“It is no interruption, my lord,” Lady Abney replied smoothly. “Have you had the pleasure of meeting my niece, Lady Elaine?”
Lord Weatherby smiled a little, his lidded eyes disappearing in the act. “I was hoping I could be acquainted. And that I could have the honour of the first dance.”
Lady Elaine remained silent at first, her hesitation palpable. Michael almost felt bad for her.
Lady Abney quickly rushed to cover up the uncomfortable silence. “She would love to! Go on, Elaine.”
Lady Abney gave her niece a small push towards Lord Weatherby, who didn’t seem to mind Lady Elaine’s obvious reluctance. Michael watched as she was led towards the centre of the room just as the first set began. His pity deepened when he saw the despondency on her face when Lord Weatherby gathered her closer.
Michael shook his head, clearing his mind of the bothersome emotion. He had to focus. There was no time or space in his life to feel pity for one of the enemies—even if she might not have done anything wrong.
Michael set his untouched glass of wine down and started forward. They danced the quadrille and, despite her earlier reservations, she seemed to perform flawlessly. Lord Weatherby looked like a bumbling mess next to her graceful movements and she looked at him as if she couldn’t believe she was truly dancing with him. It took Michael back a bit. He was so used to polite tightness and barbed words, with no one truly saying what they felt. Yet this lady wore her every thought across her face. He wondered if she was even aware of it.
He spied a gentleman standing off to the side and decided to use him to his advantage.
“Lord Harlington,” he greeted smoothly, very aware of how close he stood to the dancing couple. “It has been a while.”
Lord Harlington’s eyes widened with surprise. “Your Grace! It is a surprise. I was not aware that you’d returned to London.”
“I have only been here a few months. I thought to make my presence known at this evening’s ball.”
“Quite an impression, Your Grace,” Lord Harlington chuckled. “You have missed quite a lot since our time at Eton. I think you would be happy to hear that Norton has gotten married, the old chap…”
Michael stopped listening. He spied Lady Elaine in the corner of his eye, watching her twirl about before being pulled back in by Lord Weatherby. He waited until she was released by the aged gentleman. Discreetly, Michael took one step back.
She collided with him, letting out a small ‘oof’. The smell of jasmines washed over Michael, emptying his mind for a moment, and he forgot what he was supposed to be doing.
“Pardon me, my lord,” she said hastily.
“No, pardon me.” He turned to steady her, his hand on her elbow, and their eyes met.
For the third time that night, Michael’s breath left his lungs with a whoosh. She had the purest set of eyes, as green as emeralds, as bright as the jewels themselves, bordered by thick, long eyelashes.
“My lady, shall we…”
“A-ah, yes.” She jerked away from Michael, turning to face Lord Weatherby. “Forgive me, I…”
“It is my fault, Lord Weatherby,” Michael stepped in, remembering himself. Remembering what he came here to do. “I stepped in her path.”
Lord Weatherby straightened as he looked at Michael, studying him for a moment. Up close, he looked far older, lines carved deep into every inch of his face. “The Duke of Ryewood,” he said at last. “Michael, is it not? I knew your father very well.”
Michael nodded. This was not how he intended on making his introduction to Lady Elaine but he supposed he had to make do with the situation. “Yes, my lord, I recall that you two were good friends. It is a pleasure seeing you again. And you…”
Lady Elaine, who had been staring at him with wide eyes and parted lips, jolted when he turned his attention back to her. She blinked rapidly, momentarily flustered. “Allow me to make the introduction,” Lord Weatherby said. “This is His Grace the Duke of Ryewood, and this is Lady Elaine Sutton, daughter of the Earlof Suthenshire.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Your Grace,” she said quickly. “I am here with my aunt, the Dowager Viscountess of Abney, though I am not certain where she has wandered off to. Perhaps she has stepped out to the terrace for a bit of fresh air.”
Amusement whispered through him. She was flustered, rambling. He certainly hadn’t expected that considering her otherwise graceful demeanour.
“Would you care to dance with me, Lady Elaine?”
Her eyes widened further in astonishment.How could that even be possible?
Slowly, she nodded and Michael took her hand, guiding her back out to the dance floor, ignoring Lord Weatherby. That had gone easier than he thought it would. Within minutes, he had her in his grasp. All he had to do was lay the foundation and she would be in the palm of his hands.
Hopefully, his heart would stop its incessant racing by then.
Chapter Five
