Page 20 of The Sea Siren of Broadwater Bottom
Curtseys were bobbed and introductions were made. Elissa seemed to be at a loss, so it was Mrs. Gorten who spoke. “We did not realize we would have the pleasure of your company this evening, my lord.”
“Indeed,” Edward replied, “Lord Redditch asked us to attend on his behalf. He had a last-minute engagement that could not be avoided.”
Harrington leaned toward Cassandra conspiratorially. “You should have seen how quickly he said yes.”
Edward gave his brother an incredulous look before turning back to Elissa. He cleared his throat. “Miss Elissa, might I have the pleasure of a dance?”
“You may,” Cassandra said, reaching behind Elissa, seizing her by her upper arms, and shoving her forward. “She’s available for this one.”
Up until this point, Elissa had looked petrified at finding herself the center of attention. But as her sister thrust her forward, she met Edward’s eye with an expression he recognized as,why must my own sibling humiliate me in this way?
A sympathetic grin sneaked across Edward’s face. He nodded subtly to Harrington and strove for an expression that said,you thinkyouhave it bad?
She gave a silent giggle, and he felt a tightness in his chest he hadn’t realized was there relax.
He offered his arm. “Shall we?”
She placed her hand gingerly upon it and gave him a tiny smile. “We shall.”
She glanced back at Harrington and Cassandra as they crossed the room. Edward did the same and saw that they had their heads bent together, discussing something with great animation.
“Ugh,” Elissa groaned. “Just look at them. How I hate to leave them alone together. Goodness knows what they must be plotting.”
“Indeed,” Edward said, “yet we have no choice, as supervising them requires us to remain in their company, which is even more intolerable.”
She laughed out loud at that, and he felt better than he had in days.
He found them a little space along the wall. “How have you been?” he asked, turning to face her. “Are you fully recovered from your chill?”
“I am,” Elissa said. “All thanks to you. I only needed to get warmed up a bit.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
“I’m the one who’s glad—glad you’re here tonight, that is.” A becoming flush rose to her cheeks as she peered up at him.
He felt his chest expand. “Are you?”
“I am.” She bit her lip. “There’s something I wanted to tell you—”
“Beg pardon, my lord.” Whatever Elissa had been about to say was interrupted by a squat man with thinning hair and a jolly look about him. “Hugh Warner, at your service. I’m serving as master of ceremonies tonight. Would you two honor us by leading us in a country dance?”
Edward forced a smile to his lips. It happened that he would rather not. The couple who led off a country dance would have to select a dance figure, which they would perform for the entire room to see. They would then work their way down the line, performing the steps with each and every additional couple, and then dance them a few dozen more times for good measure.
Were it up to him, he would lead Elissa straight to the bottom of the set where they would have a good ten minutes to talk while they waited for the lead couple to make their way to them. That should afford him sufficient time to discover what she wanted to tell him that had her blushing so prettily.
He sighed. As usual, what he wanted was immaterial. He was the ranking man in the room, and he was not about to insult Mr. Warner by refusing.
He glanced down. “Miss Elissa?” he murmured. Unless he was misreading her expression, she too would very much rather not lead off the dance, but she gave a small nod, so Edward turned back to Mr. Warner. “What an honor. We should be delighted.”
A hush fell over the room as he led Elissa to the top of the set. The speaking looks and delighted laughs she had gifted him with moments ago were now gone, replaced by a ducked head and a tight smile that bespoke her discomfiture.
How he hated to do this to her, hated for her to be stared at and gossiped about, even for one evening. He, at least, was used to it.
They took up their places. Strictly speaking, it was for the lady in the top couple to choose the dance figure, but Elissa looked petrified. Everyone was staring at her, waiting for her to say something.
Edward gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Cross over two, lead up one?” he suggested, naming a common dance figure.
“Oh, erm, yes,” Elissa replied.
