The Untamed Earl(34)
“And that didn’t happen?”
Alex slowly shook her head. “No. I’m sorry to say it did not.”
“What happened at your debut, Alex?” The tenderness in his voice surprised him.
Alex heaved a sigh. “I was a dismal failure. No one asked me to dance. I tripped over my hem and spilled ratafia on my gown, and then I sat along the wall the entire evening. Mother told me she was disappointed in me.”
“What did Lavinia say?”
“Not much. Lavinia was interested only in the fact that it was the beginning of her fourth Season and she had yet to make a match.”
“Why do you think you launched so poorly?”
Alex turned back toward the large ballroom. “I’d hoped—foolishly—that a handsome dashing gentleman would ask me to dance and launch me into Society with great fanfare.”
“That’s why you want me to dance with you?” Owen breathed.
“Precisely,” Alex replied so softly that he could barely hear her.
“What else was on your list?”
She shook her head again and faced him with an overly bright smile. “What about you? What is on your list of accomplishments?”
He snorted. “Absolutely nothing.”
“I find that difficult to believe,” she replied. “There must be something you want to do. Something you’re good at.”
He clenched his teeth. The horses he trained flashed through his mind. Followed by the memory of the little girl coughing in the back of the farmer’s wagon. “Don’t confuse me with someone noble,” he said. “I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Whether you know it or not.”
His jaw tightened again, and he glanced away. When he looked back at her, he first ensured his typical smile was back in place. “You didn’t answer me. What else was on your list?”
Alex returned his sly smile. “That will cost you another dance and another lesson, my lord.”
He arched a brow. “I do believe you’re already learning, my lady.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
On the afternoon of her third meeting with Owen, Alex had decided to be daring and adventurous. Daring was called for because time was quickly running out. The Rutherfords’ ball was to be held tomorrow evening, and she and Owen had already agreed that it was the perfect venue to put their respective plans into action. He would dance with her and thus draw the fickle attention of the ton in her direction, and she would put in a good word for him with her sister, thereby giving him an opening that he could then use to employ the newfound knowledge he had of Lavinia’s likes and dislikes.
Alex briefly wondered if Owen would arrive bearing a rock. That might be awkward. She hoped she wouldn’t bear witness to that particular bit. She mostly hoped Lavinia wouldn’t fly into one of her rages at the sight of such a gift, whereby Owen might tell her where he got the idea and expose her entire charade. It was dubious, to be sure. But Alex didn’t have long to contemplate it. She’d been waiting in Cassandra Swift’s ballroom only five minutes before the door opened and Owen appeared, wearing chocolate-colored breeches, black top boots, white shirtfronts and cravat, and a dark gray waistcoat. His hair was neatly slicked and the gleam in his blue eyes told her he might just be interested in being bold today, too.
“Good afternoon, my lady,” he said, bowing at the waist to her.
“Good afternoon, my lord,” she replied, falling into a deep curtsy.
“Are you in need of champagne for today’s lesson? Or perhaps port?” He grinned at her.
“I think I can manage without spirits today, thank you.”
Owen made his way across the wide expanse and came to stand near her. “If you have anything important left to tell me about Lavinia, I suggest you do it now before the Rutherfords’ ball.”
Alex nodded. She’d been expecting this question and she was prepared. “Yes. There is one thing.”
His eyes met hers, clearly interested. Alex wished for the hundredth time they didn’t have to discuss Lavinia so often. Though she supposed they wouldn’t even be here together if it weren’t for Lavinia. Confound it. Alex folded her hands in front of her serenely. “Lavinia, er, she doesn’t like horses. Don’t bring them up.”
Owen’s eyebrows went up. “Horses, you say?”
“Yes.” Alex glanced away. “She’s frightened half out of her wits by them.”
“There’s nothing to be frightened of in a horse.”
“I know that and you know that, but for some reason, Lavinia detests the creatures.” Good thing Alex wasn’t standing outside, closer to the possible lightning.