Chapter Nine #3
‘Of course! I only meant it as a compliment and I hope you will enjoy your evening with us immensely. We have hired a French chef to prepare the buffet, and when you have eaten, you absolutely must join us in the dancing.’
‘Do you know,’ Kate heard the Earl say, ‘I’m not sure I’m in the mood for dancing tonight.’
‘Not dancing? That is such a shame! But you will still enjoy listening to our musicians, won’t you? Do help yourselves to champagne, and we’ll speak later!’
There were many more people wishing to greet the Earl, and he introduced Kate to each of them. But as soon as she could, she led him towards a quieter corner. ‘I need to ask you something, my lord. Rebecca Darrow said that you had spoken most highly of me. What exactly did she mean?’
He looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘Well,’ he said, ‘I may have said that you could easily become the belle of the Brighton summer.’
‘You didn’t!’
Those spellbinding blue eyes of his crinkled in amusement. ‘I think I did.’
She was astounded. ‘Was it a joke?’
He was shaking his head. ‘I absolutely meant it. You are an original, Miss Summerby. For instance, not many people have the spirit to argue with me quite as much as you do.’
At first, she was indignant, but then she burst into laughter. ‘Even so, it was absurd for you to make such an extravagant claim. The belle of the Brighton summer? Ridiculous!’
‘Why is it ridiculous? If you take a look around, you will find that quite a number of gentlemen hold the same opinion as me.’
She realised that several men were indeed glancing in her direction, but she shook her head. ‘They are merely wondering,’ she said loftily, ‘what has driven you to bring me here tonight.’
‘Are you hunting for compliments, Miss Summerby?’ He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval.
‘Certainly not!’
Deftly he seized two glasses of champagne from a passing footman and gave her one, lifting his own glass in a salute.
‘To your good health, then, and to your refreshing determination not to indulge in vanity. Tell me, though. On the whole, I’m not behaving too badly, am I? Not making you feel too uncomfortable?’
Kate’s heart missed a beat. Yes, you are.
In a quite alarming way. But when she spoke, her voice was steady.
‘You’ve made no blunders yet, my lord. In fact, your behaviour is so far from scandalous that your female admirers over there are looking quite crestfallen.
’ She gestured towards a group of young women who were gazing raptly at him.
‘Perhaps you should give them a hint of encouragement. Acknowledge them with a wave, maybe?’
He chuckled, a husky sound that set her senses tingling. ‘I don’t wave to ladies. It’s dreadfully unsubtle. Besides, they’ll be hunting for dancing partners soon, and I’m not going to oblige.’
‘I don’t mind at all if you wish to dance, my lord.’
‘Haven’t we been through this? If I did dance, what would you do?’
‘Oh, I can sit with the matrons, as I used to. It’s really no problem.’
‘It is to me. Anyway, I don’t want to dance. I’d rather stay with you. And for God’s sake, call me Dan, will you? For tonight, at any rate!’
Her unguarded heart gave another unsettling bump, but she managed to say lightly, ‘Very well… Dan. But I’m not flattered, if that’s what you’re hoping.’
‘Well, you should be flattered. Your dress suits you exceedingly well, as it happens. But you would outshine the others here whatever you wore.’
This time she gazed up at him in absolute astonishment.
Her heart gave another bump, and she was confused again because his name sounded too familiar on her lips, hinting at an intimacy that didn’t and never could exist. She inwardly shook herself.
‘What I wanted to say is, there there’s no need for you to stay with me all evening. ’
‘Why not? We’re hoping your sister will hear about it, aren’t we? Besides, you promised to help ward off my female admirers.’
He was laughing again, the wretch! ‘I should think,’ she said a little crossly, ‘that you spend half your life doing that anyway, unless they’re the kind of females you’re happy to welcome into your bed for the night—Oh!’
She clapped her hand to her mouth in horror. How could she have said that? How could she have let slip that being welcomed into his bed was the kind of thought most women must fight against every time they looked at the man?
She had never seen him look so startled, and her spirits plummeted. She said, rather miserably, ‘I would like to go home now, Dan.’
But that ever-lurking smile was tugging mischievously at the corners of his mouth.
‘No, you don’t,’ he replied. ‘And I’m not going to take you home, because I’m enjoying your company enormously.
And Kate, it would be unkind of me to deprive everyone else, particularly the gentlemen, of your presence. ’
‘Why?’
He leaned closer. ‘Because,’ he murmured, ‘you are by far the prettiest lady at the party. Believe it or not, it’s true.
Anyway, I’d like to eat now. Are you hungry?
I hope so, because I get weary of ladies who pretend to have the appetite of a sparrow.
By the way, if it makes you any happier, I can lie and tell you that you look an absolute dowd if you wish. ’
She had to laugh. ‘No need to go that far. And my appetite is not at all sparrow-like, so let us eat.’
They never reached the dining room though, because on their way the Earl was surrounded by yet more people he knew.
The men spoke to Kate with courtesy, but almost instantly Kate recognised their wives from her early outings in Brighton and her defences were up.
When the Earl set off again towards the dining room she started to follow him—but three of the women barred her way.
‘Kate,’ one of them exclaimed, ‘how delightful to see you here!’
This, from someone who had cut her dead last time they met. ‘Indeed,’ she replied coolly. ‘But please excuse me. I believe the Earl—my companion for the evening—will be wondering where I am.’
She had scarcely gone a few feet, though, when she heard them talking about her. ‘It’s pitiable, really,’ one was saying. ‘She’s giving herself such airs! I heard she had a Season in London several years ago, but had no luck at all finding herself a husband.’
