“Miss Conant?”
A gentleman appeared at my side. It was Lieutenant Addison.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, bowing.
I did not wish to stand on the edge of the ballroom to watch and gossip as the others would, so I nodded and offered a curtsy, then reached for his elbow. “I would be honored.”
His smile was wide and handsome as he led me onto the dance floor. Though he was often present on our property, helping where he could, I had tried to avoid him whenever possible. To purposely stand beside him now felt daring.
Henry’s gaze was upon us, and though I did not wish to make him jealous—if that were possible—I couldn’t deny that it felt good to be dancing in the same minuet as he and Lady Catherine.
“It saddens me that our paths do not cross more often,” the lieutenant said as we took our positions. “You’ve quite captivated my attention, Miss Conant. I often find myself admiring you from a distance.”
His words surprised me, and I stared at him. All I could think to say was, “Please, call me Libby.”
“And I’m James.”
James. It suited him.
He was a pleasant young man, though his red uniform was a constant reminder that he would soon become the enemy—if he wasn’t already.
The minuet began, and we bowed and curtsied to each other, performing the perfunctory steps to open the dance. Then Governor Dunmore and his wife started at the head of the line and danced their way down, past us, and then back up as we all watched. It was a lengthy process but a necessary part of the evening. Later, we would dance the country dances and the reel, which were much preferred by almost everyone in the room.
Henry and Lady Catherine were the next to come down the line. The minuet required great care and concentration. The footwork and patterns were so intricate that even the slightest mistake could make a person trip.
Lady Catherine had grown quite beautiful. Her cheeks glowed as she danced beside Henry. When they passed, he met my gaze, but I could not read his stormy expression. Was he angry? Jealous? Frustrated at my choice of dancing partner?
It was finally our turn. We danced down and back, and I found James to be an accomplished dancer. He was confident, handsome, and pleasant. I glanced at Henry when we were near him, but he wore the same expression. Anger mixed with something more. Accusation?
The minuet ended, and James led me away from the other dancers to the refreshments table. I would have been elated had Henry’s gaze not been so troubling.
“You’re a beautiful dancer,” James said to me, admiration shining from his face. “I felt proud to stand beside you.”
I had to focus on what he was saying instead of trying, in vain, to look for Henry. “You flatter me, Lieutenant.”
“James,” he corrected with a gentle smile.
“James,” I repeated, dipping my head as he handed me a cup. We stood for a moment, watching the next minuet. Henry was nowhere to be seen. I did not want to be rude to James, so I said, “It occurs to me that I know very little about you. Where do you hail from?”
“Whitby, on the North Sea.”
“Whitby?” I choked on my punch and stared at him.
“Do you know it?”
I tried to hide my surprise as I set down my cup and wiped my mouth with a handkerchief. How could I explain knowing Whitby to this man? “I’m familiar with the region, aye.”
“Have you been there?”
How could I get around this answer without lying? I had been there—as Anna Elizabeth Fairhaven, but not as Libby Conant. “Nay, unfortunately.”
“’Tis beautiful and rugged and fierce.” He laughed, and I found myself drawn to him despite my reservations. “I miss it dearly. My father is the gardener for the Marquess of Cumberland. I grew up in a little cottage on the estate. ’Twas Lord Cumberland who purchased my commission into the Royal Army.”
I couldn’t help but stare. “You are familiar with Cumberland Hall?” The words were past my lips before I could think about the consequences.
“Aye.” He grinned. “Have you heard of Cumberland Hall?”
I swallowed and nodded. “I have.”
