Alice had worn her first-ever pair of drawers to Thaddeus’s funeral.
“I have no idea,” she murmured. Deciding this conversation was heading into awkward areas—she still didn’t know what he was wearing under his tunic and wasn’t going to ask,andshe wouldn’t put it past him to ask whether she was wearing drawers or not—Alice glanced around in search of some distraction.
“Fretting about young Cassandra?” he asked. “That has to be a first.”
“What is?” She constantly worried about Lucy.
“Cleopatra playing chaperone to a priestess of Apollo.” He smiled. “Don’t worry, that young lady is more than capable of looking after herself.”
“That’s not the point,” she began.
“Looks like she’s occupied with young Thornton.” He nodded to one of the balconies at the back of the room, where Lucy and Gerald were standing, face-to-face, radiating tension. As they watched, Lucy flung up her hands and stormed off, leaving Gerald staring after, frustration evident in every line of his body.
“Oh dear, I’d better go and—”
A large hand closed around her forearm. “No, leave them to it. They’ve been circling around each other forever. Best let them get it out in the open.”
“Forever?”
He shrugged. “It feels like that anyway. Now come, let me procure you some refreshment, and then we shall dance.”
“Shall we?” she said dryly.
“Shall we not, my queen? And why would that be? Have I stepped on your toes in some way? Do you fear my tunic flying up? Worried about my dangly bits?” How she knew he was quirking an amused eyebrow at her under his golden helmet she couldn’t say, but she was sure he was. His dangly bits indeed.
She wished she knew how to flirt back at him and maintain a witty, lighthearted conversation, but instead all she could do was blush and feel hot and flustered. But was determined not to show it. “A lady likes to be asked.”
“Of course.” He swept her an instant bow. “My dear Queen Cleopatra, would you grant a humble soldier a dance?”
She looked around. “I might. Where is he?”
He snorted. “Minx. Very well then, will you grant me a dance?”
“Yes. Which dance would you pref—”
“The first waltz. And the second.”
“But—”
“I would take every dance, except there is some stupid rule about limiting oneself to two dances with one lady.”
Alice decided not to argue.
***
Lucy prowled through the crowd furiously, peering between the clumps of gorgeously attired people, looking for the culprit. Hah! There he was, the arrogant beast, in his sinfully tight black breeches and his glittery matador’s coat, thinking he looked so fine, surrounded by ladies all cooing and gushing. She marched up and poked him in the shoulder—hard. “How dare you drive away my partners!”
Lord Thornton turned, rubbing his shoulder. “I didn’t!”
Aware of his circle of admirers avidly listening, she allowed him to steer her a short distance away.
“You didn’t, eh? Then why did Mr.Frinton and Mr.Grimswade both come to me in the last half hour and withdraw from the dances they had reserved?”
He shrugged. “How would I know?”
“Liar!” she snapped. “They both told me it was at your request—as my guardian’s nearest male relative!”
He didn’t answer, didn’t even look the slightest bit guilty.
