Page 52 of It's a British Christmas

“Since tradition holds that the leading man, who we all agree is his lordship, and the most important lady present dance the first waltz, I would like to ask his lordship to select a partner with whom to start the dancing.”

All eyes turned to him. Eve stood on her toes to speak into his ear. “That would be Squire Halloway’s eldest unmarried daughter. She is standing against the south wall, wearing the dark blue gown.”

Adam moved his head to look where Eve had indicated. A young woman in a dark blue gown against the south wall preened and patted her hair as she gave him what he supposed she thought was a seductive look. He nodded to her, then turned to Eve. “May I request this dance?”

She stared at him open-mouthed. “What? You are supposed to dance with the most important woman in the room.”

He tugged her forward as the small orchestra started up. “You, Miss Eve Allen, are the most important woman in the room. To me.” He took her in his arms and began the dance.

Eve fumbled a bit in the beginning, but his firm grip and smooth moves honed over years in the ballrooms of London kept them both on track. He made a graceful turn, and caught her hand. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. He felt as though the sun had come out.

Once the dance had ended, he bowed to her once more, and she curtsied. “Would you care for a drink? I feel I have worked up a thirst, myself.”

Eve took his arm and they made their way across the room to the table set up along the north wall with baked treats and two large bowls of liquid refreshment. “I don’t suppose either of these have a bit of something stronger than lemon in them?”

She laughed and took the glass he held out to her that he’d just filled. “No, my lord, I am afraid not.” She took a sip. “And you should not be asking such a thing of the village rector’s daughter.”

He bent toward her and lowered his voice. “There are quite a few more things I would like to ask the village rector’s daughter.”

Eve took in a sharp breath, and set her glass on the table. “Given your tone, my lord, I don’t think I would care to hear those questions.”

Adam grinned at her and placed his hand on his chest. “Surely you do not think it would be anything inappropriate?”

Before she could answer, they were joined by two young ladies that Eve introduced as Miss Carlyle and Miss Merriweather.

“It is a pleasure to meet you.” He bowed over both of their hands.

When they continued to linger while a country dance started up, Eve nudged him, and glanced in the young ladies’ direction. He sighed inwardly and decided to use his well-learned manners. Turning to Miss Carlyle, he said, “May I have this dance?”

She giggled and blushed, but took his hand as he led her to the dance floor to join the queue of dancers. Resigned to listening to inane babble when he would much rather talk to Eve, he smiled at her and took her two hands in his.

They did all the steps, the dips and twirls, her dancing impeccable. In fact, perhaps the gowns were, for the most part, a bit out of date, and the jewelry not as flashy, but he could have been in a London ballroom, with all the gossip, intrigue and glances cast over fans.

He executed a dance step and turned to see Eve dancing farther down the line with a young man. His insides clenched, and he had the urge to stride down toward them and yank her hands out of the man’s grip.

The situation was becoming perilous. Not only did he have the complication of Lady Ann, but Eve was a commoner, and he a duke. While dukes could mostly get away with whatever they wanted—sans murder—Mother would take to her bed for weeks if he were to announce he’d changed his mind, and wanted to offer for Miss Eve Allen, daughter of Pastor Joshua Allen of Worcestershire.

And how his honor would suffer were he to notify Lord Fenster that the marriage contracts they worked out were for naught, making him appear as frivolous as a silly debutante. But every time he compared pale, bland, perfect Lady Ann, to Eve’s vivaciousness, charm, and intelligence, the knots in his stomach turned to boulders.

Eve listened with half an ear while Mr. Dartmouth prattled on and on about his newest horse. Why did men think women were interested in such matters? Not that she expected him to talk about fashions or other issues dear to the hearts of women. She, unlike most women, was interested in books, chess, and helping the poor. Adam found those things interesting enough to talk to her about. In fact, they had never resorted to the typical boring conversations between men and women.

She closed her eyes in frustration and shook her head. Why was she forever comparing Adam to all the other men she’d ever met, and then having them come up short? It was such an exercise in futility, only assuring her that when he left she would have more with which to be miserable.

The dance, thankfully, ended, and she and Mr. Davidson parted. She was only a few steps away from where he’d left her when a strong hand grasped her elbow, followed by a low voice speaking into her ear. “Come with me outside for a stroll. I am feeling a bit overheated.”

She shivered with excitement at the thought. Would Adam kiss her again? The last time they strolled after their chess game, she’d been left feeling restless and flushed, as if she needed something more from him to make the feelings cease. Despite her innocence, she knew the disquiet had something to do with desire between men and women. Although she’d tried to pry information from her older sister after she married, Angeline had resorted to raising her nose in the air, and telling her she would find out in good time.

She spent many an hour chastising herself for allowing the liberties Adam had taken with her person. Now she understood how easily Becky had been taken in by her gentleman. Eve had always thought Becky must have had some sort of weakness of character to allow herself to be seduced by her lord. It appeared members of the nobility, who did not have to work hard each day for their bread, had time to hone their seduction skills. And then practice them on innocent, unsophisticated village girls.

However, all of that did not stop her from taking his arm, and walking sedately to the door that led to the small balcony, with steps to the ground.

Despite the chill, the air felt good on her face, heated from the dancing. Once free of the watchful eyes of the assembly crowd, Adam dropped her arm and intertwined their fingers together. They walked across the balcony, and down the steps, almost as if they had planned it. She’d never felt so in accord with anyone to the point where it seemed as though this should last forever.

But it wouldn’t, and she needed to keep reminding herself.

Once they cleared the steps, he swung her around, into his arms, and with a growl, covered her mouth with a need that frightened her, because she felt the same need. She would accept what he offered and would worry about her shattered heart later.

Her shattered heart?