“I hear that you spoke to Lord Campbell about Miss Barrett.” Lord Dennington simply lifted an eyebrow and Adam sighed inwardly, folding his arms across his chest and shrugging. There would be no escape for him. “Very well. I was merely thinking how well Miss Millington looks this evening.”
He had no other choice but to admit to it, for his friend would not permit him to remain silent nor would he change the subject of conversation until he found out the truth. Yes, Adam could have named any young lady, but the desire to be truthful was strong.
“Miss Millington,” Lord Dennington repeated as Adam nodded, glancing over his shoulder, and then turning away, as if he were now entirely disinterested in her. “You have danced with her before I think?”
“On a few occasions.”
“And do you find her good-natured?”
“She is just as any other young lady.” Adam shrugged as Lord Dennington grinned, his eyes twinkling at Adam’s attempts at nonchalance. “She is amiable, kind, good-natured, with easy conversation and a beauty of her own.”
At this, his friend began to chuckle.
“My goodness, Seaton! You tell me that you were in love with Lady Margaret, and how determined you are not to ever allow such emotions again. You say that you believe them fickle and without strength. But now, look how quickly you have found someone else to consider?”
“I do not dote upon her.” Adam snorted and looked away, tilting his chin as he did so. “I simply saw her as I entered this evening and thought I would consider her for a moment.”
He did not mention the fact that his heart had skipped wildly, nor that he had found himself stuck in one position and had been unable to move. That was for his own considerations and given that he was utterly confused over why he had responded so, it seemed wise not to tell Lord Dennington of it.
“She is the daughter of Viscount Hayman, is she not?”
“I believe so.” Adam sniffed, then looked back to Lord Dennington. “Now, of Miss Barrett. I did think that–”
“And do you intend to dance with her this evening?”
Adam opened his mouth and then snapped it shut as Lord Dennington’s grin grew.
“I do not think it matters whether or not I intend to dance with one particular lady.”
“I should say it does.” Lord Dennington tilted his chin in Miss Millington’s direction, over Adam’s shoulder. “For she is already encircled by at leastfourgentlemen, and I am sure that if each of them took two dances, her entire dance card might be filled very soon.”
Despite his attempts to state to Lord Dennington that he had no specific interest in Miss Millington, Adam whirled around at once, only to see Miss Millington standing with her friends, as she had been only a few moments ago. With a groan of exasperation, he looked back towards his friend, but Lord Dennington simply shrugged, then laughed aloud.
“I was simply thinking she was a very likable young lady, that is all.” With a loud sigh, he grimaced. “Now speak to me of Miss Barrett. What is it that we are to do?”
Lord Dennington frowned, his mirth quickly forgotten.
“Lord Campbell has asked us to inform him about whether or not Miss Barrett is here this evening. I believe that, if she is, then he fully intends to go in search of the card room, to make certain that he does not go anywhere near her. I believe he may wish to permit her a passing glance or two, solely to show her that he has not been entirely broken to pieces by her betrayal… or to make certain that he is able to trust himself. “
“While, at the same time, battling a desire to grow close to her again.” Adam shook his head. “I confess I do not understand that.”
“That is because you have never truly loved a young woman as Lord Campbell has done,” he said calmly and quite seriously. “Trust my words on this - when you find yourself so enthralled by someone that you cannot, simply cannot, even seem tobreathewithout thinking of them,thenyou are in love. What you felt for Lady Margaret was an infatuation, or the beginnings of genuine affection… nothing more.” Upon saying this, he did not allow Adam to argue, turning on his heel and moving away as he spoke his final words. “Now, if I were you, I should make my way to Miss Millington’s side as quickly as possible, for it seems quite certain that she will soon have her dance card filled.”
Believing that his friend was teasing him yet again, Adam could not help but turn his head around and look to where Miss Millington was standing. To his surprise, she was, in fact, now speaking with two other gentlemen and a third was approaching.
What if I cannot dance with her this evening?
A sudden urgency had him taking hurried steps towards her, strangely aware of his strong desire to have at least a few moments with her in only his company. To be able to dance with her would provide him with such an opportunity, and he could not let it slip by. This only added to the strange sensations and confusing emotions which wound through him but, pushing all that to the side, he inclined his head and coughed gently, making certain to garner her attention.
“Miss Millington.” Fully aware that he was interrupting the conversation of the other gentlemen, Adam threw them both a quick glance, shrugged, and then continued his conversation. “I was hoping I might take your dance card before it has no space left upon it.”
Miss Millington did look particularly beautiful this evening, he considered. The gentle pink in her cheeks, the light in her eyes and her warm smile made his own lips curve in response. Yes, he realized, hedidwant to be in her company this evening. He would have to simply disregard Lord Dennington’s teasing.
“Good evening, Lord Seaton.” Her slightly lifted eyebrow had a flush creeping up his neck. “As you may notice, Lord Kingsbury has my dance card at this present moment, though I am certain he would be glad to pass it to you when he is finished.”
“I should be very glad of it.”
Adam held out one hand in Lord Kingsbury’s direction, seeing how the gentleman frowned, and then quickly returned his gaze to the dance card. It was, to Adam’s deep frustration, that he then saw the gentleman writing his name down for the only waltz of the evening. With a sigh, he took it from the fellow, then proceeded to write his name down for two separate dances, the cotillion and then the country dance. Neither of them were what he wanted, for he had hoped to dance the waltz with her, but they would have to suffice. Besides which, considering the strange urge to be in Miss Millington’s company this evening, mayhap he ought to take a little time to consider what he was feeling at present. It was entirely disconcerting and a little alarming since he had already declared that he was going to refuse to allow his heart to feel any sort of affection for any young lady ever again.
