more to the story than met the eye?
I was so focused on watching Amelia and Lord Rake dance that I didn't hear anyone approach till the last second. "Miss Westin?"
I turned and saw Lord Ashby, all cleaned up and giving Lord Rake a run for his money. For some reason the darkness of his suit made him appear more dangerous than the boy next door. His cravat was gold and tied perfectly over his white shirt. His waistcoat was black as night with breeches to match. His hair was just as I remembered it, curling slightly and overly long.
"Lord Ashby! How wonderful to see you again." My words were spoken with great feeling, as I was grateful to see a familiar face.
"It's a pleasure to see you again as well. If I may be so bold, how are you faring?" His eyes were full of compassion and genuine interest. Everything about his face was readable, open and honest.
"I'm, well… I'm doing better than I was yesterday," I replied honestly.
"Wonderful to hear." His eyes warmed mine.
"Although I did just discover that I have two best friends that I actually like and a reputation of being an unconventional heiress. One discovers the oddest things when they find themselves without a memory." I smiled, giving levity to my words. I didn't have to hide anything from this man. He had already seen me far worse.
"Always good to know who your friends are, but more importantly, your enemies. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Absolutely." My mind wandered back to the rhyming duo.
"Would you care to dance?"
"I'd be delighted."
He led me onto the dance floor, and we began the cotillion. Again I silently thanked Nanna for teaching me all the dances. This way of dancing was so much more fun than the dark club dances from my time. Here, everything was about organized movement, grace and flow. The men were not afraid to lead and the women weren't insulted to be feminine. Dancing was poetry in motion, and I wanted to start back up again went the song ended.
"You look beautiful tonight," Lord Ashby commented as he led me from the dance floor.
"Thank you. You're quite dashing yourself."
He chuckled, as if I he didn't truly believe my words.
"Ah, I love dancing. Isn't it so much fun?"
"Indeed it is, and much more enjoyable with such a graceful partner." His eyes crinkled on the edges, but his dark formal clothes gave him a more mature air tonight.
"Flatterer," I accused.
"Temptress," he countered.
"Why, Lord Ashby, I believe you are a bit of a rake after all," I joked, but my smile stopped when the teasing glint in his eyes left, and he looked shocked.
Recovering, he replied tentatively, "Miss Westin, I didn't mean to imply that my behavior had dishonorable intentions, please understand—"
"I meant it as a compliment. To banter with you, Lord Ashby," I interrupted, afraid I had offended him. Weren't rakes the ones who made the best husbands? Rakes were always the heroes in the books I read. Was I wrong? Was it actually a bad thing to be considered a rake? I was so confused.
"You mean to compliment me by calling me rake?" he asked, disbelieving.
"Yes?" I offered, trying to smile and failing miserably. "Lord Ashby, I fear I am to always make a fool of myself in your presence, so please know I would not blame you if you chose to leave at any moment." I wanted to cover my face with my hands and blend into the wall behind me.
"Given your situation, I believe you're doing the best you can. Do not worry about offending me — I'm made of far stronger stuff. Calling me a rake will not send me to the country estate." He spoke softly to himself. "However it might make me question what I wear next time."
How does one extract oneself from an awkward situation? I was so tired of working so hard to just seem normal. But I didn't want to go home yet, not with Lord Ashby willing to keep me company. He wasn't the flame that burned the moth like Lord Rake, but he had his own allure that I found magnetic, and I wanted to get to know him better.
But I was stuck. What did
I was so focused on watching Amelia and Lord Rake dance that I didn't hear anyone approach till the last second. "Miss Westin?"
I turned and saw Lord Ashby, all cleaned up and giving Lord Rake a run for his money. For some reason the darkness of his suit made him appear more dangerous than the boy next door. His cravat was gold and tied perfectly over his white shirt. His waistcoat was black as night with breeches to match. His hair was just as I remembered it, curling slightly and overly long.
"Lord Ashby! How wonderful to see you again." My words were spoken with great feeling, as I was grateful to see a familiar face.
"It's a pleasure to see you again as well. If I may be so bold, how are you faring?" His eyes were full of compassion and genuine interest. Everything about his face was readable, open and honest.
"I'm, well… I'm doing better than I was yesterday," I replied honestly.
"Wonderful to hear." His eyes warmed mine.
"Although I did just discover that I have two best friends that I actually like and a reputation of being an unconventional heiress. One discovers the oddest things when they find themselves without a memory." I smiled, giving levity to my words. I didn't have to hide anything from this man. He had already seen me far worse.
"Always good to know who your friends are, but more importantly, your enemies. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Absolutely." My mind wandered back to the rhyming duo.
"Would you care to dance?"
"I'd be delighted."
He led me onto the dance floor, and we began the cotillion. Again I silently thanked Nanna for teaching me all the dances. This way of dancing was so much more fun than the dark club dances from my time. Here, everything was about organized movement, grace and flow. The men were not afraid to lead and the women weren't insulted to be feminine. Dancing was poetry in motion, and I wanted to start back up again went the song ended.
"You look beautiful tonight," Lord Ashby commented as he led me from the dance floor.
"Thank you. You're quite dashing yourself."
He chuckled, as if I he didn't truly believe my words.
"Ah, I love dancing. Isn't it so much fun?"
"Indeed it is, and much more enjoyable with such a graceful partner." His eyes crinkled on the edges, but his dark formal clothes gave him a more mature air tonight.
"Flatterer," I accused.
"Temptress," he countered.
"Why, Lord Ashby, I believe you are a bit of a rake after all," I joked, but my smile stopped when the teasing glint in his eyes left, and he looked shocked.
Recovering, he replied tentatively, "Miss Westin, I didn't mean to imply that my behavior had dishonorable intentions, please understand—"
"I meant it as a compliment. To banter with you, Lord Ashby," I interrupted, afraid I had offended him. Weren't rakes the ones who made the best husbands? Rakes were always the heroes in the books I read. Was I wrong? Was it actually a bad thing to be considered a rake? I was so confused.
"You mean to compliment me by calling me rake?" he asked, disbelieving.
"Yes?" I offered, trying to smile and failing miserably. "Lord Ashby, I fear I am to always make a fool of myself in your presence, so please know I would not blame you if you chose to leave at any moment." I wanted to cover my face with my hands and blend into the wall behind me.
"Given your situation, I believe you're doing the best you can. Do not worry about offending me — I'm made of far stronger stuff. Calling me a rake will not send me to the country estate." He spoke softly to himself. "However it might make me question what I wear next time."
How does one extract oneself from an awkward situation? I was so tired of working so hard to just seem normal. But I didn't want to go home yet, not with Lord Ashby willing to keep me company. He wasn't the flame that burned the moth like Lord Rake, but he had his own allure that I found magnetic, and I wanted to get to know him better.
But I was stuck. What did
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