“One of these days, I hope to make you laugh, Miss Storey.”
“Whatever for?” she murmured softly.
“Just to see it.” They switched which hand they were holding, walking back the other way. His words seemed to have a different effect on her. No longer did she raise her chin in challenge, nor did she glare at him with suspicion. A flicker of a genuine smile appeared on her cheeks.
“You confuse me,” she muttered after a few seconds. “I cannot decipher whether you are attempting to charm me or whether you are being kind.”
“Kind? Few people accuse me of such a thing.” He pretended to shudder as if horrified by the idea, then they parted ways.
For the next few beats of the song, as they came together, they danced together in silence, but it was a companionable one. Luke didn’t feel the pressure to speak, and apparently, neither did Miss Storey. They touched hands at the appropriate moments until the final seconds of the song, where he placed one hand on her waist and danced a step akin to a waltz, but in four time. They had come so close together that Miss Storey’s chin was tilted up toward his.
Luke, for the first time, felt what a danger Miss Storey was to him. She had a unique beauty to her, that was undeniable, one he liked. Had she been older and a widow or with an elderly husband who took more notice of his investments or his valet than he did her, then Luke would have happily tried to charm Miss Storey much more, but this was different.
She is out of bounds, and I made promises. I would never jeopardise a young lady’s position.
As the song ended and they parted, Luke bowed, and she curtsied. This time, she was clearly careful to break the gaze of their eyes as he offered his arm to her, so they did not stand in the middle of the floor once more, merely staring at each other.
“I hope after our dance today you will not describe us as merely just acquaintances to your friends again,” he whispered quietly to her as he escorted her from the floor.
“How do you wish to be known?” she asked with a small frown furrowing her brows.
“A friend.” The word startled him as it fell from his own lips, for it was surprisingly truthful. He rather liked the idea of calling Miss Storey a friend, even if she wished to keep him at arm’s length.
“Perhaps,” she said, then glanced away. When she flinched on his arm, he followed her gaze to see her mother, Lady Maybury, staring at her from across the room.
“Perhaps not,” Luke finished the words before Miss Storey could.
“Good evening to you, Lord Yeatman. Please, do not ask me to dance again tonight.” She curtsied quickly and slipped her arm out of his, wandering off as quickly as she could. Luke stared after her for some minutes as they parted, finding it rather difficult to acquiesce to her request. He rather wished to rush after her and ask her to dance another time.
***
“Something tells me you need this.” Peggy passed a glass of claret into Annie’s hand the moment she reached her side at the drinks’ table.
“Abominable man,” Annie muttered as she took the glass and thanked Peggy heartily for it.
“Abominable?” Peggy laughed at the idea. “I rather thought you seemed to be enjoying his company.”
“Is that how I looked?” Annie asked with fear, with the glass halfway raised to her lips. If that is how she was perceived when dancing with Lord Yeatman, then she was certainly in trouble. People would surely gossip about her all the more now!
“To my mind, yes.” Peggy smiled, then stepped back. “On second thoughts, maybe I should leave the assembly.”
“Why?”
“Because you look so angry at such a thought that I should probably flee,” Peggy said in jest, making an appearance of being about to run away before Annie took her friend’s arm and pulled her back.
“Peggy, be serious for a minute. Did I truly look to be enjoying myself?” Annie asked, fearing the answer.
“Perhaps your question is better answered with a question of my own.” Peggy turned back to the drinks table to fill up her own glass. “Were you enjoying yourself?”
Annie sipped a hearty gulp from the wine glass, glad of the distraction for a minute.
More so than I care to admit.
She had no wish to admit it. She had enjoyed herself, and she was truly quite perplexed by Lord Yeatman. It was a feeling that was growing with each passing conversation between them. His declaration that he intended to make her laugh was something that lingered with her. She didn’t laugh that often in the moment, not with strangers or acquaintances. Peggy was the only one who could summon a laugh from her.
“Your silence is as good as an answer.” Peggy nodded as if the matter was at a close. “You enjoyed his company.”
“But it is company I cannot enjoy, nor can I be seen to enjoy it,” Annie said hastily. “What of those friends of yours? They will be whispering all the more about me now.”