Catching the glint in her friend’s gaze, Deborah rolled her eyes.
“I know very well that you are teasing me. I care very little as to whether or not Lord Brookmire is present. I have no time for him whatsoever, as you are all too aware.”
Lady Elizabeth chuckled.
“Though I do wonder whether he will attempt to place himself in your company regardless,” she suggested, the gleam in her eye remaining. “I look forward to hearing what you have to say to him, should he try to do so.”
At this, Deborah grinned, her cheeks glowing with sudden laughter.
“He might, but should he dare, I have prepared myself,” she acknowledged with a giggle. “Not only this morning but also before the ball, I looked at myself in the mirror and recited what I might say to Lord Brookmire should he approach. You need not worry, my dear friend. I am very well prepared.”
At this, Lady Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled as she laughed softly.
“Part of me is almost hopeful that he will, in fact, come to your company, simply so that I might hear what you say to him.”
The two friends laughed together and Lady Elizabeth slipped her arm through Deborah’s so that they might walk together around the ballroom. Their mothers were both in conversation and had allowed the two friends to promenade together around the ballroom under the strict promise that they would return to them directly thereafter. The ball was a little quieter than usual, for Lord Balfour had only invited a select number of guests, but Deborah was glad of it. Since it was a little less busy, it might afford her opportunities to further her acquaintance with particular gentlemen… including Lord Cleverley.
“Did you enjoy your time with Lord Cleverley?” Her friend tilted her head as though she knew precisely who had been in Deborah’s mind “You have not spoken much of him nor of your walk together.”
Deborah smiled quickly as if she were suddenly determined to make certain her friend believed that the afternoon had gone very well, although why she had forgotten to speak of it, she could not say. Surely, if she had been thrilled with his company, she would have been eager to speak of her time with him to her friend, without Lady Elizabeth first prompting her? Pushing the troubling thought aside, she offered her smile to her friend.
“Yes, of course. It was a most enjoyable afternoon. He is a very fine fellow and I find him easy to converse with.” Catching Lady Elizabeth’s questioning look, Deborah shrugged. “I cannot say as yet if I shall fall in love with him, however. I do find him very amiable as I have said, but I am still waiting for any particular feelings to develop.”
“Which may come in time,” her friend replied as Deborah nodded in agreement. “It is good that you are being cautious. I am certain that, should a gentleman such as Lord Cleverley look at me in the way he looks at you, I would find myself quite in love with him the very next moment!”
Laughing softly, Deborah shook her head.
“I do not think that he looks at me in any particular way. Besides which he is calling upon other young ladies also.”
Lady Elizabeth tilted her head.
“But he has not asked any other young lady for a walk in the park.” Her eyes glowed gently. “I am sure that Lord Cleverley might consider you only, if you offered him even the smallest encouragement.”
There was a little uncertainty in Deborah’s mind as to whether or not she wished to give Lord Cleverley an indication that she might be inclined towards him alone, and thus she remained silent. Lady Elizabeth, being a very tactful sort of person, and clearly aware that Deborah was giving the matter a good deal of consideration, stayed quiet also. Thus, they continued their promenade around the ballroom and Deborah opened her mouth to say something more, only to be apprehended by a strong hand on her wrist.
Immediately, her arm dropped from that of Lady Elizabeth and she turned around sharply, only for Lord Brookmire’s face to flood her view. With great fury burning through her veins, she shook off his hand then spun away from him.
“Let us make our way directly back towards our mothers,” she hissed to Lady Elizabeth, ignoring Lord Brookmire, and beginning to stride across the room.
To her utter shock, however, Lord Brookmire’s hand grasped hers once more, and even more horrifying, he pulled her back towards the shadows at the edge of the room. Lady Elizabeth let out some sort of exclamation, but Lord Brookmire simply ignored it. His voice was quiet, a low whisper hissing words towards her, but such was her shock, Deborah could barely hear him. Her response to his nearness was more than overwhelming, and the more she looked at him, the longer he held her hand in his, the more she felt it. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest, blood boiling, but the anger she had felt was already fading away. Every part of her skin tingled in a most disconcerting manner and, try as she might, she could not speak a word. Her breath lodged itself deep within her and she could only take short, sharp breaths as she looked back into his eyes. It was both frustrating and deeply irritating, for she certainly did not want to feel this way, but her heart seemed to betray her regardless.
“You must help me.”
Lord Brookmire’s hiss was low, and Deborah frowned, trying to understand what it was he spoke of, whilst regaining her own composure.
“Unhand her.”
Lady Elizabeth’s demand was what brought Deborah back to herself and, looking down at her hand, she saw her fingers were wound through Lord Brookmire’s. With a gasp of shock, she pulled her hand away, relieved now that they were in the shadows at the side of the ballroom rather than anywhere near the center of the room. Her next look was to the other side of the ballroom where her mother and Lady Longford still stood but thankfully, the two were deep in conversation and had not seen a single thing. Thus far it seemed her reputation was quite safe and without even a hint of stain.
“Youmusthelp me, I beg of you!”
Again, Lord Brookmire’s hand wrapped around her wrist, forcing Deborah’s gaze back towards him.
“I think that you are mistaking me for someone else, Lord Brookmire,” Deborah responded, keeping her voice low and trying to tug her hand away again, only to find that she lacked either the strength or the willingness to do so. Was there something about her thatwantedhim to take her hand? Something which desired his nearness? She took a moment to steady herself again and looked directly into Lord Brookmire’s face. What she saw there, however, was most astonishing. Lord Brookmire’s eyes were wide, his face very pale for there was not even a hint of color in his features. His usually sparkling eyes were faded to a dull green and his jaw set tight. For a moment she wavered, only to find the strength to take her hand away again and do so with a jerk. “I amnotaccustomed to gentlemen being as forward as you have been, Lord Brookmire. I have already made my position quite clear and-”
“I am very well aware of that, but yet I must beg for your help.”
Lord Brookmire took a step closer and suddenly, all of Deborah’s breath left her body as she gazed up into his eyes. His nearness was deeply transfixing and, despite her desire to stay far from him, despite her promise to both herself, and to her mother, that she would never linger in his company, she found herself doing precisely that. Lady Elizabeth was whispering something in harsh tones, but Deborah could not pay her heed. In fact, she could not make out a single word and instead, allowed herself to study Lord Brookmire’s expression. His eyes roved around her face, an unspoken plea there which she could almost feel, deep within herself. Silently, he was begging her to listen to him, desperate for an opportunity to explain whatever it was that he was speaking of.
