Page 50 of One Perfect Dance
Glancing up, Regina saw a little group of chairs on the landing a third of the way up to the next floor. It would be rude, surely, to enter the private part of the house? But the space appeared so inviting, and she was not looking forward to returning the maelstrom.
It was the work of the moment to dart up the first flight of stairs and sink into one of the chairs, which was as comfortable as it looked. She sat back and closed her eyes.
As always, as soon as she was still, her three main preoccupations demanded her mental attention: Geoffrey, who had continued to keep her informed about his coming and goings but had still not brought his friends to meet her. Her ball, which was the day after tomorrow, and everything seemed to be happening as it should, which perversely made her convinced that she was forgetting something. And—of course and always—Elijah.
She wished Elijah was here. He had had another engagement, but he was joining her for dinner. She wished she was with him now. She wished they were together and in private so they could share another of those drugging kisses.
He loved her. He had made it clear. And she loved him, even if she had not said the words. When he asked her to marry him, the answer would be “yes.”
“Why the smile? Thinking of me, Regina?” The loathsome tones of David Deffew broke into her thoughts and her eyes sprang open. He was lowering himself into the chair beside hers and reaching for her hands.
She pulled them out of his reach and stood. “Mr. Deffew. I will leave you to your solitude. It is time I returned to the party.”
She had no expectation that it would be that easy, and sure enough, he leapt to his feet and put his body between her and the stairs. “Now, Regina, don’t rush off. Surely you will allow me to make an apology for my over-enthusiasm last time we met?”
“Over enthusiasm? Is that what we are calling it? You assaulted me, Mr. Deffew, and would not stop when I asked you to do so. And I have not given you leave to address me informally.”
Deffew’s nostrils flared. “You encouraged me until Ashby came back. We had an understanding.” His voice whined.He really is a worm.
“I treated you with the same civility I treated anyone else, Mr. Deffew, and I did not encourage you. Indeed, I refused each of your proposals. Now, please get out of my way. I wish to leave.”
Below, the door on this side of the gallery opened, letting out a burst of noise. Deffew grabbed her in his arms, trapping her own at her sides so that, struggle as she might, she could not stop him from raining kisses on any part of her twisting head that he could reach.
“My love,” he near-shouted, projecting his voice to reach the witness who had just entered the gallery, “you have made me the happiest of m—Arghhh!” His arms loosened and Regina darted out of reach as he twisted to look behind him.
Pansy Turner stood on the stairs; a long hat pin held before her like a weapon. From the way Deffew clutched his thigh, she had used it to stab him, and God bless her for it.
“You bitch,” Deffew roared. “Youstuckme!”
Miss Turner lifted one eyebrow. “Oh dear. I slipped.”
He glanced at Regina, and smirked. “Miss Turner, you can be the first to congratulate us—”
“He is lying, Miss Turner. He assaulted me, when I have already made it clear that I would not marry him if he was the last man on earth.”
“Youhaveto marry me,” he sneered. “You will be ruined if you don’t. Miss Turner is my witness that you were in my arms.”
Miss Turner shook her head. “On the contrary, Mr. Deffew. I was sitting with my friend Mrs. Paddimore the whole time. I am her witness thatyouare lying.”
“Again,” said another voice—one Regina had not heard in years. “Lying again, Mr. Deffew? Have you still not been able to find a woman who will marry you without you blackmailing her into it? Hello, Regina.”
She had changed so much. Her hair had turned grey, her face was lined, and she appeared to have shrunk. Somehow, Regina had never thought of her mother growing old without her. Regina swallowed a lump in her throat. “Hello, Mama.”
Her mother smiled but kept her gaze on Deffew. “I was here the whole time, too, of course. Go away, Mr. Deffew. Far away. I still have friends enough to see you drummed out of London and will do so if you do not leave of your own accord.”
Pansy had eased herself past Deffew and was standing beside Regina, her hat pin at the ready. Deffew stared at her and then back at Lady Kingsley. “But…you are not telling the truth.”
Lady Kingsley snorted. “Pot, meet Kettle. Goodbye, Mr. Deffew.”
“Making a nuisance of yourself, are you, Deffew?” The newcomer was Peter Stancroft, and Arial was beside him. “Would you like me to remove him bodily, ladies? I would be happy to oblige.”
At that, Deffew broke, scuttling past Lady Kingsley and down the stairs on the other side of the gallery. They could hear him calling for his hat and coat.
“Thank you.” Regina smiled at each of her rescuers in turn, then let her eyes rest on her mother. “Thank you so much. That could have been very unpleasant.”
Miss Turner wrapped her shawl around Regina’s shoulder, murmuring something about buttons. “May I see to your hair, Mrs. Paddimore?”
One side was falling down about her shoulders and the other was undoubtedly rumpled after her struggles. Arial and Miss Turner took a side each, and soon had it smoothed and repinned.
