The Bachelor Earl - Darcy Burke Page 0,7

do that?”

“I could ensure the pianoforte isn’t working tomorrow.” He gave her a conspiratorial wink.

Her eyes widened, but she laughed again. “You wouldn’t.”

“I most certainly would.”

“No, please don’t. Perhaps someone else will play. Indeed, perhaps there will be enough people wanting to perform that she won’t even ask me.” She sounded quite hopeful.

“I plan to do so.”

Surprise flickered across her face and parted her pink lips. “Will you? Not the pianoforte, I assume, since you may very well be disabling it.”

He chuckled. “Not the pianoforte.”

“What, then?”

He smiled at her. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

The music began, and Edmund held out his hand. “Shall we dance?”

“We shall.” She put her fingers on his, and the feel of her flesh against his—for no one had donned gloves after dinner—sent a wave of longing through him.

He had no idea what the next several days held in store, but he could hardly wait to find out.

Chapter 3

Following a respite after breakfast the next day, everyone gathered in the ballroom, where a dais had been set up. Two rows of ten chairs each stood before it. On the dais was the pianoforte, which Genie had declined to play. And Cecilia had asked. She’d also graciously accepted Genie’s refusal.

Genie had thoroughly enjoyed dancing last night. So much that even if the rest of the party was a dismal bore, she would be delighted she’d come.

It wouldn’t be a bore, however, not with Lord Satterfield in attendance. He’d quite dazzled her last night with his dancing ability as well as his conversation. He’d been witty and charming during their dance, and afterward, when they’d spent some time discussing their love of horses, dislike of hot weather, and boredom with the minuet.

Caught up in her thoughts, Genie nearly ran into Lord Satterfield as they both arrived at the second row at the same time. She lifted her hand to her chest. “Pardon me, I almost didn’t see you. I’m afraid I was lost in thought.”

“And here I was, completely fixed on you from the moment I entered the ballroom,” he said with a smile. “What were you thinking of?”

“Last night, actually. I was recalling your story of your disastrous minuet with—I forget whom. I think I was laughing too hard to even hear her name.”

“The whom is inconsequential. No one wanted to dance with me after that.” He’d told her he gave up asking anyone for the rest of that Season.

“Well, if I’d known, I would have declined your offer last night,” she said saucily.

“Then you would have missed out on a sublime set, because we danced very well together. I didn’t step on your foot, nor did I knock you to the ground.” Both were things he’d done during the Monstrous Minuet, as he’d called it.

Genie laughed lightly as he gestured to the two open seats at the end of the row. “After you,” he said.

Stepping into the row, Genie took her seat. Lord Satterfield followed suit, moving the tails of his coat as he sat. He wore a superbly tailored coat of fine dark blue wool. His cravat was almost blindingly white, particularly against the dark color of the coat.

“Will you tell me now what you plan to perform?” Genie asked.

He grinned and shook his head. “You don’t have long to wait.”

“Then may I at least ask if the pianoforte is functional?”

He turned slightly toward her. “Have you changed your mind about playing?”

“I have not, but I see it’s on the dais, so clearly, someone intends to play. It would be a shame if it didn’t work.”

“I have done nothing to interfere with its functionality,” Lord Satterfield said, lifting his hand to his chest.

Cecilia stepped onto the dais and faced the assembly. “I see everyone is here. Splendid. We have nine performances to enjoy. We will begin with Lord Satterfield, who will dazzle us with his portrayal of Hamlet in a selection from Shakespeare’s masterpiece.”

Genie turned her head sharply to Satterfield, surprised at his choice. She didn’t have time to say anything as he stood and made his way to the dais.

He helped Cecilia down, then stepped up. “Thank you, Lady Cosford. As she said, I shall perform a piece from Hamlet. Act 3, Scene 1, to be specific.”

The room instantly quieted as he turned and presented his back. Genie loved Shakespeare, and this soliloquy was one of her favorite passages. She edged forward in her chair, expecting him to turn around and begin.

But he kept his back to them as he began to