Chapter Thirteen
Tia had been distracted all evening.
Because Lord Merriman was dancing tonight.
She chastised herself for taking notice, but she couldn’t help herself.
He was a handsome man whose appearance was hard to overlook on the dance floor.
Twice, he had been dancing in close proximity to her, almost causing her to lose count of her steps.
She thought herself completely daft to have taken such a sudden interest in him.
Despite his heartfelt apology, she did not consider him to be a gentleman.
At least one she might be interested in.
Then why did her pulse begin to throb and her belly seemingly turn upside down when he had asked her to dance this evening?
And it would not simply be one dance with her.
She would also share supper with him. Would he wish to join Val or Con at a table?
Or even his friend, the Duke of Reddington?
Tia had not seen Reddington all night. What if Lord Merriman seated them at a table for two? What on earth would they talk about?
Pushing aside her worries, she allowed him to guide her to the center of the room.
The musicians raised their instruments again, and the dancing commenced once more.
She wished the earl might stumble just so he would not seem so perfect, but he danced with his usual grace.
It was not like her to wish ill upon others.
She supposed it was her dislike of him which was bringing out the worst in her.
Yet was it truly dislike? She did not hate him. Tia merely found him unpleasant. Why was it that others were charmed by him and not her?
She gave up thinking and simply enjoyed the dance. Another ball would not be held for three days, and so she made the most of her time upon the dance floor. She even caught sight of a marquess who had called upon her this afternoon, his admiring gaze helping her confidence to soar.
When the dance ended, Lord Merriman took her hand and slipped it into the crook of his arm.
Her grip tightened, feeling the hard muscle beneath her fingertips.
His scent, too, was intoxicating, something she could not identify, mixed with bergamot.
Tia fought to keep herself from leaning in closer and inhaling deeply.
“Compose yourself,” she muttered under her breath, causing the earl to glance down at her, frowning slightly.
“We are to sup with my sister and a Lord Forsythe,” he informed her.
Relaxing because she now knew they would have others with them, especially her new friend, Tia smiled up at him. “That is wonderful news, my lord.”
“You do not have to look so happy, my lady. I am sorry you are forced to continue in my company for the midnight buffet.”
If she hadn’t known better, she would think his feelings hurt. “I am simply happy to spend time with my friend, my lord. And Lord Forsythe was my first partner at last night’s ball. I think quite a bit of him. He is what I consider a true gentleman.”
As they headed toward the supper room, he asked, “Did Forsythe call upon you this afternoon? Send you flowers?”
She sniffed. “Not that is any of your concern, but while he did call upon me, I received no bouquet from him.”
Seeing his reaction, she continued. “I thought it odd myself, but Lord Forsythe explained to me that he only came to see me because he wished to tell me in person why he would not be calling upon me in the future.”
She let the earl wrestle with that for a moment, secretly enjoying his discomfort.
“You see,” she continued, “Lord Forsythe is most interested in Lady Dilly, my lord. He will not be calling upon me—or any other young lady. Only your sister. That is how much he already is devoted to her. I found that most refreshing, as well as thoughtful of him to let me know. Lord Forsythe did say he would ask me to dance upon occasion, simply because it would not do to ask Lady Dilly for every dance.”
“I see,” the earl mused.
Entering the room designated for the midnight buffet, they came across Lady Dilly and Lord Forsythe already seated at a table.
“We saved these seats for you,” her friend said, happiness radiating from her.
After Lord Merriman seated her, Tia said, “Perhaps you gentlemen might go through the buffet line and bring something back to us.”
Lord Forsythe rose. “I am happy to do so. Any requests, Lady Delilah? I will see if they are being served this evening.”
“I will be happy with anything, my lord.”
The two left, and she could not help but notice that Lord Merriman had not asked if she had any particular likes or dislikes. It did not surprise her, though. At least she had a brief respite from his company and was happy to spend it with her friend.
Lady Dilly said, “You orchestrated that so smoothly. Now, we have some time alone.”
“Are you already madly in love with Lord Forsythe?” she asked, getting straight to the point.
Lady Dilly flushed scarlet. “Is it that obvious?”
Tia told of the earl’s visit to Val’s drawing room this afternoon, seeing how surprised her friend was by what Tia revealed.
