Mr. Teethers hummed another tune, but the sound faded quickly, only leaving the beat of her heart as it tapped the rhythm she and Trey were dancing. Every nerve in her body came alive and spun out of control, especially when his thumb rubbed her skin.
“You are a remarkable student, Judith.” Trey’s deep voice caressed each word.
“Thank you, my lord.”
“Trey,” he encouraged. “I wish you to call me by my given name.”
“Trey.” Oh dear, had she sighed his name? Hopefully, her ears were playing tricks on her—as well as her breathing.
He grinned. “You shall make my mother proud when she presents you at your ball.”
“That’s the plan, is it not?”
“Indeed, it is.”
“When is the special day? I do not believe you have told me.”
“Friday after next.”
She nodded. “I shall be ready.”
His arm tightened around her waist, drawing her closer to his chest. She feared he’d be able to hear her pulse beating from her bosom.
“My mother is planning to take you to the dress makers in Town and have your wardrobe made. Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless you’d likemeto take you.”
Her heart jumped to her throat. “That’s not necessary. My parents saw to my welfare before they died.”
He squeezed her hand. “You are forgetting my mother wants to do this. She never had a daughter. Pray, do not spoil her excitement.”
“As you wish.”
Silence stretched between them, but Judith never lost eye contact. She couldn’t no matter how hard she tried. Once again, his entrancing spell had pulled her in.
It wasn’t until the clapping from the dowager and Mr. Teethers rang through the ballroom that Judith realized the older man had stopped humming, yet she and Trey still danced. He seemed rattled, too, as he stopped and quickly stepped away. Finally, the spell had been broken. She was almost relieved.
Almost.
If it weren’t for the cold emptiness seeping through her body, she would have been extremely grateful for the interruption.
“Trey my boy, you and Judith dance perfectly together.” The dowager beamed.
Mr. Teethers nodded. “Excellent form, indeed.”
Trey chuckled, then lifted Judith’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “The pleasure was entirely mine.” He winked, then turned and left the ballroom.
It was all she could do not to call him back. But she wouldn’t. He wasn’t the man she professed to love—the man sheshouldhave on her mind.
She quickly made her excuses to the dance instructor and the dowager, and quit the room not much longer after Trey had. The dance left her disturbed and very much confused. Being in Trey’s arms as he swung her around the ballroom filled her with a sense of belonging. Of peace and security.
She snorted a laugh and shook her head, quickening her steps as she took a brisk walk away from the manor toward the wooded area. Being outdoors always cleared her head, and if there was any time she needed to think straight, it was now.
The more she thought about Alex, the more anger consumed her. Earlier when she’d met with Trey to write that letter, many issues were brought up. Those she’d never even considered. Did Alex even want to marry her? Had she been fooling herself all this time with fantasies of wedded bliss?
Nearby a gurgling brook captured her attention. She followed the sound until she entered the wooded area. Down the slope a bit was the brook. She stopped near the edge and peered into the clear water rushing over rocks of all sizes. Memories of her childhood flowed into her mind. Her father had taken her fishing, taught her how to swim, and as she grew older, he gave her instructions on how to maneuver a rowboat. How she missed those special days.
