She looked over at him suspiciously. “Why are you being so kind to me?” she asked.
An expression of surprise crossed his face. “Shouldn’t I be?”
“Are you expecting something from me?”
“No,” he said. “I told you—I’m used to disrespect from Lord Milton, and it troubled me to see him doing it to somebody else. I simply wanted to help.”
She should thank him. She knew she should. Hadn’t she just said herself that he seemed nice?
He’s the kindest person at this party, really.
But she couldn’t ignore the fact that he had chosen to come walking with her when he could have stayed with the rest of the group. She didn’t know what he meant by it, but she couldn’t deny that it made her feel awkward and nervous.
I can’t let him think that this means anything.
“I didn’t require any help,” she said, allowing a bit of frostiness to creep into her tone. “I don’t need to be taken care of, Lord Woodsford.”
He nodded. “I wouldn’t have imagined that you would, knowing you.”
“Knowing me? What on Earth do you mean by that? You don’t know me.”
He nodded. “I thought perhaps you might not remember that we had met before,” he said. “On several occasions, in fact.”
She was surprised. “Have we?”
“Most recently at Lady Earlington’s Christmas ball,” he said. “You attended with your brother.
“I don’t recall, I’m afraid,” she admitted.
He smiled wryly. “Perhaps you’ll remember that I asked you to dance, and you turned me down.”
She had turned down everyone who had asked her to dance that night. She had wanted to avoid, as much as possible, being pushed into the arms of gentlemen, knowing that Richard would force her to dance with at least a few. She had no particular memory of Lord Woodsford—but then, there had been so many unfamiliar faces there that evening.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m afraid my memory has never been my strongest attribute.”
“That’s quite all right,” Lord Woodsford said. “I’m sure I didn’t make much of an impression. We only spoke briefly, after all. But, Lady Valeria… I want you to know that you made quite an impression onme. You have done so every time I’ve seen you. Every time I’ve interacted with you.”
Her insides squirmed. She wasn’t ready for this. “Please, Lord Woodsford,” she said. “Don’t say such things.”
“Why not?” Lord Woodsford asked her.
“It’s not proper. You and I… we shouldn’t be speaking like this.”
Lord Woodsford took a breath. He looked as if he was deciding something.
“Your cousin seems to think that you’ll soon be ready for courtship,” he said.
Valeria shook her head vigorously. “Duncan doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” she said. “He’s in such a hurry to see me matched toanyone, because he’s worried about my prospects. But I’m not worried. I’m not in a hurry. I’m not… I’m not interested in…”
She trailed off. This was such an awkward thing to have to say to a gentleman, especially one she hardly knew. How was she supposed to tell him that she had no desire for courtship?
I certainly can’t admit that the idea frightens me.
“It’s all right,” Lord Woodsford said quickly. He looked absolutely mortified. “I quite understand, Lady Valeria. I hope you won’t think me too rude, and that you’ll forget I said anything at all.”
Valeria didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t face him. She nodded brusquely and strode ahead several paces so that she wouldn’t have to look at him.
“Thomas?” a voice called. Valeria thought she recognized the speaker as Lord Harlston. “Where have you gone? Everyone’s looking for you!”
