Page 11 of With Love in Sight
He chuckled. “Not an insult,” he said as they came around again. “You’d be surprised how many times my toes have been trampled.”
She gave him a teasing glance. “Well, as you are leading, perhaps the fault is your own.”
She blushed as his quiet laugh reached her. The excitement of the exchange had her bursting with energy. She never felt this comfortable with someone, always overthinking what she was saying. But he brought out a confidence in her that she had never before possessed.
She could certainly get used to this.
All too soon, the music ended. Lord Willbridge led her to the side of the room and bowed low over her hand. “Thank you, Miss Duncan. You dance beautifully.” He grinned and melted back into the crowd. Imogen found she could not erase the smile from her face even if she had wanted to.
• • •
Later that night, just as she was settling under the covers, there was a knock at Imogen’s bedroom door. Before she could answer it, Mariah flew in. She skipped over to the bed and jumped up, settling herself against Imogen’s side.
“I thought you would be dead on your feet, Mariah,” Imogen whispered, tucking the blanket about her sister. Mariah snuggled beneath the covers and laughed quietly.
“I vow I cannot rest. I have been replaying Lord Willbridge’s actions in my head. I have never seen anything more dashing.”
Imogen grinned. “He quite surprised me, I admit.”
“He is a lovely dancer, Imogen. It was wonderful of him to single you out. I have heard he does not ever dance with unmarried young ladies. Though he is a rake, I found it gallant of him. Were you very shocked?”
“Yes,” Imogen admitted, her mind full of those lovely gray eyes. “But for shame on you for calling him a rake. He has never acted anything but the perfect gentleman with me.”
Well, she amended, her cheeks warming, perhaps not always so perfectly gentlemanlike. The kiss he had given her upon their first meeting certainly did not fit into that category.
Mariah’s clear blue eyes were wide. “Were you very tongue-tied? I know how it is for you with people you have just met. I worried for you.”
“Strangely enough, I was fine. He has a way about him. He put me at ease immediately.”
“Do you think he means to court you?”
Imogen gave a shout of surprised laughter before clamping her hand over her mouth. Their gazes swung to the door for a long moment, but all was silent. They both exhaled in relief. If their mother had discovered Mariah out of her bed, she would have launched into one of her many recitations on needing sleep for beauty, and neither could bear that.
“Are you mad?” Imogen whispered.
“And why couldn’t he be interested in you?” her sister came back hotly. “You are beautiful, and wonderful, and any man would be proud to have you for a wife.”
Imogen looked at her askance before muttering, “I think you are the one who needs the spectacles.”
Mariah swatted her on the arm. “Stop it. I hate it when you do that. You cannot take a compliment.”
Imogen’s mouth fell open.
“What?”
“Lord Willbridge said that very thing to me this evening.”
Mariah sputtered on her laughter. “Did he now? My opinion of him has just grown tenfold.”
“Well, I do not care that the two of you are in harmony with your thoughts. He has no designs on me, and that is final.”
Mariah rolled her eyes. “Fine. You may be gloomy and fatalistic to your heart’s content. I, however, have the right to think whatever romantic notions I may.” Her expression turned dreamy. “He is so deliciously handsome.”
Imogen didn’t think such a statement required an answer. But she agreed wholeheartedly.
Mariah sighed happily and launched into a recounting of the evening, most especially Lord Willbridge’s attributes. Imogen listened with half an ear as an unexpected thought occurred to her. Why, she wondered, had he paid her the compliment of a dance? He was handsome, and popular, and could have had his pick of the ladies present, despite his unfortunate reputation. Why had he chosen her?
And then a realization hit her, with all the force of a runaway horse. Perhaps it was not her company he was after.
