She watched as Lord Blakely escorted Louisa to the dance floor. Louisa's cheeks reddened as he whispered something to her. Tessa smiled and prayed Louisa would find a man to love this season before she was considered completely on the shelf.
Not for the first time, Tessa wondered if she would ever fall in love. Or was there no point if she truly was cursed? Three husbands in five years would make any man hesitate. She speculated again if she should take a lover, as her sister suggested. Many widows did. He would have to be very discreet. And she would have to be careful not to get with child. It wasn't all that unusual for a widow to take a lover if she was circumspect. All her husbands had been quite a bit older than she and it might be interesting to see if making love was better with a younger man. Stanhope had tried very hard to please her in bed. While she'd always thought he might have managed to succeed, he died before proving himself in the bedroom. Glancing around the room, she doubted that any man would dare dance with her, much less take her to his bed.
Tessa returned her thoughts to the dance, now ending. As Lord Blakely escorted Louisa back to her, Tessa noticed another man trailing behind them. The same man who had been staring at her earlier from across the room.
"Lady Stanhope, it is wonderful to see you here tonight," Lord Blakely said with a bow. "I hope you don't mind me stealing your sister for a quick dance."
She smiled at the smitten man. "Not at all. You are welcome to dance with my sister any time." Louisa's elbow jabbed her in the ribs. "Well, one more time tonight."
"Of course, Lady Stanhope." Lord Blakely turned as the stranger approached. "Lady Stanhope, Miss Drake, may I introduce a friend of mine, Mr. John Raynerson, Viscount Bideford's brother."
"A pleasure, Mr. Raynerson," Louisa replied with a quick curtsy.
Tessa said nothing. Her voice and very breath stolen from her.
When she'd seen him across the room staring at her, she had noticed his height, which had to be almost half a head taller than Blakely who was far from short. With a chiseled jaw and wide shoulders, he emanated strength and masculinity. He had a small scar on his jawline that intrigued her.
Virility.
Why couldn't she get that word out of her head? Mr. Raynerson had a slight smirk on his molded lips as if he knew she was sizing him up.
"It would be my pleasure if you grant me a dance," Mr. Raynerson said to her with a bow.
"She would love to dance with you," Louisa said with a tilt of her head and a smug smile at her sister.
She narrowed her eyes at Louisa and replied, "Of course I would."
The man held out his arm for her. She linked arms with him as he led her to the dance floor. There was something about this man. A dangerous air about him, and he was far too handsome for her comfort. He wore his dark brown hair short in the current style but still there were waves and curls that probably became unruly if his hair grew longer. His eyes were a warm brown and yet, she could not help but feel a sense of suspicion in his gaze.
Or maybe she was just so used to seeing mistrust in everyone's eyes that she assumed him to be no better than the rest. Tessa glanced around to see the gossipy women whispering to each other and wondered if it was about her or the idea that Mr. Raynerson might be tempting fate.
As he took her in his arms, she realized they were going to waltz. It had been almost a year since she'd last danced but as the music started, they moved together as if they had danced a hundred times.
"You are a wonderful dancer, Mr. Raynerson."
"Thank you, Lady Stanhope."
A long silence enveloped them. She had no idea what to say. She had won three men by learning the fine art of small talk, but all conversation now deserted her. With him so near, all she could hear was the constant hum of her nerves.
"I believe this is where you ask me if I am enjoying the cool April weather," he said with a slight laugh.
"Are you?"
"Very much so," he replied with a smile.
She struggled again to make conversation as they danced across the floor. Seeing Winnie Frampton look over at her and smirk, the excitement of the dance, and the man, was quickly replaced with suspicion. There was no reason this man should want to dance with her...unless it was a dare. She blinked back the pain of that thought. She wouldn't have figured Lord Blakely could be so cruel as to wager callously. But now she had to know.
"Did Lord Blakely put you up to this?" she whispered.
He looked down at her with a slight scowl. "What are you asking?"