Colin kept his expression carefully composed. “You know of it?”
“In some circles there are speculations; however, those were discreet musings. When I informed Elizabeth that she should direct her energy on finding a husband, she took pleasure in informing me of her liaison with the duke. It is impressive they have kept their connection secret. It will not bode well for her or the family if this comes out.”
He glanced down at the countess, startled to see a sadness upon her features. Colin realized then how much she wanted them to succeed. “I’ve never thanked you for your generous time and direction,” he said. “Thank you.”
Her face creased in surprise, she looked up at him. “You can thank me with a wife and children.”
Colin chuckled, almost admiring her for never missing an opportunity to dig that nail home. “Soon,” he murmured.
“And that etiquette teacher of yours cannot be a candidate. She is a lovely girl. Very intelligent and sensible, but she is not countess worthy.”
Icy fingers clutched around his heart. “I beg your pardon?”
“I have eyes in my head, lad. I see the way you have been staring at Miss Fernsby, and she has been returning those looks. I was married for over thirty years. I very well know what that particular look means.”
He lifted a brow. “You have truly caught her looking at me?”
“Yes.”
“When? What exactly did you discern from her expression?”
Outrage dawned in the countess’s eyes. “You are incorrigible,” she said with a thump of her cane before she walked away to greet a lady in a purple turban.
Colin chuckled and glanced once more at Mina. She was regarding him. Quickly she glanced away and he grinned. There was a stubborn pride in the set of her small chin that angled away from him, and he couldn’t help thinking she appeared a bit lonely.
He understood his purpose tonight was to dance with several ladies, signaling his interest in marriage to the ton. He would impress them with his charming manners, and he would remind himself to not be too flirtatious with any lady. Though the only woman who roused him of late was the one in the corner by a potted plant, pretending she had not been ogling him.
The old dragon returned, a matchmaking glint in her eyes and a young lady in tow. She introduced him to Lady Annabell Linton, the daughter of a marquess. The lady was extraordinarily pretty, yet nothing inside Colin stirred, merely an appreciation of her beauty.
Clearly, he was to ask her to dance, so he stiffened his back and extended the courtesy. The old dragon beamed her approval, and Lady Annabell flushed with pleasure. A waltz was announced, and he led her to the dancefloor suspecting he would be dancing with several ladies tonight, except for the one he really wanted in his arms. He would perform his duty, and then he would have fun. And that would only happen when he took a particular sweet yet prickly tutor into his arms for a dance.
* * *
Mina could not bear watchingColin dance with another lady. This was the fourth lady the countess had taken over to introduce to him, and it seemed the next step in that intricate game was for him to lead them to the dancefloor. She hoped his feet ached dreadfully tomorrow and he might not dance again for the rest of the month! Shocked at the jealous thought, she groaned. Searching the room she saw her aunt laughing and chatting animatedly with a few other matrons. There was a flush in her cheeks and Mina was glad she came tonight, even if it pricked her heart to see the earl dancing with other ladies. Her aunt had needed this. Taking a sip of her champagne, she tried to direct her attention elsewhere, lest it was obvious to the ton how much she esteemed him.
“Too late,” a soft voice murmured at her elbow.
Swallowing her startled gasp, she smiled to see it was Lizzy Fairbanks. “You looked lovely dancing with the duke. My aunt tells me he is a most eligible catch who has been on the marriage mart for years. There is a rumor he is seeking a wife this season.”
Something wild and anguished flashed in Lizzy’s cobalt blue eyes, shocking Mina breathless. “Lizzy?”
“I have little thoughts regarding the duke,” she murmured, her expression veiled. “I came over to distract you from staring too scandalously at Colin. “Even though they are charming, my brothers are rather dissolute. It makes no sense to fall in love with one.”
“I do not perceive what you mean,” Mina murmured, inwardly mortified that her every emotion might be evident in her expression. Was it also obvious that they had ardently kissed, and that even days later she could still taste him on her tongue?
At that moment, she felt eyes on her and glanced up. Mina froze, disbelief gripping her in a tightly.
“Are you well, Mina?” Lizzy asked. “You’ve gone pale.”
“I…I need some fresh air,” she said, pushing the glass of champagne at Lizzy Fairbanks who took it with a startled glance.
Mina did not rush away, though she wanted to; instead, she moved calmly through the crowd until she could slip through a terraced door and outside into the cool night air. Once there she took a few gulping breaths. The man staring at her across the expanse of the ballroom had been the honorable Nigel Fordyce…the man she had foolishly thought she once loved. She had never expected to see him again, for she had understood he had eloped with some heiress. Perhaps another unfounded rumor, but she had not cared enough to ascertain its veracity.
“A lady alone in the gardens must be careful,” a low voice said behind her.
Mina gasped and swung around to find him only a stone’s throw away.
“Mr. Fordyce—” she began tensely.