“Ye are welcome.” He nodded at the crowd behind them. “Now, shall we discuss when our next lesson shall be? Judging from the way people keep lookin’ at what I am wearin’, yer tips on a suit were a very good lesson indeed.”
“We could begin now.” It suddenly seemed a wise idea to her, to continue talking as they were. “We could dance?”
He choked on his wine, but managed to hold in a splutter, thumping himself in the center of the chest.
“You would think I had suggested jumping in a river for a swim.”
“Ye see a man before ye more suited for such athleticism than dancing like a dandy.”
“It does not make you a dandy to dance,” she protested, though he arched his eyebrows, in clear doubt. “Your Grace –”
“Gerard.”
“Give up on that insistence,” she warned, raising a finger between them. “You might even enjoy a dance, Your Grace, if you gave it a chance.”
He leaned against one of the low-lying walls that acted as a border to the planting. She wished to complain he would get his suit dirty, but he talked too fast for her to cut in.
“Ye have seen how tall I am, lass. How much of an oaf I am in appearance. I am nae a man suited for dancing.”
She blinked, startled at his description of himself.
“I have never seen a man less like an oaf.”
He lowered his wine glass between them, looking at her with serious doubts now.
“What?” she murmured, fidgeting and practically writhing under the intensity of that gaze.
“Ye are fond of complimenting me, Lady Charlotte –”
“No, I simply am –”
“Would this be flirtation in the world of theton, eh? To offer such a compliment.”
“Your Grace!” she hissed in annoyance and stepped away from him. He went to follow her, but she ended up stepping on his toe.
“Ow,” he muttered. “Well, aye, that is entirely proper for a lady of thetonto do.”
“You never let up in your teasing, do you?” She looked down, watching as he shook his leg out. “I did not meant to –”
“Have nay fear. I willnae mention flirtation again.” He held up his hand between them.
Her stomach writhed as if ten snakes in her gut were fighting for dominance. She could not make sense of the feeling, but therather pained sensation definitely came from him saying there would be no more flirtation.
“Well, I shall now follow yer previous advice, and go and make conversation about the weather with strangers. Come to me house tomorrow afternoon for our next lesson?” he offered.
“Yes.” She nodded at once, finding no hesitation. She wasn’t sure how she’d manage to slip out of the house or with what excuse, but she would think of something. “I shall see you then.”
“Have a good evening, lass.” He bowed to her, the whole time maintaining their gaze. She parted her lips to say he should not be so bold with a lady, that he should look away, but then he was gone, walking toward a man she recognized as Viscount Crampton at the side of the room.
She stared after him, her eyes flitting away when she knew she was looking at him too long. She found her mother and aunt across the room, both watching her.
Susan was wide eyed as once more Margaret was bouncing on her toes excitedly.
“What are you doing?” Susan mouthed at her across the space.
I have absolutely no idea.
She settled herself by keeping the words in her own mind and drinking rather a lot of the champagne in her grasp.
