Her gratitude in that moment outweighed all the other emotions she’d been victim of since the night began.
Alice nodded and placed her hand in his, ignoring the pounding of her heart. Her hand fit snugly in his, an odd sensation traveling up her arm when he curled her fingers over in a tight hold. Neither of them looking at Lord Brownley, they made their way to the center of the ballroom.
Lord Erlington gathered her close. “You should say thank you,” he murmured softly.
“For what exactly?” Alice asked, even though she knew what he would say. It was to give herself some time to think of what to say, to dispel those traitorous butterflies filling her stomach at how closely they were standing.
“For saving you from the Earl,” Lord Erlington said simply. “Anyone with eyes could tell that you did not want to spend a second longer with him.”
She peered up at him. “And you thought I’d prefer to be with you?”
“With me, Lady Alice, you always have something ready to say, right on the tip of your tongue. While, with Lord Brownley, it looks as if you were about to fall asleep on your feet.” He shrugged. “It seemed like a far better option to me.”
“You were watching me?”
“It was far too entertaining a sight not to,” Lord Erlington chuckled under his breath. “Tell me, Lady Alice. What sort of conversation were you two having?”
“I do not have to say anything,” she told him.
“Appeal to my curiosity, why don’t you? From one scientific mind, to another.”
That had her looking back up at him and when she caught sight of that insufferable dimple, she lost what little fight she had left. “He commented on how dark my hair was. And then he asked me what color I believed my dress to be.”
“And you did not walk away right after?”
Alice giggled without thinking. “I’ll admit the thought crossed my mind, but Lord Brownley is kind and polite. I would not feel right doing such a thing, even though he is so terribly boring.”
“Ah, she does have a heart somewhere.”
She gave in to the urge to laugh once more, not thinking twice about it. She wouldn’t deny herself this much. After escaping the clutches of Lord Brownley, being able to laugh and relax into comfortable conversation felt like a blessing. It onlyhappenedto be Lord Erlington providing it and she onlyhappenedto be in his arms as he did, while he twirled her around the room. “Now that you’ve said that, I feel a bit bad. We should not be talking about him in such a way. He is tonight’s host, after all.”
“Yes, you’re right,” Lord Erlington agreed readily, nodding his head. “Let’s talk about you then.”
“What about me?”
Alice expected him to comment on how she looked tonight, or perhaps to whisper sweet nothings to her. She braced herself for it. But, instead, he asked, “Did you ever finish your letter to Lady Elizabeth? I hope you sent her my regards.”
Alice ignored the jab of disappointment. She eyed him curiously, noticing the mirth twitching his lips. “You know, don’t you?” she asked.
Lord Erlington broke into a grin. His sky-blue eyes captured hers and, for a moment, Alice forgot what she was doing. Thankfully, she didn’t stumble. “I do not know a Lady Elizabeth of Fenley and I take it you don’t either.”
She sighed. “You must have had quite a laugh seeing that you managed to string me along.”
“It was very amusing, I’ll admit. When you mentioned that you knew Lord Fenley to be a prudent man, I had half a mind to mention to you that the Earl of Fenley had passed away without an heir years ago.”
“Well, then. I admit defeat.” To her surprise, it wasn’t as difficult to do as she’d thought. “I’d become a bit distracted and had written the first name that came to my mind.”
“It happens to us all, My Lady,” Lord Erlington hummed playfully.
Alice couldn’t resist peering up at him again, even though she knew the devastating effects it had on her heart. “Tell me, My Lord. Have you always been so…”
“Whimsical?” he offered.
“That is one way of putting it,” she nodded.
Lord Erlington shrugged. “I’ve learned, My Lady, that every second you spend not enjoying yourself, is a second you spend regretting it later.”
“Do you have many regrets, My Lord?”
