The music began. Leonie enjoyed dancing and could often lose herself in the music and the patterns. This time, she found herself watching Rochdale.
Roman was a proud man. In India, several of the other officers had mentioned he had rather humble roots. No, not other officers—Arthurhad mentioned that fact. Arthur had not wanted her giving even a sidelong glance to another man, and she didn’t—at least not overtly. However, she had noticed the new young lieutenant and she’d been quite taken with him, especially because she was growing tired of Arthur’s petty jealousies.
To be honest, Leonie didn’t know why she let Arthur convince her to elope. Such a silly, foolish idea now, but at the time, she had been swept up into the excitement of being wanted, of being chosen.
Now, she could see how much she had longed to be noticed all her life. Her parents were locked in their own battles. At the time, it was over her mother’s indiscretion with a clerk in the main counting office. They rarely spoke to each other, let alone their daughter. They’d been consumed with their own lives.
Arthur had offered freedom from that world and she’d grabbed at her chance to escape.
She glanced at Roman. He was a good dancer. She remembered this from the past. The other women in their set had noticed him as well. Leonie could imagine that if he and Camberly were placed side by side, she might choose Roman.
He caught her regard and gave her a smile, just as the pattern of the dance had them both turn away—and a wayward thought struck her, one she’d never considered before.
It was so startling that she missed her next step. She recovered but could not wait for the music to be over.
He bowed over her hand. “Thank you for this dance.”
She didn’t mince words. “Whydidyou follow Arthur and me that night? How did you know where we were? What made you come after us?”
Chapter 5
God save him from intelligent women.
Leonie Charnock had the mind of a barrister. These were the questions Roman didn’t want to answer, the ones he’d thought long and hard about.
Before he could muster a response, a tall, blonde woman linked her arm with Leonie’s. “I’ve been looking for you. What are the points for being escorted to the supper room?” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. In fact, she was so intent on sharing her news she hadn’t truly registered Roman’s presence until Leonie brought him to her attention.
Pointedly, she said to her friend, “May I introduce you to the Earl of Rochdale? My lord, this is Miss Holwell.”
Holwell.Another of the Spinster Heiresses.
Miss Holwell blushed prettily at her own forwardness and Roman realized this was his chance to avoid Leonie’s questions. He was not ready to reveal too much to her.
He made his bow to the new heiress before saying, “Miss Charnock, may I return you...?” She shook her head. “Ah, then,” he said gratefully, “I will leave the two of you to your confidences.” Roman walked away before Leonie could reply.
The crowd had not thinned. He used it to hide, swiftly moving away from her until, safe, he glanced back.
Leonie watched him. She knew he had evaded her... and he also knew the conversation between them was not over.
Leonie could not believe that she had been so naive all those years ago to not have wondered why Roman had been there that night. She’d been too thankful he had appeared when he did to ask any questions. Indeed, she would have appreciated him even more two hours earlier, but he had been a godsend when he’d walked through the door of that hovel.
Still,whyhad he been there?
She followed his tall figure through the marquis’s guests so intently she was not surprised when he stopped and looked to her. Their gazes held. She knew she was being bold, but let him be wary. Let him wonder what she was thinking—
“Leonie, who is that gentleman?” Cassandra asked.
Pulling her gaze from Rochdale’s, Leonie said, “The Earl of Rochdale. I introduced you.”
“You did... but there seems to be something between the two of you?”
“There isnothingbetween us.” Leonie faced her friend. “What were you saying? You have six points?”
“Yes,” Cassandra said, happily changing the conversation to herself, “and Camberly escorted me into the supper room after we danced. How many points is that?”
“Well done. Out of all the pigeons in this room, he chose you. The Vetter sisters and our dear Lady Bettina must be green around the gills with envy.”
Cassandra lowered her voice to concede, “They are. Even Willa is a bit jealous. That doesn’t happen often. Usually, I’m the jealous one. I saw him dance with you so you have at least five points.”
