“Well, I don’t know what to say to that.”
“Sure you do. You always have something to say.”
“All right, then, I’ll speak truthfully and say I don’t believe you.”
Bray turned away from the old man and looked around the ballroom. “I wish you didn’t know me so well. It’s a damn nuisance at times.”
Seaton harrumphed. “Don’t try to change the subject. You know everyone is waiting for you to dance with Miss Prim, which is precisely the reason you haven’t.”
Bray shrugged and took another sip of his drink.
“I suppose you’re really not hard to figure out. If the majority of people expect you to do something, I can bet money you won’t. Everyone is assuming you haven’t asked Miss Prim to marry you.”
“Are they?”
“It’s being whispered.”
“But you know I asked her to marry me and that she turned me down.”
“No one else seems to know that.”
Bray thought on that for a few seconds. “I wonder why Miss Prim hasn’t told anyone.”
“I doubt anyone has been bold enough to come right out and ask her if you have offered for her hand. By your actions tonight, it’s a rational assumption that you haven’t.”
Bray kept his features passive, but his thoughts went back to the day he told Miss Prim she would have to ask him to marry her. He was thinking now that might not have been his finest hour, but it certainly gave him reason to pursue her if he decided to do so. Pursuit grew more tempting each time he remembered those blindfolded kisses.
“Have you even spoken to her this evening?”
“Yes.”
Bray looked up and saw Louisa and Mrs. Colthrust walking toward the champagne table. His stomach clenched again, and he wondered how long he was going to feel affected when he looked at her. She and her chaperone seemed to be deep in conversation and didn’t notice him or the other gentleman standing in the corner.
She looked divinely lovely in her dark ivory gown with its provocatively sheer sleeves. And while her hair being swept up on top of her head was quite becoming, he would much rather see Louisa’s long silken curls hanging past her shoulders.
“Have you met Miss Prim, Seaton?”
“Not yet.”
“Then it’s time you did.”
Bray and Seaton walked over to the champagne table.
Miss Prim’s back was to him, and when the server extended a glass to her, Bray reached out and took the glass from the server. “Allow me,” he said, and handed her the glass. He then gave one to Mrs. Colthrust and introduced Seaton to them.
After their greetings, Seaton immediately caught Mrs. Colthrust’s attention and engaged her in a conversation about a mutual friend. Bray would have to remember to thank him for keeping the chaperone busy while he talked to Miss Prim.
“I don’t think you’ve sat down all evening,” Bray said to her.
“I haven’t. There’s no time between the dances. I’m so glad the musicians finally took a break so I could have something to drink.”
“You are very popular.”
“So are you.”
“So we’ve been watching each other.”
“Your mother was very kind to Gwen tonight.”
