Page 61 of A Highland Lass for the English Duke

In glum curiosity, he cast his head around the candlelight hall. Is she here? Lissie, that was. She had been to all these other things, Will supposed. It seemed reasonable to assume she would be here.

Just the thought of her made his stomach prickle. How would she react when she heard the news? It was not set to be announced until the morrow, but from the way Lettie was carrying on, the entire room knew it by now.

"Come, Will, pray, let us dance!" said Lettie, giving his hand a joyful tug and pulling Will into the center of the melee.

Will did his best to smile, allowing Lettie to lead him into the dance. Bowing, he took her hand, kissing it formally. And as he did, his heart sank. It was not her fault. And Will felt a pang of guilt as he led the guileless young woman into the dance.

There, he watched as she fell over her shoes and tugged at his hand too forcibly. It did not matter. It was not her gracelessness that was the problem. Nor were her lack of looks. Neither of these things was the issue. There was only one fault Will could find with poor Lettie: She was not Lissie.

And this was the biggest problem of all.

Teeth clenched, Will just about got to the end of the first dance with all his toes still intact. This was hardly a foregone conclusion, as Lettie seemed to have stomped on each one of them in the course of their entanglement.

And entanglement was the right word. The circle they were dancing in became broken several times, with dancers falling in and out of the line. Will just about hopped to the end of it and was aching to get away and just go home by himself when a sudden hand tugged him back into the line.

Sighing, Will checked himself and prepared for round three. But dancing with Lettie required fortification, and he turned to take a goblet of mead when a voice made him look.

"Och, two left feet!"

There was only one accent like that in the whole of London. Immediately, Will looked up.

Beside him in the circle, Lissie capered. She was still getting the hang of caroling and dancing along with the verses and music. Misjudging the movement, she swerved to her left, immediately knocking into Will.

"Och! Pardon me," she scoffed. But so far, she had not seen Will. In surprise, Will almost gasped.

Then, he saw Trenton on the other side of her. It was clear their hand-holding was more than just part of the dance, and upon seeing them, Will's guts curdled almost into vomit. The music took a sharp turn, almost propelling Lissie from the circle and immediately into Will's lap once more. Catching her securely, Will managed to stop her from going flying. As he did, he was struck by the shape of her body in his arms.

It was faltering, and it was brief, but for just a short moment, he had her there, in his flesh. The sensation of her touch brushed across him, enlivening and exciting his senses. And she was so sweet.

Will's entire body ached for her touch. More than anything, he wanted her to turn around, see him, and respond.

Well, he got his wish. Sort of.

Lissie turned around, and screamed.

"Och!"

It was just a little yelp, but it betrayed her hostility. Jumping about a yard backward, Will found himself apologizing. A little mad since it had been her fall into him.

"Pray, excuse me, madam," said Will formally. He could not really be anything else.

He was here with Lettie now. And Lissie was with Trenton, as Will observed dolefully. Behind her, Trenton gave him a little wink, making Will uncontrollably wish to punch him. Somehow, he resisted. Just. Instead, he focused on Lissie. Despite her fall, she was looking most comely. In fact, maybe even because of her fall. Inadvertently, Will had glimpsed a flash of her stocking, Of course, he looked away and helped her up as primly as he could.

Lissie just stared. Tonight, she was head to toe in blue, complementing her eyes to a tee. On her finger was a large stone ring, the likes of which he had never seen before. It glinted green in the dark light as he helped her to her feet.

But it was her eyes he was locked onto. They sparkled and flashed more than any gemstone, taking on a catlike quality. Lissie looked at him archly, her still gaze hiding its hostility, but Will knew it was there.

"Excuse me," Will said with a slight smile. Tensely, he hesitated.

It wouldn't do to spend so long talking to someone else. And although Lettie did not say anything, he could feel her glaring too. Intense irritation burned him. This was not how he wanted it.

Lissie murmured her thanks and went on her way, pulling Trenton with her.

Around him, the room swarmed, Trenton and Lissie evaporating into a sea of bodies.

"Come, Will," insisted Lettie, taking his hand and delving back into the ring. Then, the performers picked up their instruments and sounded a sharp note, signifying more dancing.

Without warning, Will was jettisoned from side to side in a tidal wave of song. And beside him, Lettie glared intently, her pale eyes fixed on Lissie. But she was gone, right at the very back of the room. Every now and then, Will caught them closing in together, Trenton's hand going around the small of her back.