Page 22 of Brazen

Mia blinked. “I-well—”

Sir Stirling said, “Perhaps some refreshment would put you to rights, Lady Mia. I have a private parlor just down the hall.”

“What a wonderful idea, Sir Stirling,” Aunt Leana said. She looked at Mia. “Are you able to walk, Mia?”

Mia scowled. “Of course, I am able to walk. I was just a little dizzy.” She stood. Thankfully, the dizziness didn’t return.

Sir Stirling angled one arm to Angeline, who stood and accepted his arm. Aunt Leana quickly stood and stepped up to him. He winged his other arm and they started across the room. That left Mia with Lord Magnus. He offered his arm. Mia accepted and they followed Sir Stirling through the crowd. Mia caught sight of three women standing near the dance floor, and the frowns the women sent her way. What was that about? She did nothing improper by accompanying Lord Magnus across the ballroom.

Sir Stirling skirted a group of men. Lord Magnus followed and, a moment later, they entered a hallway. Sir Stirling paused, opened the third door on the right, and ushered Angeline and Aunt Leana into the room. Lord Magnus stood aside and allowed Mia to enter first, then followed. A low fire burned in the hearth on the far right wall. Like everything in Sir Stirling’s home, the room was elegant and tasteful. A small desk sat between the two bay windows on the wall directly opposite them. A sideboard with decanters and glasses sat on the wall to the left. They followed everyone to the sofa that faced the hearth.

“I am happy to fetch champagne,” Lord Magnus said.

“Mia,” Aunt Leana said, “be a dear and help Mr. Forbes.”

“Perhaps you should stay here and rest, my lady,” Lord Magnus said. “You did hit your head hard.”

Mia cast him a sideways look. “I am fully recovered, sir.”

He stared down at her. Did his eyes flick to her mouth? Heaven help her. She had hit her head too hard if she imagined that.

“If you are certain,” he said.

“Quite certain,” she replied, and started toward the door.

He stood aside as she passed through the open doorway, then followed.

In the hall, when Mia was sure they would not be overheard, she said, “We can have a waiter bring champagne. We can’t carry enough for everyone. I don’t know why Aunt Leana suggested I help you.”

Strains of a Scottish reel reached them.

“Is my company so unbearable?” he asked.

Mia frowned. “Not at all. It’s just that I assumed you would prefer someone else’s company.”

“Whatever gave you that idea?”

“The fact that every time I am in your presence, calamity strikes.”

They reached the end of the hallway and entered the ballroom. “Calamity?” he repeated, and steered her around a group of guests.

She narrowed her eyes. “You know full well our every meeting has been fraught with danger. The first time we met, you slipped in the mud and were injured, then knocked down by my pig.”

“No calamity befell us this afternoon,” he murmured.

“It was a close thing.”

His brows rose. “Really?”

“If anyone had seen us, there would have been a terrible scandal.”

“But no one did see us.”

“Oh, and lest we forget, only moments ago, I rammed you with my head.”

“I would much rather you ram me with your head then your pig knock me down,” he said.

She looked up and saw amusement in his eyes. “You don’t sound angry.”