She tucked into her slice of cake, and they passed into silence as she finished her plate. He stared at her the whole while, as if her enjoyment of the meal he had provided for her was the sweetest play he had ever watched.
“Shall we, Lady Ashcroft?” He stood and offered her his arm.
“Indeed, we shall, Caspian.”
He led her to the dance floor, and she was vaguely aware of a servant clearing the chairs and table from the floor behind them.
He bowed to her, gallant and handsome, and held out his hand.
Her face hurt from smiling so much, and she went to him. His hand was warm as he led her through the steps with expert ease—his feet sure-footed, his hips loose. He moved confidently to the beat of the lively tune. He spun her about the floor in a wide circle, her skirts and petticoats flaring out.
She knew this tune; it was a popular dance at balls. She was surprised he knew the steps.
“Dancing? A skill I didn’t think you would have.”
He spun her about the floor, choosing not to answer.
She would have never guessed in a million years that the devil could dance, and properly, too. His hips moved to the beat, and he had no issues stepping in time to the music. “Did you take dancing lessons for tonight?”
“I learned a lifetime ago,” he said, quietly. “Most noblemen can dance. It was a skillset I lacked, and one I wanted to have, even though it’s a fairly useless one.”
“But you hate balls. You must have had to pay the musicians handsomely, and you would have had to tune the piano before they arrived. What is all of this?”
“I wanted you to experience something like this in Arboras—with me.” He looked over her shoulder as he spoke, his gaze hardening.
“So ... you threw us a ball?” she pressed, curiosity getting the better of her.
“This is not a ball. You know I do not care for balls.”
“It looks remarkably like a ball,” she said drily, with a nod at the musicians.
“It is not. It is a … party just for you and me. The rest of the world can burn for all I care. There is only this that matters.” He pulled her hand to his lips, pausing for a moment, and then twirled her away.
Several turns and lines of steps later, she came to face him once again, his hand settled on her waist. Her hand rested on his neck, and she held another behind his back. He dipped her low, and she rose, bringing the two of them nearly nose to nose.
Not for the first time, she wondered what his angle was tonight, what reason he could possibly have for throwing her a private ball for her birthday.
She circled him. “But it is rather like a ball, the music, the dancing, a charming man leading me through the steps. You must admit.”
“I admit nothing. You wanted a ball. I despise practically everyone in the kingdom and have no desire to invite others into my home. This is a happy middle ground and a fun evening for you and me. So, we both get what we want.”
“And what did you want?” she teased, leaning in.
He remained silent for so long she thought he had forgotten the question entirely.
Finally, he spoke, “I wanted … to make you feel special, and make you feel like the high-born lady you are. I wanted to stand here, as if I were a born nobleman and you were a fine lady who descended the grand staircase with eyes only for me. That is what I wanted.”
The words should have melted her defenses, but instead, Elizabeth felt her walls slamming back into place. How many women had he said similar things to? How many had fallen for this exact performance? She forced her expression to remain pleasant even as her heart began to ice over. “That’s ... thoughtful of you,” she managed, her voice carefully neutral. “Out of curiosity, when did you arrive at the ball where we met?”
“I was there the entire time. I saw you descend with a pretty little smile and giggle with your friends at court. I watched you hungrily. The gem of the Rhodean nobility. In this dress, you look like a princess.”
She laughed. “I am not a princess, though. I’m just a lady.”
“You may not be a princess … but you can be my queen for tonight.”
She snorted. “Is that a serious offer?” she quipped. “What happened to ‘if I want to be someone’s wife, I should marry Duke Howard’? Hmm?”
“He would have never made you happy,” Caspian said seriously.
