“I am feeling quite restored, and I would like that very much.” To her amazement, Katie was looking forward to this dance.
Sebastian gazed down at the beauty in rose pink as he carefully twirled her across the dance floor. While the first few strains of the dance had passed in silence, he sensed no reticence on her part. To his surprise, she seemed much more relaxed than he imagined only minutes ago. If he wasn’t careful, he could get lost in those blue eyes. They were an aqua blue—the color of the water near the Isles of Scilly, his favorite place. Chocolate-brown hair pulled back in a loose chignon with crystals woven through the silky strands framed her lovely face. He’d known she was extraordinarily pretty when he saw her arrive with her family, but up close, her beauty put all other English roses to shame.
“T-thank you…” Katie began, with a wobbly smile. She licked her lips, an action he’d seen many experienced older women use as a tactic to gain his attention. But in Miss Latham’s case, it was done so innocently and without guile that he had the urge to claim that luscious pink mouth in a passionate kiss.
“Thank you,” she said again. “For saving me from what could have been an embarrassing disaster.”
“You are a strong young lady, and your cousin and friend were most solicitous…”
She shook her head. “You are being too kind. I fear I would have toppled to the floor and dragged my cousin down with me had you not rushed to my aid, something I can never thank you enough for doing.”
“Given my background in the military, I’m familiar with what happened to you.” Sebastian yearned to take away the pain and shame he saw reflected in her lovely eyes.
“I’m grateful for your intervention. This is the first—” She paused and took a deep breath. “The first time I’ve attended a Society function since…Lord Colborne.”
Sebastian realized how vulnerable she was and how trusting to someone who only an hour before had been a stranger. “It’s been my experience that when people witness tragic and shocking events, it takes time to heal. This is something I have seen many soldiers go through on the battlefield. Unfortunately, Society has no idea how to deal with the reverberations of it. And the triggers can be difficult to anticipate.”
“What you tell me does make sense, although I could never fathom what a soldier goes through in battle. You are incredibly astute in your application of your theory.”
“I thank you, Miss Latham. However, I am not the first who has recognized this reaction to a traumatic event.” He twirled her around the dance floor. Despite the fainting spell she’d had earlier, Miss Latham moved with the grace of a swan.
“Who is Slice? Thomas called you that.”
He grinned. “It’s a nickname I inherited during the war, but please don’t ask me to explain it because I’m afraid you will put me to the blush, as you ladies say.”
Her smile was impish, and he couldn’t help but draw her a little closer as they danced.
“Ah, but now you have piqued my curiosity, you must tell me what it means. Most nicknames have meaning.”
“I gained it in the military for my swordsmanship,” he replied, saying no more than that. The gruesome and shocking details of his experience in battle were not for the ears of a gently bred young lady, especially someone as sensitive as Miss Latham, who had witnessed the murder of her fiancé barely over a year ago. She looked like she had seen a ghost earlier when he’d offered his assistance. Lady Whiner’s pearl fiasco appeared to have triggered Miss Latham’s dizzy spell, but did it also trigger a memory?
She gazed up at him. “So, you know how to fence. You must be very good at it to gain a nickname like that.”
Warmth shot through him, and Sebastian realized that, once again, Miss Latham had no awareness of the double meaning of what she’d said. His nickname had also been used by his friends and fellow soldiers to tease him about the mistresses he’d had over the years.
“I do. I’m fairly skilled, I suppose one could say.” He swallowed at the double meaning in his reply, but the beauty in his arms continued to regard him with wide-eyed innocence. The waltz was nearing an end and Sebastian felt a wave of disappointment that he would have to escort Miss Latham back to her family. He wanted to keep dancing with her, but two dances in a row would have been unseemly. He thought the rules and mores of the ton were ludicrous when one considered the brutality of war.
Keep your eyes on the prize, man! Latham wants you to keep an eye on his sister for her safety. My God, she’s a complete innocent.
Sebastian had a job to do, and he would do it. He would keep watch over Miss Latham until the perpetrators of the attack were found.
“Would you mind if I called upon you soon?” he asked. “I will, of course, ask your brother for his permission. But I wanted to make sure you would be amenable to seeing me again before I approached Latham.” The question came out before he could stop it. Damn! He sounded like a love-sick suitor. Not the smooth approach he’d intended to come across.
Miss Latham’s mouth curved up in a bright smile, making her even more beautiful if that was even possible. Nevertheless, her smile made his mouth dry as he once again wondered what it would be like to kiss those luscious lips.
“Thank you. I think I would like that,” she said in a soft voice.
When the dance ended, Sebastian escorted Miss Latham back to the chair just as Nelson was returning with the dowager. He leaned down and gently kissed the back of Miss Latham’s gloved hand. “Should you ever have need of my assistance, you have only to send for me.” He told himself he was helping his friend Latham, but in truth, Sebastian wanted to do anything he could to help her.
She nodded. “That’s very kind. I will keep that in mind.”
“Thank you for the dance, Miss Latham.” He wished he could have danced at least once more, but the ton had ridiculous rules. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her the recipient of more gossip.
“Thank you, Lord Soren.”
Sebastian was lost in thought as he left Miss Latham with the dowager.
“Be careful,” Nelson said, intruding on his thoughts.
