Page 11 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
The waltz ended, and Mr. Adair returned her to her mother with the promise to call on her tomorrow. Kate watched him disappear back into the throng of guests, feeling hopeful that she had found a candidate. Someone she could potentially like and respect enough to marry.
But then she spotted something beyond Mr. Adair that quickly erased all thoughts of him from her mind. A familiar tall figure with dark hair had just entered the ballroom and was looking around, getting his bearings.
It was the man she’d been searching for.
CHAPTER 4
Fortunately,at that moment, Lady Carlisle and Sophie joined them.
Kate leaned close to Sophie. “There’s a man over there I want to talk to,” she whispered, keeping an eye on both of their mothers to make sure neither of them was listening in. “Very stylish. A little flamboyant.” Definitely different from how he had been dressed the other times she’d seen him. “Keep them distracted for me.”
Perhaps she should have just asked for an introduction, but she couldn’t help feeling that if she took her eyes off the man for even a minute, he’d disappear.
“Who?” Sophie asked, looking around in a way that wasn’t at all subtle.
“Over there.” She gestured discreetly toward the man. “He’s wearing the sky-blue waistcoat with a fuchsia cravat.”
Sophie giggled as she spotted him. “I should have realized that a man who would pair those colors would be your type. Of course you would prefer a fashionable gentleman to one who dresses in conventional black.”
Kate shrugged one shoulder. In truth, he had been wearing dark colors when she’d seen him last, but she also couldn’tdeny that she liked his bravery and committing to a pink-and-blue ensemble, especially considering that it contrasted with the harsh lines and angles of his face.
“Oh my.” Sophie made a show of fanning herself. “I feel a little faint. Is it warm in here?”
As their mothers began to fuss over her, Kate slunk away and wove between groups of people deep in conversation, edging closer to the man. She didn’t know exactly what to do or say, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her from meeting him and making an impression.
As she drew near, inspiration struck. She feigned tripping and tumbled forward as gracefully as she could, praying he’d catch her.
Fortunately, the universe was listening, and the gentleman turned just in time to see her fall. He caught her in a pair of lean, strong arms, and she got her first proper look at his eyes. They were very wide. Wide and brown. For some reason, she’d fancied that they might be black. Her gaze dipped, and she noticed there was a sweet little freckle on his chin.
“Are you all right, miss?” he asked in a warm, rumbling voice.
“You saved me.” She blinked up at him, fluttering her eyelashes and hoping he wouldn’t question what, exactly, she’d tripped over. “Thank you, good sir.”
His touch scalded her, and she drew back before anyone could comment on her making a scene. Honestly, she was lucky her mother hadn’t noticed. Hopefully Sophie had well and truly diverted her attention.
The man chuckled. “I was just in the right place at the right time. I’m glad to be of service. Are you well? Did you injure yourself?”
“No.” Her cheeks burned even hotter. “I just need a moment to myself. Perhaps some fresh air.”
He cocked his head, studying her face as if making sure she was telling the truth. “Would you like me to escort you to the balcony?”
Her heart thudded. In some circumstances, that might be quite a scandalous request, but she’d already noticed that the balcony here opened onto the room containing the refreshments and that it didn’t look to have any hidden nooks and crannies. Groups of people had been coming and going from it as they enjoyed glasses of lemonade and pieces of cake.
“That would be much appreciated. Thank you…” She waited, giving him the opportunity to introduce himself, but he didn’t do so. Perhaps he was a very literal sort and hadn’t noticed the opening she’d left for him.
He took her arm and escorted her around the dancers and through the doorway, skirting the revelers who’d chosen to pause for something to eat and heading straight to the balcony. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. There was something slightly different about him. He didn’t hold himself in quite the same way he had when she had seen him getting out of his carriage.
Or perhaps she’d simply read too much into it and was being fanciful. It wouldn’t be the first time.
There were a pair of women on the balcony. Kate recognized one of them but couldn’t put a name to the face. She just knew that the woman was an exceptional cellist. Her savior led her to the edge of the balcony and rested his forearms on the railing.
“Is this your first season?” he asked, and it didn’t escape her notice that he had yet to inquire after her name or reveal his own.
“My second,” she corrected him.
One of his eyebrows rose at that. “A pretty girl like you didn’t get scooped up last season? What’s wrong with the gentlemen of theton?”
She laughed. “You say that as if the idea that I might have turned them down never occurred to you.”
