When the curtains closed, she realized that not only had she been holding her breath, but her hand was on Dunstan’s thigh. She snatched it away, horrified.
“I am so sorry,” she began, joining in the clapping with everyone else.
“Nobody noticed,” he said. “I could see the performance had enchanted you. It was delightful to watch.”
“I am dreadfully embarrassed.”
“Why would you say that? There is nothing wrong with enjoying new experiences.”
She smiled at him, and he smiled at her and she thought,I just might like to have more first experiences with this man.
“Let me get you an orange and perhaps another champagne?”
“Oh, yes, please.” He rose and left the box, and she sighed happily.
“Enjoying yourself?” Tony sat in Lord Dunstan’s chair.
“Yes. I am. I will write to Miss Covington about this night in great detail.”
“I am sure she will be delighted. Will you describe how you gripped an unmarried man’s thigh for half the performance and was not forced to marry him?”
“It was not for half the performance, and I was unaware that I had done it at all. It was an accident,” she hissed between her teeth.
“Oh, I do beg pardon. My mistake.”
“Do not ruin this night for me. Please.”
“I am sure you will soon be able to put your hand on his thigh or any other part of him and he will have no objection.”
She stared at him, fury making her face heat.
“I mean, when you are married, of course. That is, if he asks. He may have thought you far too forward.”
He may as well have slapped her across the face. If he wanted to hurt her, to make her feel bad about herself, he had succeeded.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said after studying her face.
“I rather think you did. I have been duly chastised, thank you.” She turned away from him before he saw the tears in her eyes. She battled to keep her composure. Did he not know her at all?
He wanted to kill the bloody Earl of bloody Dunstan. The man returned with slices of oranges and another bottle of champagne. Oranges were no doubt a first for Lucinda as well. Most likely smuggled from Valencia, Spain. She and his sister laughed and delicately ate their treats, washing it all down with the sparkling wine of their enemy. He could not contain the anger he felt. He could not even articulate why he was so angry. Even to himself.
“What is wrong with you?” Edward pulled him out of the box and into the hall. “You look fit to rip someone’s head off and I will tell you now I will not have it. Not at the bloody Theatre Royal. Do you understand?”
“I can control myself; you have no need to fear a scandal.”
“Good. Who has got your blood boiling anyway? Surely not Dunstan. He is a smart and articulate man and has done nothing untoward towards either Marianne or Lucinda.”
“You would not understand.”
“You may be surprised by what I understand. Although I have my theories on this matter already.”
“Well, then I do not need to explain it if you already know.”
His brother sighed. “Go home. You look miserable and I do not want you to spoil the ladies’ evening with your mood.”
“If I do you must keep the keenest of eyes on them both.”
“Is it him or her that you do not trust?
