Page 74 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
It was enticing. She understood when it was danced like this why some matrons hated the dance.
When Margaret ended the piece of music, as they waited for the next tune, Mary looked into wide onyx pupils with glimmering gold edges and knew what he was thinking.
As Margaret began another tune, his head bent and his teeth nipped her neck just below her ear, so it might look as though he had whispered.
She nearly fell, but he held her, a note of humour in his throat.
‘You are being wicked.’
‘You said you like me bad.’ He missed a step, and she tripped, only to be caught in his arms. ‘You muddle me up, Mary.’
He did it again and made her laugh out loud. It was what he had intended. But he could not have intended that they bump into her father and mother.
‘Sorry, Papa, Mama. Andrew is making mistakes to make me laugh.’
Her father lifted an eyebrow, but he smiled before dancing on.
Andrew leaned to her ear. ‘Have you told your parents about the child? Your father said nothing to me.’
‘No.’
‘Your uncle knows. I told him in town. So, we had best tell your parents before they hear it from him.’
When Margaret played the last notes, Andrew broke their embrace, took a firm hold of Mary’s hand and walked the few steps to where her father and mother stood. ‘Sir?’
‘My name is Edward.’ Her father smiled.
‘Edward, then, sir, we would like a word if we may?’
‘What is it?’ Mary’s mother asked.
‘My lady, I?—’
‘It is Ellen, Andrew, until you are able to think of me as a mother.’
Andrew took a breath to get the words out. ‘Mary is with child. She has just informed me that you did not yet know and I wanted to tell you.’ His fingers threaded in between Mary’s while he spoke.
For a moment they were silent. Mary’s teeth pressed into her lower lip. Then her father reached out to shake Andrew’s hand, moisture glinting in his eyes.
Her mother’s eyes swam as she reached to embrace Mary. ‘I am happy for you, I have been so worried…’
‘Are you pleased, Andrew?’ her father said.
‘Sir, I mean,’ Andrew sighed, ‘Edward, yes, very much, and John is selling me a property adjoining his. We will live near here so Mary will have her brother close?—’
‘I know about the property. John does talk to me.’ Mary’s father patted Andrew’s shoulder, then he turned to the room and raised a hand. ‘A moment! Let us have your attention! My son-in-law has some news!’
Margaret’s fingers stilled on the keys of the pianoforte and couples swung to a halt.
Andrew swallowed, as though his throat were dry. ‘Mary is with child!’
More handshaking and good wishes followed.
‘If you desire more waltzes, then,’ Margaret’s husband shouted, ‘someone else shall have to play. I want to dance with my wife!’
Laughter rippled across the room.
Eleanor swapped places with Margaret, and Eleanor ignored the size of the room and the number of couples and played a raucous tune, which had everyone bumping into each other and laughing.
