with Charles as Lucas stood with two glasses in his hands. He wasn’t aware of Edward until he heard him chuckle. “Don’t tell me the hunter has lost the edge,” Edward teased, as both of them looked across the dance floor as Lucy was twirled and moved about the room.
Lucas lifted the first glass to his lips and quickly emptied it. As he began to sip from the second, his lips turned up in a smile. “Oh, believe me, Edward, this hunter never loses the scent of his prey,” Lucas said, and put the empty glasses onto a nearby table.
Edward and Louisa watched as he practically stalked out onto the floor just as the music ended the dance. He was soon holding Lucille a bit too close and informing Charles that he was sure he had this next dance. Edward and Louisa watched her sister’s face and saw her flush. She looked beautiful and unsure of what was happening.
“Seems, I was too long in line, Edward,” Lord Eddinberg said as he and his wife joined the couple. “Your lovely young ward needs no introduction at all.” Edward smiled and shook his head. He pulled his wife closer to his side. “It appears she is going to ruffle quite a few roosters’ feathers before the night is done,” he added as additional men were taking advantage of the fact that Charles and Lucas had allowed the subject of their attention to remain unclaimed.
“This is exactly why I plucked my little lady straight from her father’s lap,” Edward said, and bent to kiss her gently. “I will never regret claiming her as mine before another man could even set his eyes upon her.” Louisa blushed and smiled as he wrapped both arms around her and pulled her against his chest.
Eddinberg clapped him on the back. “As did I, my boy,” he said with a chuckle, and pulled his own smiling wife onto the floor.
“I’m glad you did, Papa,” Louisa said with a contented sigh. “I don’t think I would have liked having men fight over me like that,” she giggled and pointed toward the floor. Lucy was standing with her hands on her hips, shaking her head as Lucas and Charles were obviously exchanging heated words.
Edward grinned and shook his head. He watched as a man he knew was a prominent barrister bowed to Lucy and then observed in amusement as his ward nodded and was soon being whisked away from the two rivals. He heard Louisa giggle again at the looks on Charles and Lucas’ faces when they realized that Lucy had tired of their discussion over her dance card by choosing an altogether different man.
“I fear it will be a long night,” Edward said as he pulled Louisa onto the floor.
“But, Papa,” she said as he started the dance, “it won’t be boring.”
“Too true, my love, too true,” Edward chuckled, and danced his bride around the room.
Lucy’s mind was whirling as she was expertly guided to weave among the other couples dancing around them. She had not stopped dancing from the moment Charles had led her out onto the dance floor. She had lost sight of both Charles and Lucas when she had agreed to be whisked away from their argument. Knowing it improper, she tried to hide her smile of amusement. Mr. Birkenstone, her current partner, seemed very pleased to have been able to tempt her into a dance. As he twirled her past Lord and Lady Wintercrest, he tilted his head and gave them a nod. Lucy saw her sister smile and returned it.
Some of her earlier fear had dissipated with the sights and sounds that surrounded them. As they once again danced past Charles and Lucas, Lucy smiled and admitted to herself that while Lucas presently looked a trifle bit cranky, he too had a part in making her feel as if perhaps she did belong here after all. When the music drew to a close, Edward walked toward them.
“Good evening, Nathaniel,” he said as he shook the man’s hand. “I see you’ve managed to draw my ward away from both Charles and Lucas.” Nathaniel bowed his head in acknowledgement.
“Only because both were fools to leave such a prize unattended, sir,” he said with a chuckle before turning to smile at Louisa. “Louisa, you are absolutely charming this evening. Is your papa ensuring that your own dance card is filled or might I have the privilege of escorting you for this next dance?”
Lucy watched with interest, his