B006DTZ3FY EBOK (22 page)

A tingle of awareness along the back of her neck alerted her to Derek
’
s presence before she actually saw him. She felt him approach the way one feels a thunderstorm approach; he seemed to exude a subtle charge of electricity that changed the weight of the air. She reflexively wiped all expression from her features and stared into the middle distance.

Hannah shifted to make room for him, and Derek joined them.
“H
allo, you three,
”
he said genially.
“I’
m glad to find a few familiar faces among the horde.
”

Hannah giggled.
“T
hese balls are always a frightful crush.
”

“I
hope you ladies have saved me a dance or two.
”

It pained
Cynthia
to see the shy, hopeful glance Hannah shot Mr. Ellsworth.
“I
haven
’
t promised a dance to anyone yet,
”
she said. This was the perfect opening for him to claim a dance with her. But Mr. Ellsworth, as always, seemed oblivious.

Cynthia
altered her posture to subtly imply that she was standing, not with the group, but with Mr. Ellsworth alone.
“I
have promised the quadrille to Mr. Ellsworth,
”
she said. Then, mindful of her mother
’
s instructions, she remembered to smile at him.
“I
do not yet know if he will require more of me.
”

It was a statement, but she inflected it as if it were a question. Mr. Ellsworth blinked, evidently startled by her sudden frowardness.
“O
h, ah
—
certainly. Yes, I think I will, Lady
Cynthia
. Certainly I will. Who wouldn
’
t, eh? Yes, if you
’
ll do me the hon
or, I shall
... I shall press my luck.
”

His response lacked enthusiasm but passed the test of bare-bones gallantry. At any rate, she had successfully painted him into a corner. Whatever his intentions originally had been, he would, perforce, ask her for a second d
ance. That should appease Mama.

The next trick she needed to perform, of course, was to effect an escape before Derek painted her into a similar corner
—
easy enough for him to do, since she could hardly refuse to dance with him. He was, as she was, a guest of the Chases.

The musicians in the balcony, mercifully, chose that moment to begin tuning their instruments. The ball was about to begin. Mr. Ellsworth presented his arm and
Cynthia
gratefully took it, nodding a cool farewell to Derek. Sensing Hannah
’
s disappointment at her walking off with Mr. Ellsworth, she avoided Hannah
’
s eye. She thus missed whatever took place between Hannah and Derek after she and Mr. Ellsworth took to the floor to find their places for the quadrille. She could guess, however, so she was glad when her partner led her to the last empty slot in a set. When Lady Hannah and Mr. Whittaker appeared among the dancers, as she had expected they would do, they had to join a neighboring set.

The quadrille began.
Cynthia
wondered, not for the first time, why balls always seemed to begin with a quadrille. It was one of the more difficult dances to learn, and there were always a few people on the floor who forgot the sequence or danced the wrong steps. It soon became apparent why Mr. Ellsworth had moved with such alacrity to place them as fourth couple; he, alas, was among those who humbugged their way through the dance, waiting until someone else moved before venturing to guess which figure came next. As a result, he and
Cynthia
were slightly behind the time in any figure that was not danced by the other couples first. His concentration and anxiety were such that conversation was impossible; throughout the dance he counted the bars of music under his breath and stared nervously at others
’
feet, trying to anticipate what would be required of his own.

By the time the music ended,
Cynthia
was both bored and annoyed. Mr. Ellsworth
’
s preoccupation struck her as boorish; why had he asked her to dance the quadrille, of all dances? His lack of skill had made them both conspicuous. As usual, she gave no indication of her feelings. She hid her irritation behind a bland and noncommittal smile, and laid her glove upon his sleeve so he could escort her off the floor.

A familiar shirtfront stepped squarely into her line of vision, forcing her to halt or walk into its owner.
Cynthia
chose to halt. With her hand still on Mr. Ellsworth
’
s arm, she lifted her eyes to Derek
’
s face, one eyebrow delicately lifted in a carefully-practiced expression of icy incredulity.

She had quelled many an advance with this lifted eyebrow. She had routed formidable opponents; she had reduced grown men to stammering, red-faced boys. However, her glacial glare had no effect whatsoever on the audacious Mr. Whittaker. His response was neither embarrassment nor apology nor dismay. Instead, he gave her a cheeky grin. That grin contained enough heat to melt the most frozen of hearts, and
Cynthia
felt her willpower turning to slush.

Inwardly berating herself for her appalling weakness, she straightened her spine and lifted the other eyebrow.
“A
re we in your way, Mr. Whittaker?
”
she inquired, her tone a perfect mixture of politeness and hauteur.