Kate froze. Thanks to an enormous potted palm she was out of their sight, but she could hear every nasty word.
‘So what on earth,’ another lady was saying, ‘is she doing with the Earl of Rivington?’
‘Oh, you’ll remember how bitter he was over his break-up with Lady Cecily. Perhaps he’s vowed to steer clear of anyone who could tempt him, and that’s why he’s here with that odd woman.’
‘I’ve heard she can’t even dance—imagine that!’
‘Can’t dance? Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely. If you watch her walk, you’ll see that she positively hobbles.’
‘Really?’ Another woman giggled. ‘Then let’s get one of the men to ask her to dance. That will put her in her place. I know, we’ll ask Jack Spencer to do it. He’s in the ballroom already and he’s always up for a laugh. I’ll go and tell him.’
The women moved purposefully on, but Kate stayed where she was, trembling with indignation.
She knew that if she rejoined Dan, she would instantly be protected from the spite of those females by his mere presence. But she was determined to deal with this herself. She lifted her head high and headed straight for the crowded ballroom.
Soon she could see the couples lining up for the gavotte, and it wasn’t long before a man with an exaggerated flaxen quiff, a plump pink face and a high starched cravat appeared in front of her.
‘Miss Summerby.’ He made an extravagant bow.
‘May I introduce myself? My name is Jack Spencer and I would be honoured if you would let me partner you for this dance.’
His speech was slurred and she could smell the brandy on his breath. Already people were staring, especially those women who had concocted the plan, but Kate just did not care. You foolish man, she thought. If only you knew how much I despise you and your friends!
She held out her hand and positively beamed. ‘Why, indeed, I would love to dance!’ She looked around. ‘Let us go to the head of the line, shall we?—so we can be seen by everyone. Oh, I adore the gavotte!’
The colour had drained from his cheeks. ‘You mean it? Really? I didn’t think you would accept.’
‘Why?’
‘Because… Because—’
Kate gave a gesture of dismissal. ‘I have indeed accepted, Mr Spencer. I must warn you, though, that when I dance, I’m often a little out of time and I may tread on your feet. Sometimes, I even fall over. Imagine! But you won’t mind any of that, I’m sure.’ She thrust out her hand. ‘Lead the way.’
Reluctantly he took her hand. But before he could do anything else, someone else was there—a tall, broad-shouldered man in a charcoal-grey coat, who said coldly to Jack Spencer, ‘You will have to find another partner, sir. Miss Summerby has promised me her company.’
‘Lord Rivington!’ stuttered Spencer. ‘I didn’t realise. Of course, I shall step aside instantly.’
The Earl lowered his voice. ‘You better damned well had,’ he said.
‘In fact, for your own safety, you would be wise to get out of my sight altogether.’ Taking Kate’s arm, he directed a withering look at Spencer and then at all those who were watching, and only after he had led Kate away to a far corner of the ballroom did the buzz of chatter begin again.
He said to Kate, a little curtly, ‘It seems I cannot leave you alone for one minute. What on earth were you up to, agreeing to dance with that drunken idiot?’
She looked up at him defiantly. ‘I was taking matters into my own hands, my lord, as I’ve often had to in the past. You see, I knew he intended to humiliate me by inviting me onto the dance floor, and I accepted out of pure mischief.
I assure you, it was worth it to see the look of horror on his face!
Even if you hadn’t intervened, he would have backed out within moments. ’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely. Because that kind of trick has been played on me before.’
‘I see,’ he said slowly. Then he added, ‘I’m sorry I doubted you.’
‘That’s all right.’ She smiled then. ‘It was entertaining to see you giving him and his malicious friends the most cutting stare I have ever seen. I must repeat that I will be forever grateful to you for helping me to be accepted in Brighton society. With most people, at any rate.’
‘All the same, this evening has had its problems for you and you must be tired. Would you like me to take you home?’
‘Take me home?’ Secretly she was a little weary; weary of the same jokes, the same old taunts, but she widened her eyes in mock horror.
‘And be defeated by those fools who tried to make fun of me? Of course not. In fact, if you are willing, I suggest that we continue to show everyone we are enjoying ourselves thoroughly.’
She was brave, Dan realised. When he’d first met her, he’d assumed she was the kind of woman to be avoided at all costs, with her apparent disdain for Society and men in general.
But had everyone—including him—judged her unfairly?
Was it so wrong that she had resolved to live her life independently?
After what she’d gone through, who could blame her for her decision?
Also, he hadn’t been lying when he’d told the Darrows that he thought she could be the belle of Brighton’s summer season.
Looking at her now, he realised she was gazing a little wistfully at the dancers, and he felt stirred by an emotion he couldn’t quite identify.
She looked more beautiful than ever. Her fair hair had slipped delightfully from its pins, allowing a cascade of untamed locks to add a subtle glow to her face.
Her green eyes held a new magic, because in the light of the ballroom’s many candelabras they sparkled with flashes of pure gold.
He said suddenly, ‘You are watching the dancers. Do you envy them, Kate?’
She turned to him. ‘Of course,’ she said quietly. ‘I think it must be rather wonderful to be able to dance.’
Those simple words pierced his iron-armoured heart and must have addled his brain too, because to his astonishment he found himself saying, ‘Well then. Why don’t you try it?’
‘But I can’t.’ She was looking at him in amazement. ‘You know that!’
‘I know nothing of the sort.’ He pointed to the doors leading out into the garden. ‘Come outside with me, and I’ll show you what it’s like.’
Her expression was frozen now. ‘I think you must be making fun of me.’
He shook his head. ‘Please, Kate. Trust me. Will you?’
Then he took her hand and he led her outside.