its outcome. He wondered if perchance he had blundered. There was a vulnerability about her that he did not like. Instead of the forbidding Ice Witch, he saw her as the first fragile flower to emerge from winter’s snowy blanket—fresh, delicate, and easily crushed.
Royce watched Sir Garth Helmsdon move up behind Miss Grantley. He appeared to be taking great care not to be seen until he was close enough to touch her. Strange. According to Miss Grantley it was her cousin, Mrs. Hedgeworth, who held Helmsdon’s interest. Observing the gentleman’s behavior, Royce was inclined to argue that idea. It didn’t appear as if he was dangling after Mrs. Hedgeworth. Not once before dinner had he approached her. Certainly the woman never gave a sign of expecting his attentions, either. And a woman of Millicent Hedgeworth’s ilk would not take kindly to losing any suitor, whether she was interested in him or not. The more men that surrounded her, the more her ego was fed. Also, if there were a rivalry between the two cousins, which he sensed, one would not take kindly to being cut out by the other. The earl’s frown deepened.
"La, my lord, you look so serious," teased Millicent, gently pulling down on his arm. It piqued her to so easily lose his attention, especially to that twit, Jane Grantley. But she was too well schooled in the art of flirtation to allow her irritation to show.
He looked down at the beautiful young woman on his arm, a smile returning to his lips. "A thousand apologies, my dear. Ah, but I see I have only to look into your lovely face and all serious thoughts vanish like smoke in the wind."
Millicent coyly tilted her head and lowered her lashes, then opened them to look up at him with an affected, wide-eyed innocence. "You are too kind, I’m sure."
"Why is it that everyone would have me be so?" he asked, a touch of whimsy in his tone.
"My lord?"
"Nothing, my dear, just odd humors. I see the musicians are ready to begin. May I have the honor of the first dance this evening?" he said before she could question him further.
"I should be delighted, my lord." Millicent’s slow, answering smile was full of seductive promise for the future.
Jane felt the light, gliding touch down her bare arm before she was aware of Sir Helmsdon’s position at her side. Startled, she began to pull away, but his hand clamped about her wrist, anchoring her.
"At last, Miss Grantley, it appears we have the opportunity to renew our friendship. "
"Friendship, sir?" she asked with what coldness she could muster.
"Ah, I see you are remembering our little misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding? I should hardly call an attempt at kidnapping a misunderstanding!" she snapped, then glanced around to see if any had heard. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her tremulous pulse.
He smiled then, and it was almost a sad smile. It shook Jane’s confidence. Instead of pulling away again, she stood still, looking at him warily.
He dropped her wrist and spread his hands before him. "I know the circumstances from your viewpoint were suspicious. You must often be the recipient of fortune hunters’ advances. I will admit, I am not flush in the pockets, and so I must appear to you as another member of that infamous cadre."
"And are you not?"
He looked pained. "My dear, you would do well to call me a liar if I said no. I must marry well, it is true. However, have you never wondered why I have not yet wed so? I could have contracted any number of marriages of convenience, but I have not."
"Because you disdain the smell of the shop," Jane offered.
Sir Helmsdon stiffened. "That is an unkind cut. Not only to me, but to several young women I could name who are well brought up. I would even venture to say they possess a delicacy of manner beyond most young women of society."
Jane looked at him skeptically. "I agree. But if you truly feel so, why have you not married one of them?"
He sighed. "Walk with me a moment, Miss Grantley, and I will tell you," he said, extending his arm to her.
Surprised at his almost humble manner, Jane placed her arm on his. He proceeded to lead her about the room. The musicians were warming up, and sets were assembling. Jane saw Lord Royce lead Millicent out to join the dance. She wished she were lining up to dance, but it appeared Sir Helmsdon