Claire managed to say something complimentary and tried to keep her distance from Simon, who had decided to stop staring at her long enough to partner Miss Hadfield in this dance. When it finally ended she was sure she could not dance another step, so she accompanied Lord Pepper towards a group of people she knew, and once he left, she shuffled sideways to hide behind them. Peeking over the shoulder of one of the women, she looked for Simon but could not see him. Seizing the chance to escape, she made her way towards the back of the room. Dropping her head, she bent at the knees and moved through the throng, hoping no one noticed what she was doing.
“Are you well, Miss Belmont?”
“Yes thank you, Mr. Tattler. I am looking for my mother.”
The man looked at her bent legs but said nothing further, so Claire moved on. It was not the easiest position to walk in–in fact, her thighs were starting to cramp, especially after the exercise she had just undertaken–yet she had no intention of straightening until she sought cover.
Reaching the wall, Claire straightened but kept her shoulders hunched and head lowered, and then, moving along it, she found an opening and hurried through. Looking around her, she found a door that surely led outside. Making for it, she walked through it and then another, this one opening onto the deck. With a deep sigh of relief, Claire straightened to her full height and then walked into the shadows. Perhaps all the dancing would help her to snatch a few minutes’ sleep this night, and she could forget about that note and what Anthony had left behind in France. Was this to be her season? Nights spent dancing whilst she attempted to avoid Lord Kelkirk?
“Hello, Claire. How are you this evening?” Simon said, walking through the door and moving to where she stood. He heard her indrawn breath, and then she took a step backwards and then another until she came up against the stone balustrade behind her. Simon closed the distance between them until he was directly in front of her.
He had returned Miss Hadfield to her mother after their dance, and then looked for Claire. He’d found her slipping through a door, and he’d immediately followed. She’d hoped to avoid him, but he had no intention of allowing that to happen. He had questions he wanted answered.
“Lord Kerkirk, how lovely to see you. I hope you are enjoying the evening?”
He was impressed. She didn’t stutter, although the moonlight allowed him to see how wide her eyes were, and he could hear the rasp of her breathing. “Very much, Claire, and you? How are you feeling this evening?”
Her eyes widened briefly. “Very well, thank you, my lord.”
“I had not realized you had such a love of dancing.”
“Yes, I enjoy it very much, my lord.”
“You’ve definitely hidden it well then, as before tonight I have never seen you partner so many men–one after the other without pausing for breath. Quite a testament to your stamina.”
She wanted to say something cutting but instead pressed her lips together firmly, forming a straight crease that almost folded in on itself.
“And it appears you have suffered no ill effects from looking at Lord Pepper’s waistcoat over long.”
She clamped her lips together harder.
“Excellent. Now that we have established your love of dancing and observed the correct greeting, perhaps you can tell me why you were in that lane today dressed like a servant? And why you ran into me–”
“You ran into me!”
He knew she wished to retract those words as soon as she had spoken them. But it had always been that way with them; he could provoke her into retaliation and make her lose her composure with only a few well-placed words. “Why were you in that lane alone today, Claire?”
“I have no wish to answer that or any of your questions, Lord Kelkirk.”
Simon had often wondered why she intrigued him. Most evenings he found himself searching for her in a crowded room, his eyes drawn to the sweet bow that formed her lips into a pout. Her brows were delicately arched and she usually had one elevated in a haughty manner when he was near. Simon had always thought Claire Belmont alluring. However with him she was rarely sweet; in fact, he would say she was prickly and cutting and never missed an opportunity to take him to task. She wasn’t comfortable with him and he’d never been sure why.
“I have a bruise on my chin, Claire. I think I deserve some kind of answer.”
“For that I am sorry,” she said slowly, her eyes looking at the dark mark on his jaw. “It was never my intention to hurt you.”
“Why were you in that lane today, Claire?” Simon stepped closer, forcing her eyes up to meet his.
“I will not be intimidated by you, Lord Kelkirk, therefore please step back.”