“I
t
’
s the other way round,
”
he replied promptly, with absolute good cheer.
“I
am in yours. I say, Ellsworth, did you happen to see which way Lady Hannah went?
”

Mr. Ellsworth looked befuddled.
“N
o, can
’
t say that I did. Have you lost her?
”

“W
ell, she isn
’
t here,
”
said Derek vaguely. His statement was true, as far as it went, but
Cynthia
knew a fib when she heard one. It was plain to her, if not to Mr. Ellsworth, that Derek was cutting a wheedle. She shot him an indignant look, but it seemed to bounce right off him. He was busy trying an ingratiating, apologetic air upon her companion.
“B
e a good chap and find her for me, would you?
”
he begged, with apparent sincerity.
“I
am unfamiliar with this place. I don
’
t like to think of Lady Hannah wandering about unescorted.
”

Concern knitted Mr. Ellsworth
’
s brows.
“C
ertainly not. Most improper. All sorts of persons here; not a private ball. Pray excuse me, Lady
Cynthia
. I
’
m sure Mr. Whittaker will take good care of you.
”

“T
hat I will,
”
said Derek. His assumption of meek gratitude was highly suspect.
Cynthia
shot him her best affronted stare again, but it still had no discernible effect.

“D
on
’
t let Lady
Cynthia
wander off as well, eh? Ha, ha.
”
Mr. Ellsworth was already scanning the crowd, as if he had completely forgotten
Cynthia
’
s presence.

“O
h, I have learned my lesson,
”
Derek promised. He plucked
Cynthia
’
s hand off Mr. Ellsworth
’
s sleeve and tucked it firmly in his elbow.
“L
ady
Cynthia
shan
’
t escape me.
”

“H
ave I nothing to say in the matter?
”
demanded
Cynthia
, but Mr. Ellsworth was gone, shouldering his way through the crowd. She directed a fulminating glare up at Derek.
“Y
ou, sir, are unconscionable.
”

“I
don
’
t know what you mean.
”

“Y
es, you do. Pray do not try that wide-eyed stare on me. I shan
’
t be duped by it. I know you too well.
”

“D
one,
”
he said promptly, as if they had just made a pact.
“A
nd you may stop blasting me with that arctic freeze of yours. I shan
’
t be duped by it. I know you too well.
”

He started for the door leading back to the foyer, and
Cynthia
was forced to fall into step beside him or risk causing a scene. He still had her hand hooked in his elbow, and had covered it with his other hand to make sure she could not easily remove it.
Cynthia
was guiltily aware that she had no real desire to remove it, so some treacherous part of her was secretly glad that he had taken this step. This knowledge ruffled her feathers even further.

“W
here are you taking me?
”

“R
efreshments. You look thirsty.
”

“I
am not thirsty, Mr. Whittaker. I am angry.
”

“W
hat, at being separated from Mr. Ellsworth? I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Lady
Cynthia
, but he was remarkably easy to dispatch.
”
He shook his head with mock sympathy.
“N
ot a good omen for your ambitions, I fear.
”

Cynthia
fumed in silence. She was so preoccupied with trying to find a suitable retort that she failed to notice where Derek was leading her. Her focus returned when he opened a door leading to the terrace behind the building.

She stopped short, staring in disbelief at the opened door
—
and the cold darkness beyond it.
“T
his is not the refreshment room.
”

“N
o, but you said you weren
’
t thirsty. I thought you might like some air. To cool your temper,
”
he added, words plainly chosen to do the opposite.

Cynthia
immediately snatched her hand away and turned on her heel. She had not taken two steps before she felt his hand at her waist, pulling her sharply back against him. She froze, terrified that people would see him holding her. His warm breath tickled her ear as he murmured, close to her head,
“D
on
’
t try to escape me,
Cynthia
. I
’
ve told you before, you won
’
t succeed.
”

“L
et go of me at once,
”
she hissed.

“I
will, if you agree to dance with me.
”

She gasped.
“F
or shame! Will you
force
me?
”

“I
f I must.
”
But she felt his hand loosen and then, with obvious reluctance, release her.
“I
had hoped there would be no need.
”

This was too much. Exasperated, she whirled to face him.
“I
don
’
t know what to do with you,
”
she exclaimed.
“Y
ou seem to willfully disregard my wishes. You hear only what you choose to hear. How can I make it clearer? There is no hope for you, Mr. Whittaker. Your suit will not prosper. I have told you so time and again.
”

“Y
es, you have.
”
He looked completely unperturbed.
“A
nd yet I fail to retire from the lists. Odd, isn
’
t it? I wonder why I don
’
t give up? Other men would. Call me foolish
—”

“I
shall call you worse than foolish! You are utterly pig-headed. I know perfectly well why you continue to harass me. You are too stubborn to admit defeat.
”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“W
ell, that
’
s possible,
”
he admitted.
“I
own, I can be remarkably tenacious at times.
”