Page 61 of Finding Hope
“What is wrong, Max?” Diana asked. “You are in quite a dudgeon.”
“I am hiding my spleen well, then,” he retorted. “I am quite livid, my dear. In fact, I should very much like to draw someone’s cork!” he retorted.
She was looking out over the partners, taking their places in the first set. “Ah, I see Brosner beat you to her, did he? Well, you had better select someone else quickly before they are all standing waiting upon you to begin. I fully intend to become afauxpasby dancing with my husband.” She waggled her eyebrows at him like they were young again and with a sly smile, sauntered away.
As he looked out over the sea of guests, laughter and banter filled the air. Gentlemen, dressed in their finely tailored coats, and ladies, arrayed in gowns of the most fashionable satins and silks, did not seem to realize the tension thrumming through him. He did not want to choose a new partner. He wanted to raise up an army to fight for his woman, as did Menelaus!
Perhaps, if he could find one of the Whitford sisters to dance with, he could discover what was happening. He first spotted Miss Patience, but she was already paired with Major Stuart. Grace was with Carew, which only left Lady Westwood. Perhaps he could convince Westwood to give up his wife. He headed in their direction.
He smiled as he approached. “Is there any way I could persuade you to let me open the ball with your wife, Westwood? I had been hoping to dance with Miss Whitford, but Brosner has beat me to her.”
He saw the couple exchange glances and Westwood give a small nod.
“You will owe me a favour for this one, Rotham,” Westwood said as he placed his wife’s hand in Max’s.
“Consider it done.”
They took their places in the set. A country dance was not as ideal as some for conversing, but he would take what he could. “May I enquire how your sister is this evening?” he asked as they waited for the music to begin.
“To which one do you refer?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.
She was going to be evasive. That was not good. “I am, of course, concerned about all of them, but in light of the circumstances, I was asking about Miss Hope in particular.”
He saw her bite on her lower lip with indecision.
“Please tell me if something has happened.”
The dance began, and he bowed. They circled one another, but yet she did not answer. Max was growing more impatient by the moment.
As they approached each other again, he pleaded with his eyes. If something else had happened, he needed to do something about it.
“I do not know if she would wish for me to tell you, but she has received another note, and she is even more convinced she must stay apart from you.”
“What did it say to make her think that?”
“Keep your distance,” she said hurriedly as they were forced to release each other and take a turn with their next partner.
It took Max a moment to consider the words. At first, he mistook her meaning; that she was tellinghimto keep his distance in the dance, but then it struck him. Was that what this was all about? Hope was being tormented because of him? He wasn’t certain, because he also could have been hit with that lead ball…but if someone was warning Hope away from him, how much farther would they go?
“Therefore we have arranged for her to dance with other gentlemen tonight. I do hope you understand and will respect her wishes,” she continued when they came together again, whilst Max’s mind was still assimilating the possibilities.
“Of course, if she thinks that to be the best course, I will keep my distance from her tonight.” She did only mean for that night, he hoped.
As the night progressed, watching Brosner, then Carew, then Cunningham, then Montford, then Stuart dance with Hope and not being able to have a turn himself was making him irritable in the extreme.
“It would help if you were not watching her like a fawning puppy,” Westwood told him.
“Are you suggesting that I am ignoring my own partners?”
“I am not suggesting, I am telling you. They are only trying to help, so do not bite their heads off over it.”
“You cannot tell me Brosner and Carew are uninterested.”
“Her safety is what matters most at the moment.”
“I agree, which is why I want to keep her close,” Max argued.
Westwood shook his head. “If her suspicions are correct, then you being near to her is the biggest threat.”
