Page 27 of Wedding the Widow

Her mouth screwed up. Her lips opened.

He steeled himself for the “no” that was sure to come.

“Oh. Well, then, yes. I will dance the next with you, my lord.” Surprised, as though she hadn’t meant to say those words, she slowly closed her lips.

“They should be making up the set shortly. Shall I take you for some refreshments until then?” The more time they spent together, the better his chances to woo her back to him.

“No, thank you, my lord. I . . .” She searched the floor. “I see Lady Stephen Tarkington just there. I should speak to her.” She managed a small smile, so sweet it almost gave him hope. “I will wait for you there.”

Bowing, he tried to ignore the havoc in his heart as the beautiful figure in turquoise swayed in a most alluring way as she made her way toward Lady Stephen. A vision he intended to see every day for the rest of his life.

Jemmy recalled himself—mustn’t let everyone know how moonstruck he was over this lady—and returned to his cousin and Miss Worth. “Excuse me, ladies, may I fetch you some refreshments?”

“No, thank you, my lord.” Miss Worth squeezed Catherine’s hands. “Then shall I see you later this week, my lady?”

“Yes, Miss Worth.” Catherine beamed. “I shall look forward to it.”

Elizabeth’s sister curtsied and sped off toward Lady Wentworth, who was in fervent conversation with Lady Braeton.

“Can you take me to my mother, Jemmy? I have such exciting news to tell her.” Catherine’s pink cheeks and sparkling eyes bespoke her excitement.

“You look like the cat who ate the canary, complete with feathers sticking out of your mouth, cousin. What are you about?” Jemmy presented his arm, wishing someone would offer him a strong drink. Between watching over his cousin, being accosted by a drunken lord, and trying to woo Elizabeth back, he was done in before the evening had scarcely begun.

“And a very tasty canary it was, too.” Catherine hugged his arm as they continued around the dance floor. She seemed in the best mood and more animated than he’d ever seen her. “Miss Worth is betrothed to Lord Haxton, whose younger brother, Lord Christopher Stanhope, is about to be created the Earl of Anthorn-on-Pye for meritorious service to the Crown.”

“I had heard of Lord Christopher’s good fortune.” Jemmy sighted his Aunt Augusta and steered them toward her. “Why does Stanhope’s good fortune make you so happy?”

“Because Miss Worth has invited me to tea with her on Thursday with Lord Haxton and his brother.” Catherine gripped his arm, digging her nails into him, even through the superfine. “I could not have hoped for a better introduction to his lordship. He doesn’t frequent the ton gatherings, so it is rather difficult to scrape an acquaintance with him.”

“Well, I certainly wish you luck, Catherine.” Lord Christopher was a much better match for her than Wilton. As a third son, Lord Christopher Stanhope had been mostly overlooked on the marriage mart. No longer. He’d wager a considerable sum on that. “He’s about to become the eligible parti of the Little Season, so by all means, take any advantage you can, cousin.”

“Take advantage of what?” Aunt Augusta, whose hearing at age sixty was much better than it should be, eyed him dubiously.

“Of all her good fortune, which I will leave her to tell you.” He winked at his cousin. “Thank you so much for your company, Catherine. I hope it has been as advantageous for you as it has been for me.”

“Why must you always talk in riddles, Brack? Your father should have taught you better. Come, Catherine. With what nonsense has Brack been filling your head?” Giving an imperious inclination of her head, his aunt captured her daughter’s attention. “Thank you, Brack. If we need further assistance, I shall call upon you.”

“Your servant at all times, Aunt.” Jemmy bowed and swiftly took himself off. Anyone would know his aunt and father as brother and sister the moment they spoke. He pitied Catherine only a little less than he did Georgina. He’d always thought he and his sister must take after their mother in terms of temperament.

Wanting a drink even more desperately now, Jemmy headed once more for the refreshment room. Wine rather than whiskey tonight. He had to have a clear head when he finally got Elizabeth out on the ballroom floor and asked her to marry him.

Chapter 11

“Why, oh, why did I believe Weller?” Elizabeth muttered under her breath as she fled toward Fanny. An older gentleman stepped in front of her to let the Duchess of Granville pass. She hopped to the side to avoid one collision, and nearly cannoned into Lady Waterbury. She must keep her wits about her if she was to survive the coming encounter with Lord Brack. Her face had glowed with heat from the moment she looked up and saw him.

Weller had promised that she’d told the gentleman Elizabeth was indisposed and not attending any entertainments this evening. Then she’d embellished the tale, aiming for misdirection. Apparently, the maid had been less convincing than she believed, with Elizabeth paying the price of a most awkward engagement to dance with the one man she’d hoped to avoid for the rest of her life.

“Elizabeth, how do you do this evening? You seem rather out of breath.” Fanny looked about, a knowing smile on her lips. “Is he very handsome?”

“Is who very handsome?” Elizabeth gulped in air, her heart racing. She spied Lord Brack moving across the floor. Good, he was taking his cousin to the Countess of Oundle.

“The gentleman who is chasing you.”

“Don’t be a goose, Fanny.” Now he was heading toward the refreshment room. Perhaps he would forget when to return. “No one is chasing me.”

“If Lord Brack is not chasing you, why are you fleeing him?” Fanny cocked her head and gave her a smug smile. “I saw him leave you just now, reluctance in every line of him. Did he write you that he was back in Town?”

“No, he never wrote at all.” The bitterness in her voice surprised her. Had she truly wished Lord Brack to continue his pursuit of her? Time and her family circumstances may have shifted her desires, although the humiliation of that night still had her tied in knots. “You know I gave him to believe I didn’t want him to continue his attentions to me.”