“I did not know his feelings were so strong toward me.”
“Do you like him?” she pressed. “Enjoy his company?”
“Immensely. When he called on me this afternoon, it was as if no other gentleman was present. All my attention was focused on him,” Lady Dilly admitted.
“Well, he told me he would have to dance with others besides you, simply to keep the gossips from chattering too much, but you are the one who holds his heart.”
Lady Dilly shook her head in disbelief. “Is it possible that I have found my husband on the first night of the Season?”
Tia reached for her friend’s hand and squeezed it. “I think it is possible that you both have fallen in love. I hear it strikes quickly, at least according to those in my family.”
They gossiped a bit about others they had met last night and tonight, and Tia shared how no particular gentleman had caught her fancy.
“I am not worried. My brother supports me, no matter what decision I arrive at. If I do not find a husband to my liking this Season, there is always next year.”
Their supper partners joined them again, and Tia found her plate filled to the brim.
Apologetically, Lord Merriman said, “I did not know what you might like, so I tried to get something of almost everything on the buffet.”
“If I ate everything here, you would have to find a wheelbarrow and roll me from the ballroom,” she declared, causing everyone to laugh.
They spent a happy half-hour together, talking and eating.
Tia learned more about Lord Forsythe than she did Lord Merriman, however.
It seemed he was reluctant to talk about himself, and she found herself longing to know more of him.
Maybe if she knew him better, she would grow to like him more.
It would be difficult to be close with Lady Dilly without having to be around Lord Merriman.
Boldly, she suggested, “Might we leave the supper room and stroll the terrace, my lord? I could stand a bit of fresh air.”
“Excellent idea, Lady Tia,” Lord Forsythe said. “Would you care to do the same, Lady Delilah?”
Her friend’s happiness seemed to overflow. “I would indeed, my lord.”
The two couples left their table, and they found numerous couples strolling the terrace when they ventured outside. Some had even gone down the stone steps and moved along the lawn.
“We should move from the terrace,” she told Lord Merriman. “So many have come outside, it would be hard to navigate around them.”
She had slipped her hand back into the crook of his arm, enjoying its warmth and the strength of his arm.
“Do you box?” she asked as they moved down the steps.
“No. Not at all. Why do you ask?”
Glad the lanterns lighting the way allowed their faces to remain in shadow, she said, “I thought all men boxed and rode to the hounds. I was simply trying to make conversation, my lord. While you often ask questions of others, you speak very little of yourself. I feel as if I know next to nothing about you, yet you seem to know quite a bit about me.”
They reached the lawn, and he steered her toward the entry to the gardens.
Though the entrance was lit, as they took a few steps along the path, she could tell the rest was dark.
Even though Tia knew she should have asked to turn back, against her better judgment, she tightened her grip on Lord Merriman’s arm as they proceeded.
When they had taken another two dozen steps, they were surrounded by darkness.
He stopped, turning to face her. His hands took hold of her waist, and she could feel his heat through her ballgown and layers of undergarments.
She swallowed, her heart racing like a galloping horse’s.
It was impossible to make out his features, only the heat of their bodies, close, but not touching.
“You wish to know about me?” he asked, his voice husky. “Why?”
Unsure of herself, Tia said, “Because you are my friend’s brother. And you are fast becoming a friend of my own brother and cousin. I wish to know—”
He cut off her words, his mouth now on hers, moving, causing delicious tingles along her hairline.
Up and down her spine. His lips were firm, yet soft, and they grew more insistent.
She wanted to ask why he kissed her when he didn’t even like her, but the sensations were too enjoyable, and she was afraid her words might actually cause him to stop.
Instead, she stepped into him, her breasts pressing against the rock of his chest. Her hands moved to his nape, her fingers pushing into his hair. Oh, how silky it was!
A growl came from him, and his hands left her waist, His arm went around her, pinning her to him. His free hand grasped her nape, holding her in place. Her heart quickened, beating rapidly now as his tongue glided along her bottom lip, back and forth, hypnotizing her.
Then it ran along the seam of her mouth, urging her to open to him. Having never kissed a man before, Tia had no idea what was coming next.
But she was eager to learn.