Page 18 of The Truth about the Earl
“I have not yet a partner for the waltz.”
Her voice was soft and James’ heart lurched at the look in her eyes. Her lips were curved gently as he looked back at her, blood roaring in his ears. She was offering him the opportunity to dance the waltz, to have her pulled close to him, and to feel her gentle breath brush his cheek as they moved together across the floor. It would be the fulfillment of a long-held hope which, thereafter, might lead to a furthering of their acquaintance which he had long been eager for.
‘You see her only in her perfection because she is a diamond of the first water, rather than allowing yourself to see any of her flaws.’
His friend’s words came back to him so forcefully that James caught his breath. That was what he was doing at this very moment, was it not? He was forgetting about Lady Maude’s disrespect toward Lady Essington simply because of what she was offering him. He was seeing only her beauty rather than considering her flaws.
“If you would but wait a moment, Lady Maude.” Turning his head from her, he made to speak to Lady Essington, only to see her walking away from him, melting into the crowd. His heart slammed hard in his chest, shame billowing over him. “Lady Essington?” Calling her name and heedless as to the attentionhe was garnering from others, he hurried after her, eventually catching her arm. She turned sharply and he was astonished to see the flicker of pain in her eyes and the blooming color in her cheeks.
“Lady Essington, I must beg your forgiveness.”
She did not smile but looked up at him steadily. “I do not think that you have much to apologize for, Lord Yardley. Lady Maude was the one to interrupt our conversation.”
“Yes, but I did not act nor speak as decisively as I ought to have done.”
The corners of her mouth dropped. “No, I suppose you did not.”
“I have asked Lady Maude to wait for it is only right that I sign your dance card first.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that so?” Tilting her head to one side, she looked past him, evidently trying to see Lady Maude standing somewhere behind him. “Good gracious, it is as you say.” These last words were spoken as if to herself and James had to bite his lip hard to keep himself from turning around.
“As I have said, I did not think it right that Lady Maude interrupts us as she did but I ought to have acted and spoken with a good deal more decisiveness than I did. Pray forgive me, Lady Essington.”
A tiny light grew in her eyes and after a moment, she smiled. “You are quite forgiven, Lord Yardley.”
“And might I sign your dance card?”
Without hesitation, she slipped it from her wrist and handed it to him. “You may. I must say, Lord Yardley, you flatter me terribly.”
Taking it from her and seeing the gleam in her eye, he looked at her steadily rather than writing his name down and then hurrying away. “Oh?”
“To be pursued and spoken to first over Lady Maude, whose beauty is beyond compare in all of London, is certainly flattering.” A gentle pink blew across her cheeks but her eyes remained quite steady. “I am very appreciative, Lord Yardley.”
“She may have a great deal of beauty, Lady Essington, but that does not require me to put her first above all others. I confess that I hope I am a little better than that.”
A stab of guilt plunged itself firmly into his heart but James did not flinch. Yes, he had been distracted and overcome by Lady Maude’s presence and her willingness to offer him the waltz but good manners had taken a hold of his actions soon after. When Lady Essington smiled, he felt his heart swell, finding relief and a gladness lingering there. He had managed to make amends, had managed to show to her that he was not about to be a very foolish, unkind gentleman who cared nothing for her and would be willing to go to another simply because she held a little more beauty.
Although had not Lord Huntsford spoken to me of such a thing recently, then I might very well have behaved very poorly indeed.
Wincing inwardly, James turned his attention to the dance card and wrote his name down for the cotillion. Biting his lip, his hand hovered over the waltz. He had never danced the waltz with Lady Essington but Lady Maudehadpromised him that her waltz was free, had she not?
But I have stepped away from her and, no doubt, when I return the waltz will be gone.
“Lord Yardley?” There was a hint of confusion in Lady Essington’s voice and James quickly wrote down his name before he could change his mind. Smiling, he lifted his head and returned the dance card to her.
“I thought two dances again would suit very well,” he told her, seeing the way her eyes drifted down to her dance card. “That is only if you are contented with them, of course.”
She smiled and her green eyes seemed to alight. “I am most contented, Lord Yardley. I thank you.” Her smile crumpled as her gaze drifted over his shoulder. “However, I shall step away for the time being. Good evening, Lord Yardley.”
A sense of dread began to rush through his veins, making his stomach twist wildly and his throat constrict. Turning, he saw that Lady Maude was no longer standing alone. Three gentlemen were near to her but she had angled herself so that she might still look directly at James. When he turned, her eyes immediately fastened themselves to his, her lip curving gently but not in a way that sent any pleasure into James’ heart.
I must now go to her. I must continue our conversation, as I said I would.A little surprised at his reluctance, James made his way back toward Lady Maude and the three gentlemen, standing a little to one side with his hands clasped behind his back.
Lady Maude ignored him and for some minutes, James merely stood there, waiting without making any sort of interruption. One gentleman glanced at him and a rush of embarrassment began to heat his core but still, he stood. Lady Maude had been very improper indeed by interrupting his conversation with Lady Essington but he was not about to do the same. Besides which, she knew very well that he was waiting to speak to her. If she wished to ignore him for a time, then so be it. He would be patient.
Eventually, Lady Maude glanced at him, twirling her hand toward him in a dismissive gesture. “Yes, Lord Yardley? You have returned from yourotherconversation, I see?”
James did not smile. “I made certain that Lady Essington’s dance card was signed, given that to do so was my intention.”His voice was steady and he continually kept his gaze toward her.
