He grinned. “I did not realize it was called that.”
“I cannot dance this with you,” she stated as she began to walk off the dance floor.
Roswell placed a hand on her arm, stilling her. “If you walk away from me, in the center of the dance floor, people will talk.”
A line between Anette’s brows appeared. “You are right.”
He slipped his arm around her waist and brought their hands up. He felt Anette inhale sharply in response to his touch. He hoped it was out of pleasure rather than discomfort. “Just follow my lead and I won’t let you fall.”
Anette did as she was instructed and allowed him to start leading her to the music. Although she was much too tense. He hoped that she would relax as the music went on.
She kept her gaze on the lapels of his jacket and didn’t appear to be in a talkative mood.
The quiet had gone on for long enough and he found that he wanted to engage Anette in conversation. He wasn’t sure why she was acting so aloof but he intended to find out. “How have you been?”
“I am well.”
“Are you enjoying your first Season?”
“As much as I expected,” she replied vaguely.
Roswell tightened his hold on her waist and he could feel Anette’s back go rigid. The familiar scent of lavender drifted off her person and he closed his eyes for a moment. That smell brought back so many fond memories with Anette; memories that she no doubt had forgotten.
They used to be the best of friends when he would come to visit her family. They had always gotten along rather well, and he soon discovered that she was the main reason why he came so often. The pull of her charm was too strong to resist, and a smile would always find its way onto his face with her around. She was like a breath of fresh air.
But now she avoided him at every opportunity. That kiss had ruined everything, but he didn’t regret it. He would treasure that moment forever.
Anette looked up at him and informed him, “The music has stopped, Roswell. You can release me now.”
“Of course,” he responded as he dropped his hands. How had he been so distracted that he had failed to notice the music had come to a stop?
She offered him a weak smile. “That wasn’t as awful as I thought it would be.”
“That is high praise coming from you,” he teased.
Taking a step back, she said, “If you will excuse me, I need to make my way back to my mother.”
“I will escort you.”
She put her hand up. “That won’t be necessary.”
“It would be my honor,” he attempted.
“I am more than capable of returning to my mother without your assistance,” she assured him.
Roswell wasn’t ready to back down. He had propriety on his side. “Why are you being so stubborn on this?”
“I am not the only one that is being stubborn,” she countered.
Perhaps if he just explained why he wished to escort her, she would be more complacent. “It is customary for the gentleman to escort the young woman back to her escort after they share a dance.” Now surely she would see reason.
But he was wrong.
“I am not one for tradition, my lord.”
He took a step forward, being mindful to maintain a proper distance between them. “When will you learn that everything is not about you?” he asked. “After all, you are risking my reputation as a gentleman by declining my assistance.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he realized that he may have gone too far. “It is unnecessary and a waste of your time. If anything, you should be thanking me.”
