Page 40 of An Offer for a Spinster
“There are worse things to read than novels. L. Sterling novels, at all.”
The dance required them to move apart, Katherine twirling under Timothy’s arm.
“We danced like this – not the waltz, naturally – when we were children, do you remember?” she said, and a smile spread across his face.
“Yes, yes, I recall. I tripped over my own feet and trod on your hem at least once.”
“More than once, I should say. My poor feet – you stood on them so many times.”
The dance slowed again, and this time, the talk flowed easily. The waltz, for all its controversies, allowed plenty of time and breath for talk. Katherine could not even recall what they talked about, just that she was laughing and so was he, and she kept catching glimpses of faces in the crowds, blurs that didn’tmatter because the dance and the man who held her close were all that mattered.
When the music stopped, it was almost a jarring sensation. The partners separated, laughing, clapping, bowing to each other, and Katherine was obliged to follow suit. She caught a glimpse of Lord Barwood in the crowd, arms folded tight, not smiling. He made as if to move forward, to claim her again, but she turned her back, and he had the grace to stop.
“Thank you,” she said, when the commotion died down somewhat, and the dancers were clearing the floor to make room for the next sets of partners. “For asking me to dance.”
Timothy smiled, and she could have sworn she saw a flush rise to his cheeks. But then, perhaps it was the heat of the room.
“No need to thank me. I should be thanking you, for being patient with me. I should have asked you to dance a long time ago.”
“We already did dance, remember? A long time ago, as we said.”
He smiled again, distantly this time. “It was different. Much different.”
A tingle ran down her spine, something unfamiliar and not entirely unpleasant.
She spotted Elizabeth up ahead, coming through the crowd, smiling. She wouldn’t have to sit with Lord Barwood and her mother any more tonight. She was free.
Timothy was already melting away, disappearing into the crowd. Katherine did not want him to go, and that realization hit her like a four-horse chaise.
Stop,whispered a small, intent voice in the back of her head.What are you doing? What are you thinking? He’s an old friend, a friend of your brother’s. He was being kind, that’s all. You have no right to feel this way about him.
But that didn’t help. If anything, it drew her attention to the feelings that were already there, the ones she didn’t dare investigate. The ones that made her chest tighten and a lump rise to her throat.
“Thank you, Timothy,” she said, although she wasn’t entirely sure he heard before he disappeared into the crowd.
Chapter Thirteen
To Mr. Rutherford, Referencing our Previous Conversation
I hope you and your family are in good health. I am writing to remind you of the upcoming deadline, and to ask if there is any progress in the third Rosalie volume. I read in the scandal sheets that you have been attending various balls and events with your family, and while your socialising is to be congratulated, I feel it my duty to remind you of yours.
The world is waiting for the final instalment of Rosalie’s adventures, Timothy. I would take it as a personal favour if you would concentrate on writing as much as you can, before the approach of the deadline. The earlier, the better.
Thank you.
Your Colleague, Mr. Hawthorne
The letter, slightly crumpled and shoved aside, rolled onto the floor from the desk when Timothy pushed the half-finished manuscript aside.
Half finished. He was so close to the end of Rosalie’s adventures.
The past few days had been full of a flurry of writing, and most recently of all, Timothy had stayed up all night to finish a particularly tense section, before he lost his inspiration. The sun was up now, and he hadn’t slept a wink.
I don’t even feel tired,he thought, smiling wryly. No sooner had the thought left his head when a knock came on the door.
Well, it can’t be my landlady – my rent is all paid up.
Opening the door, Timothy was surprised to find Amelia and Rebecca standing on the doorstep.
