“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Now, would you please stop? I find your brashness very disconcerting.” But pleasing.
“I thought I was being quite restrained, when what I really want to do is pull you into my arms and kiss you.”
A stunned gasp rushed past her lips. “You forget yourself, sir.”
“No, but there are times like these when I’d very much like to.”
He guided her into a twirl under his arm and brought her to face him again without missing a step. There was a gleam of amusement in his eyes, though he was discreet enough not to show it in his polite smile.
“You have that affect on me, Miss Blair. But I will change the subject so as not to further offend your sensibilities. So where does your mother reside?”
Millicent took a deep breath before saying, “In the country. So tell me, if what is written about you is not true, what is?”
“That’s a rather broad question for a lady who only gives the narrowest of answers.”
Millicent stared directly into his intriguing blue eyes, sparkling with immense pleasure. For the first time since beginning their dance, she couldn’t help giving him a genuine smile as she said, “Surely a lady is not supposed to tell everything during a first dance, my lord.”
“Careful, Miss Blair, you are about to ruin your reputation.”
Undaunted, she asked, “How so?”
“I believe that remark was the first thing you have said to me that could be considered flirtatious.”
“Then I must be more careful. Flirting with you is the furthest thing from my mind.”
“I fear the lady doth protest too much, methinks.”
Millicent’s eyes widened in surprise as a warm feeling flooded her. “You’ve studied Shakespeare?”
“Studied? No, I’ve simply read some of his work.”
“He was a very clever man with words.”
“Is that a hint of how I might find my way past your head to your heart, Miss Blair?”
Millicent tingled and tensed at the same time. He was so bold. He was so charming she easily forgot who he was and eagerly engaged him in pleasant conversation.
“Certainly not.”
“I should like to call on you tomorrow afternoon, Miss Blair.”
“That wouldn’t be convenient, Lord Dunraven.”
“The next afternoon, perhaps?”
Lord Dunraven lifted his arm and led her into a slow twirl as the dance ended, far too quickly yet not fast enough. He gently squeezed her fingers again, let go of her hand and bowed.
Millicent curtsied on weak knees. He kept her constantly on her wits. “I’m sorry. I fear my afternoons are full.”
Chandler extended his arm for her, and Millicent graciously accepted. “I do believe you are rejecting my advances, Miss Blair.”
“That’s exactly what I’m doing, sir.”
Quietly they walked back to the perimeter of the room where Lady Heathecoute was waiting for her. Millicent’s heart beat faster than it ever had, and the speed had nothing to do with the dancing. Lord Dunraven’s touch sent her heart rate spiraling out of control, and her common sense took leave.
As they neared the viscountess, Lord Dunraven turned to Millicent and softly said, “If clever words won’t win your heart, Miss Blair, then I shall have to keep looking until I find what will.”
***
After dutifully delivering Miss Blair back to the Lady Heathecoute, he watched them leave. When she turned away from him, Miss Blair was still wearing the stunned look she gave him when he told her he would find a way to her heart. He had shocked himself, too. He hadn’t been this interested in anyone since Lady Lambsbeth sank her claws into him.
He’d been with Miss Blair twice and he hadn’t heard her giggle once, an annoying habit of most of the young ladies at the parties he attended. Funny, the batting of eyelashes and fluttering of fans never used to bother him, but now he found them quite irritating. Thankfully, Miss Blair hadn’t even carried a fan. He wasn’t sure he even saw her blink. She was too in control of herself.
Chandler needed to get himself a drink and search the room again for anyone who looked like he didn’t belong.
Miss Blair was certainly the most intriguing young lady he’d ever met. He wasn’t so sure he should let her know of his interest so soon. He learned early not to act interested in a young lady even if he was. But tonight he’d indicated he wanted to find the way to Miss Blair’s heart. He had never said anything like that before. What was he thinking? He couldn’t have sounded more oafish if he’d been a common schoolboy getting his first glimpse