Page 7 of A Countess Never Tells

He’d apparently gone too far in his disparagement of her previous partner. How could she be that attached to old Quatford? He’d have to make amends somehow. “My apologies to Lord Quatford and to you, Miss Tate. I spoke only in jest. Please do not refuse to dance.”

The first strains of a minuet began, and he caught her hand and hurriedly pulled her onto their places on the dance floor. “You cannot flee now, Miss Tate, else it will look peculiar. Stay and dance with me. I promise I dance the minuet well. Have no fear I will embarrass you.”

Unsure if that last boast—which wasn’t a boast at all but simple truth—had changed her mind, he was nevertheless thankful when she nodded and turned to accompany him onto the floor with the other three couples in their set.

Ash experienced a moment of apprehension as they took their places. Would she stalk away, angered by his thoughtless words? He needn’t have worried, however. Miss Tate had affixed a pleasant smile to her face and was following him as he performed the spritely steps of the minuet. Oddly, her scrutiny gave him a frisson of fear. As he’d just bragged about his skill, it would be unfortunate if he did not live up to his boast.

Finally, he met up with his partner, and they turned in time to the music. “You see, Miss Tate? I am a man of my word.”

“How so, my lord?” The question came out in a pleasant tone. Thank goodness. She’d forgiven him.

“I think I acquitted myself rather well during the opening sequence. You cannot tell me you did not notice. I saw you gazing directly at me.” Ash paired his smile with a teasing demeanor.

When Miss Tate gave him a rueful smile in return, Ash wanted to whoop for joy. He’d managed to divert the lady’s ire away from him.

“I do admit you comported yourself well, Lord Ashwood. You dance admirably. I cannot fault you there.”

They broke apart, and the ladies circled together in the center of the floor. Ash’s gaze was trained on his partner, admiring her grace and the exuberance she displayed in the simple steps of the minuet. She’d told him she loved to dance. That had been nothing but the truth.

The couples met again, and Ash opened his mouth to compliment her on her dancing but was interrupted. “But watching you dance is scarcely why I wished to stand up with you for this minuet, my lord.”

Her words took him so aback he almost lost track of the intricate steps. Thank God for his tireless early training with the dancing master at Brierly Park, who’d made him master every dance imaginable until he could perform them in his sleep. What was the woman talking about? “I beg your pardon, Miss Tate?”

They walked down the down the dance floor with stately steps.

At last, Miss Tate spoke. “I am dancing before this assembly with a notorious rake. I expected something more than a staid promenade from you, my lord. What is the use of being a rake if one does not make the most of it to entertain a lady?”

“What use indeed.” Ash shook his head. Miss Tate was proving more of a handful than he’d ever expected. “One should excel at one’s deeds, be they good or bad, don’t you think?”

To his delight, the lady burst forth with a peal of genuine laughter. “True, my lord. If you must be a rake, by all means, be the best one you can be.”

They broke apart again, her teasing words ringing in his ears. Here was a woman worth pursuing.

They came back together to promenade down the floor.

“There may be a problem, however, Miss Tate. Lady Phoebe may not have heard, but I am a reformed rake.”

Miss Tate’s eyes widened. “What? What does that mean?”

“It means that I have given up my life of notorious behavior and am currently in the process of deciding to which lady I wish to pay court.” Ash hadn’t stated his intention so baldly and succinctly before, but he believed it best to let Miss Tate know precisely what was at stake.

From the wide-eyed look and mouth in a perfect O, she understood exactly. Then she let out a peal of laughter. “Why do I not believe that, my lord?”

“My reputation has that effect on people, I grant you. However, I will swear to you, my reformation is true. And as such, I wish to take this opportunity to act boldly and beg you to join a party I’ve gotten up for Vauxhall tomorrow evening. There are to be fireworks, which are simply not to be missed, Miss Tate.”

Her hands squeezed his, sending a jolt through his body. “Fireworks, my lord? Truly?” The excitement in her voice gave him hope, despite her disparagement of his intent.

“I promise, Miss Tate. If you attend, there will be fireworks.”

“I do love Vauxhall, my lord.” Her smile made his heart skip a beat.

“Then I insist you allow me to show you all the most pleasurable sights and walks.” They had begun to promenade. “I am certain I can find several you have not seen before.”

She snorted and sent him a look askance. “If anyone knows of them, it would be you, my lord.”

Miss Tate grew quiet, her brows slightly furrowed.

Ash’s apprehension soared. She was so close to agreeing to attend with him. He needed this outing with her.