Always a Maiden (The Belles of Beak Street #5)(32)

“Castles,” supplied Susanah, when it seemed Lord Farringate wouldn’t volunteer an answer. She cast a look to her mother for guidance, but then she decided she couldn’t risk being thought rude to Lord Hull a second time. Although she’d probably be in trouble for being rude to Lord Farringate. “I would love to dance, my lord.” She rose from her seat. “And I do believe I owe you an apology for what I said during your visit.”

Lord Hull looked puzzled. “You don’t owe me an apology.”

She turned back toward Lord Farringate. “We have many hours left in the evening to resume our conversation, do we not?” She almost stumbled at the dark look he gave her. But she’d had so many years of practice stuffing down her emotions behind a wall of propriety that she pasted on her routine smile. “I am so looking forward to hearing more about your home.”

She took Lord Hull’s arm and almost wanted to run as far and as fast as was possible. Instead, they walked slowly and sedately past one forming set and then past another. She didn’t demur. The farther they were away from her mother and Lord Farringate’s censuring looks the better.

She should say something to Lord Hull, encourage him in some way. He was a pleasant affable man. Perfectly acceptable husband material. Although he didn’t make her breath quicken. Evan would tell her to relax and not be so guarded. “I should thank you for rescuing me.”

“Don’t thank me. Cooper told me to dance with you.”

Her heart jumped. Was Evan trying to steer acceptable men in her direction? “Do you always do as he asks?”

“No. But I’d hate for him to leave town on a sour note. We were at school together. I’ve always considered him a friend.”

“Oh,” she almost squeaked. “I didn’t know he was leaving town.”

Lord Hull looked at her with a tilted head as if he wasn’t certain whether he believed she didn’t know. “He took his leave of everyone more than a week ago.”

Not her. He hadn’t told her he was leaving town.

Lord Hull found a set that pleased him, and he swung her into position in the same set that contained Evan and the dark-haired woman. Not even looking at Susanah, Evan smiled at his partner.

Something black crawled inside her and began eating away, leaving hollow gaps that felt soul-deep. He was leaving town and he hadn’t even told her.





Chapter 9





Once he saw Hull approaching with Lady Susanah, Evan guided his sister-in-law, Rebecca, into the forming set for the next dance.

“I’m not certain, my husband would approve of me dancing with you,” she said as she turned to face him.

“Then he should have danced with you himself,” Evan told her. “Now you’re all mine for the next quarter hour.” Then he’d return her to his half-brother, unscathed and none the worse for wear. Rebecca knew that, but she took great delight in tormenting him. She knew that he’d frequently asked her to dance because he wanted to be in the set with another woman, one he was pursuing.

Generally, she was a good sport about it.

His breath caught as Lady Susanah and Lord Hull took their places next to them. Eventually, their paths would cross in the movements of the dance. But until then, he was pretending he didn’t notice her—although she was almost all he noticed.

Rebecca looked at the women who’d joined the set before them. But that was the wrong direction. Hull had brought Lady Susanah over to the set he’d already joined rather than the other way around. He owed Hull a drink. Hell, he owed the man a bottle, maybe the entire contents of a wine cellar.

Susanah looked lovely. A trifle pale, but beautiful. He wanted more than anything to look at her directly, but he dare not acknowledge her before the dance figures brought them together. She had too many people watching her. He looked past her to see Lord Weatdon watching his daughter from a different vantage than her mother and Lord Farringate. Was it always thus for her?

She had managed to be somewhat alone at the ball where he encountered her in the alcove near the servants’ stairs, but her mother had been on the hunt for her. Then a few weeks later she managed the note and the lone excursion to the dining room. But he suspected tonight, she wouldn’t be allowed out of sight. His muscles clenched. Had she been caught? Or was it that her parents had decided she should marry Farringate and they weren’t allowing her to refuse his attentions.

Rebecca maintained a steady stream of flirtatious chatter, and he returned it, without thinking. Too much practice in that arena. He was just saying something about the sparkle in her eyes when he finally was able to make a bow to Susanah.

“Lady Susanah,” he said as if he’d just noticed her. “How are you?”

“I’m fine and you?” she answered with that false upward curve on her lips. Her eyes looked flat.

“Truly?” he asked softly as the movements drew her together. “I’ve been concerned.”

Her pale blue eyes clouded.

That was all the time he had to say anything before he was back to dancing with Rebecca.

Susanah was still looking in his direction. His focus back on his sister-in-law, he gave a negative shake of his head.

“What?” asked Rebecca. “Have I displeased you in some way?”

“You please me in every way,” he said with an amused tone.