They made their way to the dance floor, and the room seemed to fade into the background, their focus solely on each other. He applied strong yet gentle pressure of his hand on her waist as he led them into a fine waltz, their steps effortlessly synchronized.
“You have pleasantly surprised me, Lady Seraphina,” Tristan whispered, his voice laced with a hint of intrigue. “I did not expect you to accept my invitation to dance. At least, not so easily.”
A small smile played at the corners of Seraphina’s lips as she met his gaze with amusement and curiosity. “Indeed, Lord Ashford, surprises can be quite delightful, can they not?”
Tristan’s gut told him this was a test. He could not take anything she said at face value. The trick would be learning how to interpret the subtleties in what she did not say. All the while he would still need to flatter her and ensure that she had a good time with him.
He had hoped it would be simple, but he could already feel the challenges as his mind raced to guess how their interactions would turn out before they happened.
Tristan’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and admiration. He supposed there was certainly no point in pretending that he did not know who she was nor to be ignorant of her reputation. That would only do a disservice to them both. “They certainly can, especially when they involve captivating women like yourself. I must admit, I am intrigued by the enigma that is Lady Seraphina Hawthorne.”
“Am I to understand that you have preconceived notions of me, Lord Ashford?” Seraphina’s gaze flickered with a hint of something he could not quite place, though she quickly regained her composure. “And what is it about the enigma that captures your attention, Lord Ashford?”
Tristan twirled her gracefully, his movements as smooth as silk. “Your beauty is undeniable, Lady Seraphina, but your intellect truly captivates me. You possess a sharp wit and a depth of knowledge that sets you apart from the crowd. I find myself drawn to you, yearning to unravel the layers beneath.”
“Is that so?” Lady Seraphina challenged. A blush tinged Seraphina’s cheeks. He had to take that as a good sign. No doubt, she had grown accustomed to others admiring her from afar, appreciating her as an unattainable ideal. At least it was evident that flattery was effective on her, even if she might not trust his words to be true. Honesty and forwardness might be the key in the future.
Perhaps it was wrong to approach the whole scenario as if it were a game of chess, but he found that with each sly smile she gave him and each time she looked up at him with those pretty eyes from underneath her lashes, the more interested he was in the challenge that she presented.
“I will not deny that people have rumoured you to be cold, but even our sparse conversation tells me that is untrue,” Tristan continued. “I personally find that the greatest reward comes from working for it.”
“I imagine that you, sir, would not have the reputation you do if not for that same work ethic. Why, rumour has it that you have raked your way through half of the countryside before returning to London. I would venture that does require a bit of … work ethic.”
The boldness of her words pleased him. The smile he wore was genuine as he nodded. He leaned closer to her, his fingertips brushing the bare skin of her back just above the hem of her dress as he whispered. “Are you curious about my work ethic, Lady Seraphina?”
The redness to her cheeks deepened, and for a moment, he was certain that she would pull away from him. It was forward, but he was thrilled she did not mind pushing boundaries. Perhaps that was the issue all along, that nobody challenged her to leave her comfort zone. The reputation that followed her everywhere was a cage. Could it be that she simply wished to have somebody break open the doors to that cage? That would make winning this bet the simplest thing in the world.
“If you are going to be improper, Lord Ashford, then I shall be forced to cut this dance short,” Lady Seraphina answered after a beat, though she would no longer meet his gaze.
“Playing hard to get? Have we not established already that I enjoy a challenge?”
“Disinterest is more like it.”
“Then why do you insist on looking everywhere but me? I have it on very good authority that I am handsome.” Tristan was desperate to have those perfect blue eyes on him once more.
“You are not half as charming as you think you are, Lord Ashford.”
He laughed then. “Yes, I am.”
That did it. She glanced up at him, only for a moment, but hope fluttered in his chest. She had the most adorable, irritated face he had ever seen. Her brow furrowed, and her eyes sparkled with that fire inside her that she tried so desperately to pretend did not exist.
She did not refute his comment about being charming either. He took that as a personal victory, though try as he might — she would not speak again. Her body moved flawlessly under his direction over the dance floor. She had to be just as aware as he was that they were presently the central focus of the ballroom. As the music swirled around them, Tristan attempted to break through Seraphina’s icy exterior with his charming banter. He initiated light-hearted conversations about society gossip, shared literary interests, and even ventured into the realm of their shared love for art.
However, each attempt was met with a curt reply or a dismissive glance. Undeterred, Tristan persisted, determined to unravel the enigma that was Lady Seraphina. “Lady Seraphina, I must admit, your demeanour intrigues me,” he remarked, a note of genuine curiosity in his voice. “Is there a reason for the frostiness that surrounds you tonight?”
Seraphina’s gaze remained fixed ahead, her expression guarded as the song ended and thus marked the end of their brief dance.. “My attitude is but a reflection of my disposition, Lord Ashford,” she replied coolly, her voice devoid of warmth. “I find it prudent to maintain a certain distance from those I encounter.”
Tristan’s brows furrowed in confusion, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “But surely, there is more to you than this impenetrable exterior? We shared a dance, and I hoped to glimpse the woman behind the facade.”
Seraphina’s lips curved into a cold smile, her eyes glinting with defiance. “Appearances can be deceiving, Lord Ashford. It is not my duty to reveal the depths of my being to every dance partner I encounter.”
Tristan’s gaze flickered with disappointment and determination, his tone coloured by irritation. “I never expected you to bare your soul, Lady Seraphina. But a semblance of openness and genuine conversation would be appreciated.”
She arched an eyebrow; her voice laced with a touch of challenge. “Perhaps, Lord Ashford, if you seek genuine conversation, you should look beyond the superficiality of society’s gatherings.”
Tristan’s lips twitched into a rueful smile, acknowledging the truth in her words. “Touché, Lady Seraphina. It seems I have underestimated the depths of your guarded nature,” he teased her easily. “Pray, tell me which events you would prefer to meet at outside of those specifically constructed to foster such conversations?”
“If you are so cunning, certainly you can figure that out for yourself? What of all your talk of loving challenges?” Lady Seraphina smirked.
