then she was going to dance with ... she looked around ...him!
Striding up to a man standing alone, Delia felt brave and calm.
“Would you do me the honor of a dance, my lord?”
She said it perfectly, precisely what a gentleman always asked her.So why had his green eyes grown wider and his nostrils flared?His mouth worked, but no sound came out.
“My lord?”
“Do we know one another?” he asked. “I don’t believe we have been introduced.” He looked around them as if seeking someone else who would remedy the situation.
Delia sighed. She could speak for herself.
“I am happy to make your acquaint ... acquaintenance ... your acquaintanceship. My name is—”
“Miss Laramie,” came Lord Perish’s voice at her elbow.
