“And so you will. Right after this set.”
And that was when she realized his insistence was based on more than his wish to avoid some young lady eager to snatch the last of the Crawford men. It also had a lot to do with the fact that their conversation was starting to attract attention. People were beginning to stare, which meant she could no longer leave without causing a stir or encouraging gossip. As it was, it might be too late, but at least she still had the power to ensure that the gossip remained positive and that it would not reflect poorly on any of the Crawfords.
“You owe me,” she muttered between clenched teeth as she placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her toward the dance floor. The moment she touched him a bolt of lightning raced up her arm. She groaned and wished she’d stayed at her brother’s home for the evening.
“Duly noted,” Devlin said in response to her comment. With the sort of elegance that ought to have been impossible for a man who was over six feet in height and possessed shoulders twice the width of hers, he spun her into position.
Cassandra instinctively gasped in response to the unexpected movement, and then the music began and she realized whatever nightmare she was currently living had just gotten worse, because this was no simple country dance or even a quadrille, cotillion, or reel. This was the waltz of all things and that meant close contact with one’s partner and…
“Cass?”
Startled, she tripped and promptly planted her foot right on top of his shoe. “Sorry.”
If she’d hurt him, he didn’t let it show. Instead he tightened his hold on her hand and pulled her into a more secure position, bringing her shockingly close to his person. “Is something the matter?”
“No. Of course not. Why would you suppose such a thing?”
He gave her an incredulous stare. “Because you’ve been looking like a trapped rabbit since the moment I arrived.”
“Well, Iwastrying to leave until you decided to stop me.”
Inclining his head, he gave her a roguish smile while leading her in a wide arc that took them along the edge of the dance floor. “It’s good to see you again. I probably should have mentioned that first.”
She felt her cheeks grow warm and hoped he wouldn’t notice her blush. “You weren’t away quite as long as the last time, I don’t think.”
“Were you counting the days until my return?” He waggled his eyebrows and spun her sideways.
“Only so I could make sure to be out of Town by the time you dropped anchor.” Which wasn’t entirely untrue, though she did intend for it to be a joke.
He laughed, causing a pair of perfect dimples to form on either side of his mouth. Cassandra deliberately looked away. Her heart had belonged and always would belong to Timothy. To feel something even remotely similar toward another man was wrong. Plain and simple.
“I’ve always enjoyed our conversations, Cass.” She liked the shortened version of her name, even though it was also used by everyone else who was close to her and therefore meant nothing beyond a familiar bond. “There’s a straightforward openness to you along with a great degree of maturity and common sense.”
She snorted. “Many would argue with you on that point.”
“Why? Because you did something once that resulted in bringing a lovely little girl into this world?” When she gazed up at him and nodded, he smiled down at her and said, “I would never call that a lapse in judgment or a mistake. And those inclined to do so are fools.”
Cassandra would have liked to say she got something in her eye at that moment, but the truth was that his understanding, most especially his acceptance of Penelope, practically slayed her. If she wasn’t so determined to remain faithful to Timothy, she’d probably do something foolish like ask Devlin to marry her right then and there. At present, a nod was all she could manage, for her throat had turned into a giant knot, and she feared she might break down at any second and blubber all over him like a nitwit. Gracious, even her heart hurt, not with sadness but with overwhelming amounts of gratitude.
His expression had also tightened, as if the moment was affecting him emotionally as well. He cleared his throat and tightened his hold on her hand. “I’m sorry for all you’ve had to suffer. It isn’t right.”
“It’s the way of the world,” she managed to say once she’d taken a moment to compose herself. She tried to smile but it felt awfully strained.
“And part of the reason I try to avoid Society as much as possible.” He snorted. “Once you’ve travelled to other countries and experienced other cultures, all of this – the rules that govern us British – seems utterly trivial.”
“I’ve always envied you your ability to travel and see the world.” She didn’t miss the look of surprise in his eyes as she said it.
“Really? I would have thought you’d want to remain in England, more specifically at Clearview, considering all the children in your care.”
“Well, of course.” A chuckle escaped her when he surprised her by spinning her quickly around before settling into a steadier pace. “I can’t actually go anywhere, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a part of me that doesn’t like to dream.”
A flash of appreciation lit his eyes. The music faded and he guided her to a graceful halt. “Thank you for dancing with me,” he said as he led her off the dance floor and toward the doorway through which she’d been planning to escape when he’d arrived. “I hope our paths cross again before I leave England.”
“As do I,” Cassandra replied, even though she had no intention of letting that happen. The feelings he’d stirred in her tonight were too powerful, too tempting, and entirely too dangerous. Which meant it would be best if she returned to Clearview as quickly as possible.
Devlin watched Cassandra walk away.He’d always found her pleasing to the eye, her curvaceous figure the sort that could capture a man’s imagination for hours. She was also one of the prettiest women he’d ever known, with her lustrous brown hair, exotic green eyes, and a lush mouth that always seemed ready to smile.
But she was a close friend of Mary’s and Emily’s – the three were practically sisters – so chasing after Cassandra without the proper intentions would only result in him getting flogged by Caleb and Griffin. A pity, since he’d long believed she was equally drawn to him. For although she hid it well, her frequent blushes while in his company, the breathiness to her voice, and the way she always seemed to tremble whenever he touched her, revealed he was more than able to make her burn with desire.
