Page 46 of The Banished Bride
It was hardly the sort of story to inspire a novelist to lift a pen, she thought with a rueful grimace. Rather a playwright to compose a farce?—
“Aurora!”
Her head came up, wondering who on earth could possibly be interrupting her thoughts.
“I thought it was you!” Jack reined his mount to a slow walk beside the carriage and tipped his hat with a gentlemanly flourish. “How wonderful to see you again, and under more comfortable circumstances.” His broad grin shifted to includethe others. “Good day, Woodbridge.” He gave a polite nod to the older woman. “I’m afraid I have not have the pleasure.”
“Wheatley,” murmured Alex in reply. “Then allow me to introduce Miss Robertson. Robbie, this is Viscount Wheatley, eldest son of the Marquess of Sedge?—”
“Good Heavens, was I the only one unaware that the entire House of Lords was rusticating in the north?” snapped Aurora.
Jack colored slightly. “Your pardon for the little subterfuge, but when engaged in a clandestine mission?—”
“Yes, yes, I know—when engaged in a clandestine mission, it doesn’t do to reveal your true identity,” she muttered.
“What bring you here to Town,” he asked quickly, in an endeavor to change the subject. “I seem to recall you mentioning that you never had occasion to visit.”
“Some pressing matters of personal business have required my presence,” she replied tightly.
“I see.” As a gentleman, he forbore making further inquiry. “I do hope they are resolved to your satisfaction.” He adjusted the angle of his brim. “But how delightful to have you here. Where are you staying?”
Keeping her eyes averted from Alex, Aurora gave a small cough. “By purest chance, it was discovered that Lord Woodbridge’s great aunt and I are related. Through marriage. Miss Robertson and I are residing for the next little while at her townhouse while she is away in Bath.”
“Splendid! You must promise to come to the gala ball my mother is giving at Sedgewick House on Friday evening. She has outdone herself in the preparations, and as she is accorded to be one of the best hostesses in London, the evening will no doubt be a stunning affair.”
“Oh, b-but …”A ball?The chance to wear a frothy gown? The prospect of waltzing in a gentleman’s arms? She had doneneither in her life, and the very thought of it reduced her words to an incoherent stammer.
Jack looked a bit crestfallen at her less than enthusiastic response. “Perhaps you do not care for such frivolous entertainment, given some of your, er, opinions on human nature.”
“No, it’s not that. I-I am simply not sure we are free.” Her eyes flew to Miss Robertson in mute appeal. “Are we, Robbie?”
It was Alex who answered.“I think it might be fitted in between the visit to Astley’s and the arrangements to seeA Lady of Great Sensibilityat Haymarket,” he said dryly. “We shall be delighted to attend.”
“Wonderful! I shall have the invitations sent around to Woodbridge House.” Seeing that the friends he had been out riding with were growing impatient for him to return, he gathered his reins. “I’m afraid I must take my leave , but I look forward to Friday.” His smile lingered on Aurora. “You must promise to save me a waltz.”
“A waltz,” repeated Miss Robertson, a dreamy expression softening her normally sharp eyes. “Imagine that!”
Aurora did just that, and the vision brought a particularly vile grimace to her features.
Alex’s brows rose a fraction. “You truly dislike dancing?”
Still flustered by the turn of events, she blurted out, “I don’t know how to dance.”
“So there is actually some discipline that you have not mastered?” He gave a low chuckle. “I thought all young ladies knew how to dance.”
Color flooded to her cheeks. Stung by his teasing, a note of defensiveness crept into her tone. “It’s all very well to laugh at my lack of feminine graces, sir,” she said stiffly. “I am well awareof how unpolished I appear to you. But it’s not as if I have had a great deal of opportunity to hone such skills.”
The humor faded from his face. “You think I am making fun of you, Aurora?” He asked quietly.
Her mouth quivered at the sound of her name on his lips.
“I am well aware that you have had no chance to partake in the normal social activities befitting a lady of your station,” he went on. “But not knowing how to execute a box step or a twirl may be rectified quite easily. I shall see that a dancing master comes to call at your townhouse daily. By Friday you will leaving all the other young ladies in the dust.”
Thirteen
As Aurora sailed by on the arm of yet another gentleman, Alex quaffed the rest of his champagne and somehow managed not to hurl the empty glass in her wake. He had wanted her to enjoy the evening, but not quite to this extent.Damnation.She had not missed one set yet, and by the look of the cluster of gentlemen gathered near her empty chair, it did not appear as if she would be sitting down any time soon.
The current tune came to an end, but the violins were already striking up the chords of a waltz. He hadn’t bothered stepping out onto the floor after the first few dances, but to avoid seeing the hand of some young buck come to rest at the small of her back, he turned on his heel and stalked off to refill his glass. Or, he reflected, maybe he should simply take up a whole bottle. He had a feeling he was going to need it.
