The Rakehell Regency Romance Collection Volume 2(141)
"It saves the trouble of being shy," he said with a grin, "and also stops anyone from monopolising anyone else, even if they do happen to be your spouse, Stewart!" he said, with a not-so-subtle attempt at a hint to the couple who had retreated to one corner for a kiss.
Elizabeth joined in the spirit. "Thomas, Charlotte out of there now."
They came out of the alcove looking sheepish.
Vanessa and Clifford raised their hands in mock surrender. With a last fond kiss they went off to accept their dance cards graciously.
"The only trouble is the women will not get to sit any out. But then they do love to dance so much more than we do."
"Speak for yourself," Fitzsimmons said, "I adore dancing. Nothing better than standing up with a high-stepper." He looked straight at Elizabeth.
She coloured profusely and attempted to withdraw from the embarrassing perusal of her person by several of the local men.
Several of the other male eyes swivelled toward Marcus Fitzsimmons coldly.
"Yes, a good energetic partner is much better than a log of wood," Monroe said quickly, trying to gloss over the rather rude thing which had just been said.
Thomas smiled at him, grateful for his help in defusing the volatile situation He went to claim his partner for the first dance, Mary Fitzsimmons, who beamed at him and tittered like a two-year old.
"We shall of course have a proper ball in evening garb in a few days' time," he told the giggling girl, "but for now, this will serve."
Elizabeth looked at her card as she tried to regain her composure. She was relieved to see that Parks had put Fitzsimmons toward the end of her list. It would take some time for her to be able to speak to him again after his suggestive remarks.
Then she looked again. Parks had unaccountably given the first dance to Wilfred Joyce. And the last as well, she noted in with even more astonishment.
When all the cards had been handed out, Parks clapped his hands together. "Time to claim your partners, everyone."
"Oh, but I am hostess. Perhaps I should—"
"Go on, Sister. Young Parks here seems to know what he's about," the Duke urged.
Parks did not dance in the first group or even in the second, she noted. But she had all to do to keep her wits about her as she waltzed in Will's arms.
Despite his size he was most light on his feet, and the tempo which Monroe had struck up at the piano was as jaunty as a fast gallop on a wild stallion.
She could feel herself becoming more and more breathless in Will's arms. When he brushed her bared arm with his gloveless hand, or took hers in his own, she heard a pounding in her ears like the sound of the sea. She felt as if she were swirling and falling, with Will holding her the only thing standing between her and disaster.
Surely this grim-faced man couldn't have been her lover in the cave, could he? she wondered wildly. His eyes, so striking and storm-tossed, did not seem to pay her any particular regard.
He was most pleasant, but seemed in no way lover like towards her as Parks and Fitzsimmons had been. Yet he was assuredly most handsome….
Mitchell was next on her card, then Stewart, her brother, Clifford, the two Teague brothers, Sean Lynch, young Bob, Francis Baines, Parks, and eventually Marcus Fitzsimmons.
Marcus did his utmost to be charming, and she could feel herself growing warm under his effusive admiration. He was merely a competent dancer, so she did not get the incredible feeling of being swept off her feet as she had done with Wilfred Joyce. That had to be why she had responded to him so. He was a very fine man, but so serious. But then, he had obviously been through much in the war….
Fitzsimmons was much more easy-going, and seemed not to have such a complicated away of looking at the world. But nor was Will as flamboyant as his friend Parks, which in the circumstances was quite a relief.
Fitzsimmons begged to be allowed another dance with her later. She looked up at his importunate expression and nodded.
"We can try. The dance cards, you know."
She looked at his eyes again. His words had been most flattering, but his gaze was still as flat as pewter. Again she looked at Parks and Will, and noted the warmth of their eyes, even if each face was not quite so animated as her recent dance partner's had been.
They finished the evening with a long quadrille. Being not nearly so lively, and with her not held so closely in Will's arm, Elizabeth did not feel quite so heated as she had before. It must have been her imagination, too much to eat for supper, some such thing.
She sighed. She was still no closer to guessing the identity of her mystery lover than she had been before. No, the only thing she had ended up with was more confusion than ever.