Read Online Susan Spencer Paul - [Enchanter 01] by Touch of Night - Free Book Online Page A

Graymar quite reminds me of my aunt.” She smiled. “I do not mean that unkindly.”
    He almost laughed. “I know you did not. But I promise that the earl shall never hear of the comparison from my lips.” He hesitated a moment before asking, as casually as he could, “The Linleys are an old family, are they not?”
    “Very old, I’m afraid,” she said, with such an odd expression that he wished he could know what she was feeling. “My aunt would tell you that we are among the oldest families in Europe, with one of the purest bloodlines. She’s fond of speaking about our family history.”
    “And you aren’t?” he asked.
    “No, not really,” she said. “It can be rather exhausting to belong to such a family. There are so many things one must do, and many more that one mustn’t, lest the family name be disgraced. But I needn’t tell you any of that, for you know very well what I mean. The Seymour name is ancient, is it not?”
    “Unfortunately, yes,” he said. “I believe we must be kindred spirits in that regard, Miss Linley.”
    Again he caught a flash of that odd, sad expression before it was covered over with a smile.
    “As both our families are so antiquated,” he said, “I can’t help but wonder if we’re in any way related.”
    “I’ve never heard of any connection,” she replied as he spun her into a turn.
    “Perhaps there’s some tie through another family, to which we’re both related?” he asked. “Are there any The-riots in your family line? Or Llandrusts?”
    Her brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t believe so. Are you related to the Theriots, Mister Seymour?” she asked with unfeigned interest. She sounded excited bythe possibility. “They’re rather infamous, almost like Gypsies, are they not?”
    Almost, he thought, and regretted having brought the subject up. That particular branch among the Families was given to gambling and thievery, and excelled at both. Why in heaven’s name had he mentioned them, rather than one of the other, far more respectable family names? And why wasn’t she insulted that he should even suggest a relationship, rather than appearing fascinated?
    “Distantly,” he replied, and decided that it would be best to let Malachi pursue the question of any relationship between them. “You dance beautifully, Miss Linley, for a lady who no longer dances.”
    He realized, as he said the merely polite words, that they were true. They were dancing. Together. Miss Linley was no longer rigid in his arms, and they were moving with ease, dancing as gracefully as any of the other couples on the floor.
    And there was something even more astonishing—something that he had only just realized. Not only was he not feeling her emotions, but the emotions of all those around him had dimmed, as well, until they were nearly covered by the loudness of the music.
    They had been conversing so easily because of this unexpected miracle, and because they’d been conversing so easily, he hadn’t noticed it until the music had nearly come to an end. And then, before he could really turn the knowledge over in his mind, they had come to a stop and Miss Linley had stepped out of his arms.
    Immediately, the swell of emotions began to fly at him as they had been doing before the dance started. Withoutthinking, he reached out to pull her back into his . . . arms and the din lessened again.
    “God above,” he muttered, taken aback by this new development. Julia Linley certainly was a surprising young woman.
    “Mister Seymour?”
    Niclas let her . . . go then took her back into his arms again, then let her go. Each had the same result as before.
    “I believe,” she said, putting out a hand to stop him as he tried to take her into his arms again, “that the music has ended, Mister Seymour.”
    Niclas came to his senses, to discover that they were standing alone on the dance floor, surrounding by many interested onlookers. He didn’t need to see their expressions more closely to