Page 47 of A Highland Lass for the English Duke

His build was slight and almost reedy, and his shoulders rounded and soft.

However, he was well-groomed and attentive, and right then, Lissie was happy for his company.

"Mistress, your famed beauty, of course!" he retorted, before adding, "Not the singing quartet, unfortunately!"

Trenton cast his head to the side as the singer struggled with the high notes, wheezing and coughing. Lissie tried not to smile.

"But you are alone? How can this be? Are the others mad? Or blind, perchance?"

As he said this, Trenton glanced again, this time around to where his brother was holding court in the recesses of the hall. He watched as Lissie's eye went to Will, laughing and carousing with the fine ladies of London.

Lissie's heart twisted, and her brow flinched at the sight of Will with his arm around Lady Caroline. To her dismay, he was leading her out to dance as the musicians attempted to strike up a merry tune. Perhaps sensing her mood, Trenton smiled.

"My lady, prithee, allow me the pleasure of this dance?"

Lissie blinked. She had not expected this. Glancing over, she saw Lady Caroline twirling and laughing with Will. Then she turned to Trenton.

"Thank ye, sir."

Ruffling her skirts, Lissie followed Trenton out to the floor. There, she allowed him to partner with her as he led her into the dance.

"Oh, your feet are as light as air," complimented Trenton as they caroused to the music.

Through the crowd, Lissie could see Caroline dancing with Will.

Neither of them appeared to be enjoying it much if their expressions were anything to go by. Will's jaw clenched in permanent tension.

Beginning to ease into the rhythm, Lissie twirled to the tune, pulling closer to Trenton as she did. Coming nearer, she noted a redness in his eye. When she looked closer, Trenton shook his head and blushed.

"Just a mild disagreement with my brother," he said innocuously as they danced. By now, the music was becoming wild, getting louder all the time.

"Will did that?" she asked, surprised.

Trenton nodded and grinned. "Aye, he did."

"But why did he do such a thing?" she asked, shocked. She would never have thought Will would do something like that. Now her curiosity was piqued.

"Oh! Perhaps because of a girl too fine and full of fun for such an old stick in the mud like him to handle by himself?" he said, inviting her to laugh at him. "But he did not quite see my point, hence the eye."

"Och," said Lissie primly, but Trenton's pithy wit pulled her over. "I see."

Holding Trenton close, a smile quivered across her lips. The room had broken down into swaying dancers, dancing closer than the music necessitated.

And through the darkened melee, her eyes connected briefly with Will's.

Alone, in the middle of a crowd, he stared glassily over. For a moment, their eyes connected. Something in his light blue gaze flickered. Then it vanished.

Lady Caroline tugged ferociously at his sleeve.

"Come, join us," she urged, pulling him into the thick of the dance.

And there he vanished, into the darkness.

That was the last she saw of him.

CHAPTER 11

"Will, pray, come here. You are needed right away!"