Chapter Ten #2
“With all this dancing, I am going to be quite weary by the time the ball ends.”
“May Rupert and I call on you tomorrow afternoon? I want to see the many bouquets you receive and look upon the gentlemen who make a point of calling upon you.”
Tia laughed. “You are more than welcome to visit. Only know that Mama, Val and Eden, and even Con will be present to look over any suitors.”
Lia squeezed Tia’s hand. “My, the drawing room will be full even before your suitors arrive.” Then she grew serious. “Have ever so much fun tonight, my sweet twin. This is the moment you have been waiting for. Enjoy it to the fullest.”
The musicians began tuning their instruments for play, and she eagerly awaited her first partner. She glanced at the name on her programme and recalled him being an earl of medium height with kind eyes.
“Forsythe,” she repeated softly to herself as he approached, wanting to learn the names of those she would be dancing with each time.
He reached her and bowed. “It is Lord Forsythe, my lady, come to sweep you away.”
“That is wise of you to introduce yourself, my lord, especially since I have already met so many new people tonight. My head is swimming with all the names and faces.”
He gave her a winning smile. “I knew from the moment I saw you that your dance card would fill quickly. You will meet a plethora of people tonight, Lady Tia. I hope as your first partner of the evening that I will make a lasting impression upon you.”
She liked his forthrightness and told him so, causing his brows to rise.
“I see you are a woman who speaks her mind. That is most refreshing. Shall we?”
Lord Forsythe led her to the dance floor, and soon Tia was caught up in the lively country dance. The earl was light on his feet and made for a wonderful first dance partner. This ball would certainly live up to its potential.
Several dances later, her latest partner returned her to Val, who stood with Con. Her brother had insisted that Eden go and sit with Mama because he did not want her to overexert herself.
“Has anyone made an impression upon you so far?” Con asked.
“A few,” she told the pair.
Glancing down at the dance card now attached to her wrist, Tia saw the next dance had been reserved by Lord Merriman. Her heart sped up, and she told herself not to be so ridiculous. Moments later, the earl joined them, and both Val and Con greeted him as an old friend.
“I am glad you are one of the men dancing with my sister this evening,” Val said. “You are someone whom I can trust and not need to watch like a hawk. I think I will go and claim my duchess for another dance.”
“Thank you for dancing with Dilly,” Lord Merriman said before Val departed. “Delilah. I must remember to refer to her as Mama wishes.”
“What of your sister’s feelings?” questions Con. “Shouldn’t she be known by the name she wishes to go by?”
“She has always been . . . . Delilah . . . to all others. I am the only one who addresses her as Dilly.”
Tia spoke up. “So do I. Lady Dilly asked me to call her by that name.”
His gray eyes darkened, focusing on her. “Then she must hold you in high esteem, my lady.”
Lord Merriman turned his attention back to Con. “It helped, having you, His Grace, and my friend Reddington dance with her. I am grateful for the gesture.”
“Go enjoy yourself with my cousin, Merriman,” Con said cheerfully. “I believe the dance is about to begin. I may even go and pluck a wallflower from those seated and enjoy a dance myself.”
The earl offered Tia his arm, and she placed her fingers lightly upon his sleeve. Touching him brought an unexpected jolt, and his gaze met hers, questions in his eyes. She smiled politely and said, “Lead the way, my lord.”
They danced that set, and she saw that for such a large, tall man, he was graceful. Lord Merriman moved assuredly, and she couldn’t help but think him a bit arrogant. She pushed the thought away, trying to enjoy the dance for itself, and not think on the disagreeable man she partnered with.
When it ended, Tia was out of breath and knew her face must be flushed.
“Might you care for a cup of punch, my lady?” he asked.
Though she did not want to spend additional time in his company, she was parched. Her thirst won out. “Thank you, my lord. I believe I am in need of a cup.”
He escorted her to a table where a punch bowl stood and retrieved a cup for both of them.
“With so many gathered, it has grown hot inside this ballroom. Might you wish to step out onto the terrace to cool down a bit before the next set begins?”
Once again, she did not want to be with him, but the thought of a cool breeze appealed to her, and she must have an escort to go outside the ballroom. Tia nodded, and he led them through a set of French doors which opened onto the terrace.
They strolled side-by-side the length of the terrace, and she was thankful other couples were also outside, taking in the night air.
When they reached the far end, he came to a halt and said, “I owe you an apology, my lady.”
His words startled her. An apology was the last thing she would have expected from him, and her face must have given her thoughts away.
“We have gotten off to a poor start,” Lord Merriman continued. “I wish to remedy that . . . for the sake of Dilly. She thinks highly . . . of you.”
“I believe people show their true colors when in private, my lord. I witnessed you being very abrupt with your sister when I first met you. Lady Dilly had spoken of you so lovingly, and yet the man I saw was anything but.”
“Would you believe it is the . . . only time I have spoken sharply to her?”
She searched his face and nodded. “Yes, I believe I do,” she said quietly. “Why were you like that with her?”
“I cannot go into the specifics, my lady. All I can say is that I desperately needed time alone that afternoon.”
She frowned. “I will not intrude upon your privacy, my lord. That still does not excuse how rude you were to me when you came to dinner at my brother’s townhouse.”
He shook his head, looking shamed. “I will regret that terrible remark I made to you . . . for the rest of my life.
Tia heard the anguish in his voice and believed him to be sincere.
“For the sake of Lady Dilly, shall we call a truce between us? I think of her as a dear friend and do not wish to have the fact that you despise me come between her and me.”
He looked startled. “I do not despise you.”
They gazed at one another a long moment, neither seeming to know how to continue their conversation. Tia took a sip of her punch, while he drained his cup.
“Shall we return to the ballroom, my lady? I am certain you are engaged for the next set.”
“I am,” she confirmed, once more placing her hand on his offered sleeve. A delicious vibration ran through her as she did so.
Lord Merriman took her empty cup and said, “Thank you for dancing with me, Lady Tia. I will not ask you to do so again. I know there are plenty of other gentlemen who wish to claim your time. I am merely glad the air between us has been cleared and that I had the opportunity to make my apologies to you.”
He bowed and left her. As he walked away, Tia almost called out for him to return and then stopped herself, thinking how silly she would have sounded. At least he had done the decent thing and apologized to her.
As her next partner claimed her, however, she almost wished that Lord Merriman had asked to dance with her again.