Page 13 of Rescued from Betrayal
Melior giggled. “Not dark, but a dim room might be nice to set the mood.”
Edith slowly shook her head. “Very well. I will station myself close to the doors when I am not dancing.”
“Thank you.” Melior linked arms with her friend. “Now all that is left is for us to go charm the masses.”
“Was not this planning for one particular man?” Edith’s grey eyes flicked to her.
“Yes, but one must not discount the rest. Who knows, perhaps a handsome duke or prince will arrive to sweep me off my feet.”
“Just you?”
“I am sure there will be an earl or two for you as well.”
Edith's expression remained placid. “How generous, but what would I do with two husbands?”
Melior tittered and gave her friend’s arm a squeeze. “You always know how to lighten the mood.”
Couples danced merrily in the resplendent ballroom lit with hundreds of wax candles. Melior had chosen to wear her light blue silk, finding the color brought out the dark shine in her hair and made her eyes appear brighter and bluer than in other shades. She’d even gone as far as to allow the modiste to lower the neckline of her gowns by an inch. The result was quite shocking and made her feel nervous and exposed.
The effort seemed to work. Lord Caraway had already danced with her once and implied that he might ask her again for the supper set. She’d tried to whisper her request to meet, but the activity of the dance had not given her more than a few seconds of conversation. Maybe she could get him alone before or after they ate? Her hands began to sweat inside her gloves.
“Are you well, Miss Kendall?”
When had Sir Nathaniel taken up the place next to her? “I am. Why should you ask?”
“You seem a bit flushed, and you have a bit of… a… perspiration on your brow.”
“How unkind of you to point out. Did your mother never teach you not to draw attention to when a woman glistens?”
“Glistens? Is that what women call it?”
For the first time in as long as she could remember Sir Nathaniel was smiling at her. It did seem a bit ridiculous that women could not admit to normal bodily functions. A slow smile grew on her own lips.
“Thank you for your concern, sir, but I am fine. Perhaps a bit warm. It is quite the crush.”
“It is at that. I had not expected half so many or I would have sat this one out.”
“You do not like balls with so many people?”
“Not at all. It makes it exceedingly difficult to dance with all the people in the way. With half this many there would be room for twice the amount of dancers.”
She peered at the couples in the center of the room. It did seem like a tight fit. Then her gaze strayed back to Sir Nathaniel. Were they actually having a civil conversation? Something fluttered in her chest and she opened her fan to cool her face.
His brown eyes were locked on someone in the line of dancers. She followed what she thought was his line of sight to Lord Caraway. That could not be who he watched.
Perhaps it was the woman with the marquess. She glanced across the line and saw Lady Jane smiling and batting her eyes at Lord Caraway. Melior frowned. She looked ridiculous.
Then her frown curved into a sly smile. Lady Jane did not know it, but she was wasting her time dancing with Lord Caraway. By the end of the night he would declare himself and Melior would be the recipient.
“I overheard a couple of my maids discussing your uncle’s upcoming nuptials,” Sir Nathaniel said under his breath.
Melior shushed him. “Do not speak of such things here.”
His mouth flattened into a line as he gazed down at her. The perfectly symmetrical line of his jaw and cheek made her think how fine a face he would have if he did not scowl so much.
“Very well, I wish you a good evening, Miss Kendall.”
Her eyes trailed after him as walked away, the light fluttering calming with every step he took. Perhaps it was simply nervousness at having any man who was not Lord Caraway near her.
