Page 19 of A Lady's Past
“No. The French way would be far more charming and decidedly less appropriate.”
Letting out a slow breath, she forced her expressionless mask into place. “It would be better for both of us if you would forget all about me.”
“Impossible. Once I held you in my arms, I was lost.”
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, and he longed to kiss his way along that sleek column. “That was a mistake on my part, and I apologize again. I should not have asked that of you. It was stupid and dangerous. I don’t even know you, and what a wanton you must think me. I was lured by the idea of feeling safe for a few short hours. I should have been stronger.”
“I’m glad you trusted me. It was an honor.”
“Yet now you think you want more from me,” she whispered, so that none of the other dancers would hear.
The room was awhirl with music and colorful gowns. No one cared about the two of them. He hated that they were in public having this conversation. “I would prefer if you did not presume to know my mind. It was my honor to hold you. I do not know you, Diana, but I do know you are in trouble. That was obvious from our first meeting. I would not take advantage of your need for safety, and you must have known that, or at least have been willing to take the risk. I hardly know what I want from you or what I can offer you in return. I only know that you are on my mind when I wake in the morning and you are the last image in my mind when I take to my bed each night. Perhaps I am a fool, but I cannot ignore my feelings.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek as the music ended. “In another time, those words would have been everything to me. I’m sorry they can mean nothing now.” With a curtsy, she left him standing alone on the dance floor.
Preston and Millie were beside him a moment later.
“The lady herself, I presume.” Preston stared across the ballroom to where Diana had joined Lady Chervil.
“That woman is going to be the death of me.”
“I certainly hope you’re not being literal.” Preston slapped his back. “Introduce me to your friend, Jacques.”
If he refused, they would badger him for the rest of the night. They crossed to the ladies and Jacques bowed. “It is good to see you again, Lady Chervil. Of course, you know my friends the Duke and Duchess of Middleton.”
Bows and curtsies all around. Honoria smiled. “Of course. Good to see you, Millie. Your Grace.”
Millie kissed Honoria’s cheek. “I’ve missed you. I must come and visit more often. It seems every time I come you are off somewhere.”
“I’m kept quite busy for an old woman. Millie, you have met Diana. Your Grace, may I introduce Miss Diana St. Cloud. She is the newest Everton lady.” Honoria fiddled with the rubies around her wrist.
Preston bowed. “I have heard a lot about you, Miss St. Cloud. I hope we shall become better acquainted.”
“I’m happy to see you again, Miss St. Cloud. Are you and my uncle getting on with those experiments?” Millie smiled and her blue eyes lit up.
It wasn’t easy, but Jacques was starting to see small variations in Diana’s expression even when she was trying to be unreadable. Now her eyes narrowed just slightly, and he thought she was annoyed or worried.
“Mr. Edgebrook has a great many interesting projects in the works. I was thinking after our visit the other day, would His Grace have disapproved of you continuing as an Everton lady?”
Preston opened his mouth, but Millie stayed his response with a gentle hand on his arm. “No. He would allow me to do whatever I wished. I wished to travel, and so we did for the first year of our marriage. As I told you, I think we shall go again in the spring. The Everton Domestic Society is a place where women can find employment when the realities of the world would leave them unpleasant choices. I would not keep my place there when my need no longer existed.”
“I see,” Diana said. She fidgeted with the bottom edge of her bodice. Perhaps a nervous habit.
Honoria sang out, “We have decided a bit of fun was in order tonight. One must get away from the day-to-day and attend a ball whenever possible.”
Laughing, Millie asked, “Is this a rule you just made up?”
“I make them all up, my dear. Besides theEverton Companion Rules of Conduct, there are Lady Chervil’s rules for living. One day I shall publish.”
Even Preston laughed. “That would be a book I would enjoy reading.”
As the talk continued, Diana scanned the room. Her watchful eye must have spotted something. Shrinking back, she didn’t exactly hide, but she made herself less. She shifted so that she was hidden from the crowd behind their cluster of friends.
Jacques tried to follow her gaze, but couldn’t make out who or what had made her hide away.
After a few minutes, she excused herself, saying she was going to rest in the lady’s retiring room for a few minutes.
Thirty minutes later, she had not returned. Jacques whispered, “Millie, would you mind checking on Miss St. Cloud?”
