John led her to the floor. The polkas seemed to have ended and the band was playing a pleasant enough waltz. The floor was less crowded and they were able to enter the dance without having towait.
“My aunt spoke most highly of your kind service to her at the church,” hesaid.
“Thank her for me. I was happy to help. I know the church was close and, with the frenzy of the storm, the combination undoubtedly overcameher.”
As they danced Susan remembered that it was only a few years ago that the Duke’s wife, Annabel, died giving birth to their daughter, Elizabeth. It was rumored that he suffered greatly and in the ensuing years, the Duke was rarely seen at any local events. So his being here at the wedding was quite a surprise. Perhaps he was healing, shethought.
Susan looked up into John’s eyes, but she had to look away, as she felt a fluttering in her stomach, and was breathless, not because of the dance, but because of her rapidly beating heart. It had to be this man’s touch that was causing thesesensations.
Susan needed to distract herself from this turmoil and she asked, “How is your daughter, Elizabeth? She must be four or five by now, is shenot?”
John’s demeanor suddenly changed and he stopped dancing, turning away, and leaving Susan stranded on the dance floor without saying a word of good-bye. She was shocked. What had she said to elicit such an extremereaction?
The Duke stormed out of the inn and she could see him riding off on his horse through the innwindow.
“Sorry, it took so long,” Daniel said, as he came over to her with her punch. “But there was a slow movingline.”
Susan was still in a whirlwind of emotion and it was all she could do to answer Daniel. “Oh, yes. Thank you. There was norush.”
“Did I see you dancing with the Duke of Lennox? I thought he’d gone back home with hisaunt.”
“Yes, it was the Duke,” Susan mumbled as she made an effort to collect herself, twisting her handkerchief until it was in a tightrope.
Daniel had led her to the side of the room and he found them a smalltable.
“Would you care to sit? You seem upset. Is everything all right? Are youill?”
Susan sat down, brushed down her skirt and directed her full attention back to Daniel. “No, I’m quite fine, thank you. I think I must have overexerted myself on the dancefloor.”
“And the Duke—he certainly rushed off in a hurry. He lookedangry.”
“Yes, he did and I don’t understand why. All I did was ask after his daughter. And he got upset and rushedoff.”
“That seems most strange,” Daniel said, reaching out and putting his hand on top ofSusan’s.
She looked over at him and smiled. He was helping her settledown.
“How long are you home for?” she asked, withdrawing her hand fromhis.
“I have but a weekmore.”
“And to where, and how long, is your nextvoyage?”
“I can’t say where, as that’s not public information, but I expect to be away for at least anotheryear.”
“That must be very difficult for you—being so long away from home andfamily.”
“It’s the responsibility that goes along with the privilege of serving in the Royal Navy.” He looked deeply into her eyes. “And it can take a personal toll aswell.”
“Well, look at you two. All cozy at this little table.” Katherine was standing over them, a drink in her hand, and looking particularly red faced and even a littletipsy.
Daniel looked disturbed at being interrupted. Susan felt there was more he wanted tosay.
“Come on, you two, why aren’t youdancing?”
Just then Katherine’s beau, Roger, came over and put his arm around her waist. He was a sturdy county lad with dark-blond, receding hair, and one of those ruddy, flush complexions that so many country working, farm ladshad.
“Aye, Katherine, my love, you promised me another turn about the floor,” he said poking her in theside.
