“In what sense?” he asked, his voice deep as he steered her around the floor. She tried to ignore the fact he was a fine dancer and that she felt rather safe in those arms, knowing they would never collide with another couple.
“In that, I am not like the ladies talked of in the scandal sheets. I will never be one of those names that is printed beside yours,” she whispered, trying to be firm in her tone. Lord Yeatman’s smile grew all the more. It was not the response she had expected, nor desired, and it made her hand close firmer around his own. “Do not try any more of your charm on me,” she warned, hoping to end the conversation there.
“Charm? Ha! Miss Storey, if you thought me charming, then I’m flattered you could think me so when I was not even attempting to charm you.”
“I beg your pardon?” she muttered in surprise. He abruptly moved forward. The two of them had to take grander steps to escape another collision. The sudden movement made her own hand cling to his shoulder a little more.
“If you thought me flirting with you, allow me to surprise you.” He turned the two of them around. The close movement meant she came nearer to him, and his lips brushed near her ear. “I was not.” The closeness of those words made her snap away again, trying to put distance between them. Thanks to the nature of the dance, though, she could not get very far away.
“You were not?” she whispered quietly.
“No. Believe me, had I been flirting with you, you would know it.”
She was forced to fall quiet as more people joined the floor. Evidently, Lord Yeatman focused on moving the two of them toward more space, only speaking again when they were closed off in the middle of the dance floor, with a small space in which to dance together.
“Why do you like me so little? I am curious,” Lord Yeatman whispered to her, holding her gaze as he spoke.
“I never said I disliked you,” Annie hurried to explain herself.
“Implied it then. Have I done you some wrong I do not know about?”
“No. You misunderstand me, my lord.” Annie lifted her chin higher, aware that his hold on her had become very soft and gentle. She rather wished Lord Yeatman would take hold of her hand firmly once more. “I wish you no ill will.”
“You just wish me as far away from you as possible?”
“Perhaps,” she said with a small smile, watching as he mirrored the action. “I do not believe it is proper to dance with young men who have such reputations as yours.”
“Ah, for that, I could hardly blame you.” Lord Yeatman acknowledged with a nod. His words startled her, for it seemed to be an admission that he was no good. “I believe I should have prepared myself properly for this dance. To be partnered with someone who is such a challenge, is rather…stirring.”
Annie’s lips parted in amazement at the words. Once more, he turned the two of them, bringing their bodies closer together. She made no move to step away.
“Rather like those eyes of yours, Miss Storey. They can follow a man across the room very well.”
“What are you doing?” she whispered tightly.
“They are a rather wondrous blue.”
“They’re green,” Annie said, chewing her lip. “So it shows how much you have truly been looking at me to get such a thing wrong.”
“I thought they were green at first too, now I am standing so close, I rather think they’re the colour of the ocean. That mix of green and blue. Unusual and beguiling.” His smile grew wider as he leaned a little toward her. “Nowthatwas flirtation, Miss Storey. If I had been attempting to charm you before, those are the words I would have used.”
Annie leaned back, uncertain why a knot had developed in her stomach. Was she disappointed to find he had not been attempting to charm her at all? Or was she relieved? The disappointment was an explanation she did not like.
The music came to a close, and they released each other. The moment his hands were gone, Annie felt rather cold. She hadn’t known such warmth before when dancing with a man.
Stop thinking such things, you fool.Her chastisement of herself did little to abate the problem.
She curtsied, and Lord Yeatman bowed, but this time she didn’t lower her eyes. Instead, she held his gaze. Even after the music had finished and they had both stood straight, they stood there, staring at one another.
“I think I have startled you, Miss Storey,” Lord Yeatman said after a second of silence. Around them, other couples left the floor, but they made no move to part. “Did I please you too, I wonder?”
Annie swallowed, uncertain what to say. She had liked the dance, despite wanting to hate every part of it; plus, she had liked his company.
“You have startled me,” she said eventually. “Let us leave it at that.”
“Ahem.” A gentleman passed the two of them, clearing his throat. It took a second for Annie to realise it was Mr Barton as he left the floor with Peggy. It seemed to be a subtle hint, one that was telling them to move from the dance floor.
“I think that is my friend’s way of telling us we have been stood here staring at each other for too long.” Lord Yeatman offered his arm to Annie, and she took it before glancing around at the others.