“Of course not. Don’t be silly. I’m quite capable of fending off unwanted advances from men. I would very much like for you to find someone to converse with and enjoy yourself tonight,” Susannah answered. “A party is supposed to be a delightful occasion, even for companions.”
Mrs. Princeton gave her an impertinent smile. “I shall enjoy myself as long as I know that you are accomplishing what it is you’ve come here to do. That is my only objective for the evening.”
“You can get entirely too accommodating at times, Mrs. Princeton,” Susannah said with a teasing smile on her lips. “Please get yourself something to drink, to eat, or whatever you wish, and do not worry about me. I will find you when I am ready to leave.”
Mrs. Princeton nodded and turned away. Susannah looked around the dance floor at the far end of the room and froze. She felt as if her heart had jumped up in her throat. Race was dancing with a stunning young lady in a beautiful ivory-colored gown that made her look like an angel. Her shiny golden-blonde hair sparkled with every twirl under Race’s arm. The young lady stared into his eyes as if he had mesmerized her.
And no wonder!
The marquis was heart-meltingly handsome as he swept the lady across the dance floor with the ease of a gentle breeze floating past her cheek. His black evening coat was cut perfectly to fit across his straight shoulders and broad chest. Susannah didn’t know how such a tall, powerful-looking man could be so light on his feet. He looked to be a superb dancer, but that was no surprise. He was, after all, Lady Elder’s grandson.
Was that jealousy she felt? Surely not. It was tension and anger and envy that he was dancing with someone else when his note had said “You owe me a dance.”
As Susannah watched him, unbidden memories flashed through her mind and warmed her. His hand gliding down her naked hip, his lips on her bare breasts, their bodies joined in passion too furious to be controlled. She remembered he had told her she didn’t look old, but how could she not when compared to the young lady he was dancing with?
Susannah continued to stare at him and remember their night together, until suddenly she realized that Race was looking back at her. His intense gaze scrutinized her face. Her heart fluttered maddeningly in her chest as their eyes met and held. Her stomach quickened deliciously, her skin tingled, and her body knew that in spite of the gulf of distrust between them, and as much as she hated to admit to herself, they still wanted each other.
She stood perfectly still and watched his gaze skim slowly down her face, over her breasts, which were barely concealed by her gown, before he lifted his gaze to her eyes once more as he followed the steps of the dance. A tingle of awareness settled low in her abdomen.
Was he remembering every touch, every breath, and every taste of their coming together? All of a sudden Race missed a step, and his foot landed on his partner’s. The beautiful young lady yelped and almost stumbled. Race caught her, and Susannah could tell he was apologizing, but by the expression on the young lady’s face she was not happy with him.
Race glanced back to Susannah. She quickly covered her smile with her hand, spun, and bumped into the Duchess of Blakewell.
“Oh, excuse me, Your Grace.”
“Excuse me, Your Grace,” Henrietta echoed Susannah’s words.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
The lovely young duchess smiled at her and said, “Good evening, and no harm done. I saw you from a distance and wanted to come over to say hello to you.”
Susannah could only assume by the friendliness of her tone and sincerity of her smile that she had no idea that just yesterday her husband’s cousin accused Susannah of stealing his grandmother’s pearls.
Pushing away those unwanted thoughts, Susannah smiled with more easy pleasure than she’d felt in a long time. She saw nothing but honesty and friendliness in the lovely lady’s face. And Susannah needed a friend with all that she had going on in her life right now.
“I know we haven’t known each other long, but would you please call me Susannah?”
“Of course, I would like that, and please call me Henrietta.”
Susannah nodded.
“Do you remember meeting Mrs. Constance Pepperfield last night?”
“Good evening, Your Grace,” Constance said and curtsied.
Susannah looked at the striking woman who stood beside Henrietta. Susannah guessed Mrs. Pepperfield’s age to be about the same as her own. The lady’s red hair had been shaped into tight curls on the top of her head. Her wide green eyes were filled with delight as she spoke to Susannah with the confidence of a woman who was in control of her own destiny.
“Yes, of course I remember. How very nice to see you again.”
“Somehow, Blake managed to persuade Constance to be my chaperone when I first came to London, and she easily made the change from chaperone to friend after Blake and I married.”
“What a nice compliment,” Susannah said and suddenly felt another pang of envy. She wished she had a friend she could confide in. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate Mrs. Princeton, but even though Susannah gave her companion wide parameters concerning their relationship, they had never made the leap from employee–employer to friends, as Henrietta and Mrs. Pepperfield had.
“If your schedule permits, perhaps we can go to the park together one day next week,” Henrietta said. “I hear there is a traveling troupe performing there with several amazing acts.”
“That would be lovely. I’ve heard about the man who gets into a cage with a tiger. I’ve wanted to go.”
“Perhaps I could check on that for the two of you and plan a date that would work for you both,” Constance offered.
