Page 25 of Passion Painted in a Lady's Heart
“You could tell him how delicious the meringues are,” she replied, and Elizabeth blushed.
“I only had three,” she replied, glancing across at the dessert table, where several footmen were even now replenishing the plates.
Rosalind knew she could not hide behind the pillar for the rest of the evening. She felt like a wild animal hiding from its hunter. To break cover was a terrible risk. If Richard saw her, he would demand she dance with him. But if Sebastian was to catch sight of her first, perhaps he would be persuaded to invite her to dance.
Staying behind the pillar would only ensure her eventual discovery. To break cover or remain would likely rouse the duke’s anger. He wanted her for himself. There could be no compromise, and even the invitation of another man would be seen as a threat.
“Oh, come on, let’s get this over with. We’ll go together. We’ll walk into the middle of the throng, and if the earl and Lord Cuthbert notice us, perhaps we’ll be fortunate in our invitations,” Rosalind said.
It was a bold plan, and likely to fail or elicit the wrath of both her mother and the Duke of Northridge. But Rosalind was willing to take the risk, even as she did not know whether Sebastian had the intention of asking her to dance.
“And if they don’t?” Elizabeth asked.
Rosalind looked at her friend and smiled.
“Well, at least I’ll have tried,” she replied, taking Elizabeth by the arm and leading her into the throng.
Chapter 11
Sebastian was curious about Rosalind. He had watched her dancing with the Duke of Northridge, wondering why a young lady like her should be mixed up with an old man like him. He did not know the duke personally, but John had assured him he was a dull and self-entitled man, who spent most of his time boasting of his wealth and privilege.
“Hardly the sort of man I’d want my daughter to marry,” John had said, as they had watched Rosalind extract herself from the duke’s arms and hurry off towards the powder room.
“No, but he’s rich, I suppose, and what woman wouldn’t want to be a duchess?” Sebastian had replied.
He knew how fickle the ton could be, even as he had sensed something different in Rosalind. During the course of the dinner, he had found his gaze increasingly drawn to her, thinking back to the moment of intimacy they had shared in the room of sensuous paintings at the masquerade.
Nothing improper had occurred there, of course, but Sebastian had felt a sense of possibility, and had thought of little else but Rosalind since the night before. But longings were forever tempered by his fears, and by now, Rosalind was certain to know of the family curse, and its rumor spread across the ton.
“I wonder where she’s gone? I’ve lost Elizabeth, too. They’re great friends, you know,” John said, as Sebastian looked around the room for any sign of Rosalind and her friend.
“You like her, do you?” Sebastian asked, and John nodded.
“She’s a charming young lady, yes. We found much in common at the masquerade. I’d like to talk to her again,” John replied.
Sebastian smiled at him. He was happy for his friend. There had been times when he had feared John might gain the reputation of a rake, but to hear him speak of settling down pleased Sebastian, even as his own fortunes seemed less certain.
“Then seek her out. Ask her to dance,” Sebastian replied.
“And will you do the same with Rosalind?” John replied.
This was the question Sebastian had already asked himself. He did not know what to do. He had enjoyed their encounter at the masquerade, and there was no doubting the things they had in common. But Sebastian was fearful. He was fearful of falling in love and fearful of the madness he felt certain would soon possess him.
It would not be fair, even as he knew it was an arrogance to assume Rosalind might feel the same. Behind his mask, Sebastian had felt a sense of possibility. A mask disguised the truth, but he could not hide behind a mask forever, and if there was to be any possibility of something more with Rosalind, Sebastian knew he would have to tell the truth.
“I doubt she’s given me a second thought,” he replied, but John shook his head.
“Nonsense. She’s been looking at you all evening. And you’ve been looking at her, too. Don’t deny it,” he said, raising his eyebrows at Sebastian, who blushed.
He had been thinking about Rosalind, and he had been looking at her during dinner. She was wearing a peacock blue dress and sapphire jewelry, her hair curled in ringlets after the latest fashion, and looking truly the prettiest young lady in the room.
But it was not only her looks he found attractive. Most of the women in the room were pretty, but Rosalind stood out among them. But it was the memory of their first encounter, the depth of their conversation, the intimacies of shared passions. Sebastian did want to know her better, even as he was scared of what it might lead to.
“I suppose so, but…” Sebastian began, sighing, as John interrupted him.
“Stop being such a fool, Sebastian. You’re not mad. Whatever your stepmother tells you,” he said.
Sebastian looked at him in surprise.
