Page 56 of A Lady of Conscience

“She doesn’t view it as an imposition.”

“Still… I would rather spend the evening catching up on my correspondence than being an awkward addition to someone else’s party.”

Charles gave her a look of concern. “You’re not finding the season any more enjoyable?”

“There are parts of it I enjoy. The music. Sometimes the dancing.”

“Sometimes?” he questioned.

“With the right partner,” Hannah qualified.

A dance was in progress as they spoke. A lively reel, that had the couples skipping and spinning. Hannah’s gaze lit on a familiar gentleman standing among the guests who had gathered to watch the dancers. “Oh look!” she said. “There’s Jack!”

Catching sight of them in turn, Jack Beresford made his way through the crush. He smiled as he approached. “Heywood.” He bowed to Charles before turning to Hannah. “Hannah. Don’t you look fetching.”

Hannah offered her hand to him in greeting. He took it, bowing over it with roguish gallantry.

“I daresay all your dances have been claimed in advance this evening,” he said. “But if you have any to spare…” Retaining her hand, he helped himself to the dance card dangling from a cord at her wrist. He flipped through the pages with upraised brows. “What’s this? Why so many empty spaces?”

“We’ve only just arrived,” Hannah said.

“So have I.” He relinquished her hand. “I’ve not seen him, by the way.”

Hannah managed to contain her blushes. “I can’t imagine who you mean.”

Jack’s eyes danced with humor. “Can you not?”

Charles gave Jack a repressive frown. He shook his head in silent warning. He knew how sensitive Hannah could be to teasing.

Jack’s grin was unvanquished. “Shall we dance the next set?” he asked her.

“I’d like that,” she said.

The instant the reel ended, Jack escorted her onto the floor. They lined up across from each other as the orchestra struck up the music for a sedate country dance.

“My esteemed elder brother is likely still toiling over his cravat,” Jack said as they came together for the first turn. “He spends an egregious amount of time at his toilette. All that starch and finely pressed linen. While I, by contrast, have been blessed with effortless good looks.”

Hannah bent her head at his unapologetic quizzing, both amused and embarrassed. “Is he not coming?” she asked, a little uncertain.

Jack’s teasing smile softened as he turned her in a wide circle, their hands clasped and their arms extended. “He is,” he said. “Indeed, he may well be here already. We don’t travel together, you know.”

They separated for a time. Hannah turned again on her own, stepping forward and back with the other dancers, before once again joining hands with Jack.

“Why did you come to Bath?” she asked him. “You weren’t expected.”

“I needed to talk to your brother,” Jack said.

“What about?”

“Army business.” He turned her in another wide circle. “Or rather, Navy business.”

“You’re not thinking of⁠—”

“I am.” He cocked a brow at her. “Do you disapprove?”

“No, but …it is dangerous.”

“I’m not afraid of a little danger.”