Read Online Waltzing With the Wallflower by Rachel van Dyken, Leah Sanders - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rachel van Dyken, Leah Sanders
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wear.
An excellent reason to be more careful in the future.
Though after this, she feared her only future was that of an old spinster maiden.
Or worse. Sir Bryan.
God have mercy, he spotted her.
A frantic search revealed no quick escape. She would have to speak with the man. In all fairness, he was a kind gentleman. It’s just that she couldn’t breathe when he was near. Swallowing her sensibilities, Cordelia drew a deep breath and awaited his arrival.
“Lady Cordelia, I have been trying to gain an audience with you all evening.” He stepped into the crowd beside her. “You have been highly sought after all night. Have you any space on your card for me?” His warm smile brought her an odd mixture of guilt and comfort. It might not be so bad. She could pray her married life would be blessed with a perpetual head cold.
With a sigh, she lifted her card and scanned it. Anthony’s name was scrawled across the next line. Certainly he wouldn’t be claiming his right after what had just transpired. And if he did have the gall to ask for it, she had no intention of giving him the pleasure of humiliating her further.
“As it happens, Sir Bryan, I do.” She returned his smile and took his offered arm, following him onto the dance floor. She would have to get used to his close proximity if they were to spend the rest of their lives together. May as well learn to breathe the fetid odor now.
“I have been hoping to speak with you,” Sir Bryan whispered as they took their place in the dance, “concerning the lady, Cristina.”
Cordelia’s heart stopped beating for an instant then seemed to drop into the pit of her stomach. Her shock must have registered on her face, because her partner tilted his head in bewilderment. Then muttered on. He spoke of nonsensical things like love and destiny and his chances. Cordelia felt dizzy. A rushing sound filled her head, drowning out what he was saying. She had but one lucid thought: Even Sir Bryan is toying with me.
Then she mourned the loss of her last shred of romantic notion. No knight in shining armor would be coming for her. Not Sir Lancelot, not Sir Bryan and certainly not Ambrose.
Again the tears threatened to expose her vulnerability, and she fought them. Sir Bryan was a kind gentleman, but her tears were not for him. Suppressing the torrent of emotion, she smiled and nodded at all the appropriate places in Sir Bryan’s confession of his intentions towards Lady Cristina.
“It did make things more difficult, however,” he explained, “when you brought her to the attention of the other gentlemen, my lady.” His tone was confusing. Was he irritated with her?
“Pardon, my lord?”
“Surely you knew what you were doing. You have a great pull in this circle, my lady. One nod from you and all the gentlemen surge forward to stake claims on your approval.” He glowered at her as if she had done him some irreparable harm.
“I apologize, Sir Bryan. I had no idea. I sought only to help Lady Cristina. She was crying. They were ripping her to shreds.” How was she to know a small kindness would cause such damage?
He seemed to relax. “No matter now. I shall simply have to work quickly.” His gaze traveled to the outskirts of the room, likely searching for his one true love. The tap on his shoulder startled them both.
“Excuse me, Sir Bryan.” It was Anthony. Indignation rose like bile in Cordelia’s throat. “I believe I had spoken for this dance.”
Cordelia stiffened, hoping Sir Bryan wouldn’t give up without a fight. She could see from his demeanor that he was far more absorbed in thoughts of finding Cristina, for he smiled and excused himself, begging forgiveness for the infringement.
Of all the stupid, despicable, rancid-smelling—
“I need some air.” Anthony grasped her hand in his and pulled her along with him towards the side doors, interrupting her thought.
Once outside, Cordelia tried to wriggle her hand free of his grip to no avail. Since she
An excellent reason to be more careful in the future.
Though after this, she feared her only future was that of an old spinster maiden.
Or worse. Sir Bryan.
God have mercy, he spotted her.
A frantic search revealed no quick escape. She would have to speak with the man. In all fairness, he was a kind gentleman. It’s just that she couldn’t breathe when he was near. Swallowing her sensibilities, Cordelia drew a deep breath and awaited his arrival.
“Lady Cordelia, I have been trying to gain an audience with you all evening.” He stepped into the crowd beside her. “You have been highly sought after all night. Have you any space on your card for me?” His warm smile brought her an odd mixture of guilt and comfort. It might not be so bad. She could pray her married life would be blessed with a perpetual head cold.
With a sigh, she lifted her card and scanned it. Anthony’s name was scrawled across the next line. Certainly he wouldn’t be claiming his right after what had just transpired. And if he did have the gall to ask for it, she had no intention of giving him the pleasure of humiliating her further.
“As it happens, Sir Bryan, I do.” She returned his smile and took his offered arm, following him onto the dance floor. She would have to get used to his close proximity if they were to spend the rest of their lives together. May as well learn to breathe the fetid odor now.
“I have been hoping to speak with you,” Sir Bryan whispered as they took their place in the dance, “concerning the lady, Cristina.”
Cordelia’s heart stopped beating for an instant then seemed to drop into the pit of her stomach. Her shock must have registered on her face, because her partner tilted his head in bewilderment. Then muttered on. He spoke of nonsensical things like love and destiny and his chances. Cordelia felt dizzy. A rushing sound filled her head, drowning out what he was saying. She had but one lucid thought: Even Sir Bryan is toying with me.
Then she mourned the loss of her last shred of romantic notion. No knight in shining armor would be coming for her. Not Sir Lancelot, not Sir Bryan and certainly not Ambrose.
Again the tears threatened to expose her vulnerability, and she fought them. Sir Bryan was a kind gentleman, but her tears were not for him. Suppressing the torrent of emotion, she smiled and nodded at all the appropriate places in Sir Bryan’s confession of his intentions towards Lady Cristina.
“It did make things more difficult, however,” he explained, “when you brought her to the attention of the other gentlemen, my lady.” His tone was confusing. Was he irritated with her?
“Pardon, my lord?”
“Surely you knew what you were doing. You have a great pull in this circle, my lady. One nod from you and all the gentlemen surge forward to stake claims on your approval.” He glowered at her as if she had done him some irreparable harm.
“I apologize, Sir Bryan. I had no idea. I sought only to help Lady Cristina. She was crying. They were ripping her to shreds.” How was she to know a small kindness would cause such damage?
He seemed to relax. “No matter now. I shall simply have to work quickly.” His gaze traveled to the outskirts of the room, likely searching for his one true love. The tap on his shoulder startled them both.
“Excuse me, Sir Bryan.” It was Anthony. Indignation rose like bile in Cordelia’s throat. “I believe I had spoken for this dance.”
Cordelia stiffened, hoping Sir Bryan wouldn’t give up without a fight. She could see from his demeanor that he was far more absorbed in thoughts of finding Cristina, for he smiled and excused himself, begging forgiveness for the infringement.
Of all the stupid, despicable, rancid-smelling—
“I need some air.” Anthony grasped her hand in his and pulled her along with him towards the side doors, interrupting her thought.
Once outside, Cordelia tried to wriggle her hand free of his grip to no avail. Since she
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