“You’re not British,” she stated, only a hint of an accent tingeing her accusation.
Patrick blinked and straightened.“Uh, you won’t hold it against me if I am not?”he countered in English.Now that he was even closer, he discovered he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
She was positively gorgeous.
One of her dark brows rose as a hint of a grin appeared on her red-rouged lips.“American?”she guessed.
He nodded.“I am Patrick McAdams, my lady.It’s an honor to meet you.”
“DonnaArmenia D’Avalos,” she said, dipping a perfect curtsy that only enhanced her rising moons.
A rock seemed to fall into the bottom of his stomach.“TheContessaD’Avalos?”he asked, attempting to hide his disappointment.
Of course a woman of her beauty and grace would already be married.Probably had been for...
He considered how old she might be.Forty?Surely no more than fifty.But he quickly set aside thoughts of her age when he saw her expression of suspicion and realized he needed to explain his presence.
“I, uh, was invited by the Conte D’Avalos...”He paused and motioned in the direction of who he had thought might be the host of the ball.
She followed his line of sight.“Ah.My nephew, Edoardo,” she said, a grin appearing to lighten her features.
“Yournephew?”he repeated.He dipped his head, a combination of embarrassment and surprise heating his face.
“You don’t believe me?”
Patrick cleared his throat.“I thought he might be your husband,” he admitted.
One of her eyebrows arched as her amusement became more apparent.“I don’t have one of those,” she stated, as if husbands were mere possessions.
For a moment, Patrick wondered if she was teasing him.Then he considered an alternative.“You’re a widow?”he guessed.
She huffed softly.“I haveneverhad a husband,” she clarified.
He blinked as relief swept through him.“In that case, might I be allowed a dance with you this evening?”
It was her turn to blink.Several times.Patrick thought he saw an expression of disappointment darken her features.“You needn’t ply me with the promise of a dance in order to gain an introduction to Edoardo,” she said, the slightest hint of rebuke sounding in her voice.“I’ll take you to him now.”
Patrick reached out to capture her wrist before she could take a step, immediately regretting the move when she stared at his hand and then directed a glare at him.“Apologies,mia donna,” he said, quickly releasing his hold.“I assure you, that wasnotmy reason for asking.”
She seemed to consider his words a moment before she relaxed.“Very well.Perhaps the next dance?”she offered, the music for the current dance nearing its end.
“That would be perfect,” he said, glancing about for the refreshment table.He motioned to a footman carrying a tray of wide-rimmed glasses filled with Prosecco.“Would you like another glass of bubbly?”he asked, snagging two glasses from the tray.
For a moment, he thought she would decline, leaving him holding the two glasses.But she accepted the glass while a different footman saw to taking her nearly empty one.
“Might I ask what business you have with my nephew?”
Patrick drained nearly half his glass before he said, “I heard he has a flock of sheep.”The sound of her titter had him grinning.“Pray tell, why do you find that amusing?”
“Forgive me, but I was sure you were afterDonnaVittoria’s hand in marriage,” she said.“Rather than her sheep.”
Patrick blinked.“Uh, no….”He drew out the word as if he might have made a mistake in attending the ball.“Is that why all these other gentlemen are here?”he asked, glancing around to see a number of young bucks in the ballroom.He was especially attentive when he heard names being called out at the top of the stairs.
English names.
“Most, yes,” Armenia replied, her gaze going to the newcomers.“ForDonnaVittoria.Not the sheep,” she added, a grin lighting her face.“The music for our dance will be starting in a moment.”
Quick to take her glass to deposit it on a nearby caryatid along with his, Patrick offered his arm, and she placed a gloved hand atop it.“I must warn you, it’s been an age since I danced,” he murmured, leading her to the edge of the marble dance floor.
