Page 28 of Stealing the Rake's Heart
He flinched, meeting her gaze squarely for the first time since the dance had begun.
“What? I… no, no, of course not, I wouldn’t…” he trailed off, looking guilty. “Would you be horribly offended if I said yes?”
“Not at all,” Abigail answered, and realized at once that it was a lie.
You fool,muttered a warning voice in the back of her head that sounded remarkably like Aunt Florence.Weren’t you warned to leave that man alone? He’s dangerous, and you know it.
Dangerousdid not seem to fit Lord Alexander Willenshire. He was so sweet, so handsome, sokind…
You don’t know he’s kind.
“Are you going to tell me the story, then?” she asked, spinning deftly under his arm as the dance required. So far, she hadn’t trod on anyone’s feet, or tripped on her own hem. So far, so good.
Alexander cleared his throat awkwardly. “Well, I mean…”
“Come on, my lord. You owe me, don’t you? I’m interested to know how such a beautiful young woman could inspire such fear.”
He let out a low chuckle. “Fear is the right word, actually. Well, you know how Society is set up as a sort of hunting game? Ladies do the hunting, withoutseemingto hunt, naturally, and gentlemen try to escape or let themselves be caught as their fancy goes.”
“What a lovely way of describing it.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “Sarcasm, Miss Atwater? In a young lady? Shocking.”
She tilted her chin. “I prefer to believe that my sense of humour is simply very delicate.”
“Mm-hm. Well, Lady Diana Lockwell is chasingme. To marry, or to murder, I’m not entirely sure. She wanted to dance, I think, and I would rather not have danced with her, so I fled. Cowardly, yes, but I’m nothing if not honest about my own flaws.”
He fell silent after that, and Abigail waited in vain for more. She knew therehadto be more, and looked out for the woman – Lady Diana Lockwell – when the dance brought them round again.
This time, though, she was gone, and Abigail felt oddly deflated. Alexander’s face was pale and tight, and she felt as though she’d said the wrong thing.
Aunt Florence was there, though, hands folded in front of herself, expression pinched. There’d be trouble there, later.
“Ladies aren’t allowed to refuse anyone,” she said flatly. “I always thought it unfair.”
“Of course it’s unfair. If ladies could pick and choose which gentlemen they wanted to dance with, or speak to, or evenmarry, the face of Society would change rapidly. It wouldn’t be allowed.”
The dance picked up speed, and Abigail spun rapidly under Alexander’s arm. She felt herself getting dizzy – she’d never learned the art of spinning in place without losing one’s balance, not like Scarlett.
“Do you intend to marry this Season?” Abigail said, and nearly bit off her tongue.
There were, of course, certain subjects that were frowned upon at balls and gatherings. And then there were other subjects that were banned entirely. Talk about money –vulgar– as well as status, shocking subjects, and so on were all forbidden.
Bluntly asking a man if he intended to marry was certainly beyond vulgar. Beyond shocking. Lord Alexander would be well within his rights to drop her hand and stalk off the ballroom floor.
He did not, however. He eyed her thoughtfully, eyes glinting green beneath smudgy brows.
“I am sorry,” Abigail gasped, wishing with all her heart that she could go back in time and undo what she’d said. “I never meant… I didn’t think…”
“Yes,” he answered bluntly. There was a heartbeat of silence before Abigail managed to speak again.
“Y-Yes?”
He shrugged. “Yes, I do mean to marry. I’m a third son with no prospects, no occupation, and not much to recommend me but my charm, my face – which had been called handsome, I must modestly say – and whatever money my older brothers sees fit to settle upon me. A dowry, I suppose.”
“At least you have that,” Abigail retorted. “All of my parents’ money will probably go to my sister. They expect her to make the finer match out of the two of us. I doubt there’ll be anything left for me.”
It was a half-joke, but Alexander didn’t smile.
