Page 28 of The Model Debutante
Chapter Ten
Tallie knew perfectly well, even if William did not, that she should have made her way back to Lady Parry and allowed her chaperone to approve her partners. And she was certain she should not had agreed when Mr Lynley had appeared at her elbow and had begged the privilege of the next dance. But the sight of him had so flustered her that she had not been able to decline gracefully.
It was a quadrille and Tallie quailed a little at the complexities of the steps. They joined a set with three other couples and at first she was too focused on setting to the right partner at the right moment to pay much attention to Jack Lynley.
But after the first repeat her confidence came back and she relaxed. Mr Lynley was fortunately behaving himself impeccably and, if she had not known just how despicably hecouldbehave to a defenceless woman, she would have felt perfectly comfortable in his company. It was obvious he had not the slightest idea he was dancing with the model for the “Diana” picture and she even doubted he recalled the mousy milliner he had winked at in Lady Parry’s drawing room.
However, she was quite certain that he had garnered every scrap of gossip about her fortune and circumstances and this dance was the opening salvo in his campaign to woo the new heiress. It would be amusing to thank him coolly after the dance and to refuse another. She had no sooner resolved on this admirably sensible course of action than the parting lines of dancers gave her a view of Nick Stangate watching her across the floor.
His disapproval was as palpable as if he had spoken and she felt angry heat in her cheeks.
Did he think that after kissing her and lecturing her he wasnow going to try and exert some form of control over her in the ballroom? Well, it was time he was taught a lesson, Tallie fumed. She would show him she was not easily taken in by rakes and fortune hunters and could perfectly easily handle the likes of Jack Lynley.
She pushed away the knowledge that she had been hurt that evening by his silence when she came downstairs. It was ridiculous and she had no need of Nick Stangate's approval or admiration. She knew she was looking very fine. Aunt Kate had told her, William’s open admiration told her, the expressions of the people she met told her.
Tallie tried not to refine too much on the look on Nick’s face as she had walked nervously down those endless stairs. She had expected him to be pleased at the transformation, to smile, to show some warmth and admiration. Instead his face had set into stone, his eyes had glittered coldly and he had not even managed to make some token remark.
Her thoughts must have shown on her face because, as the last notes of the dance echoed around the room and she rose from her curtsey, Jack Lynley asked, ‘Have I displeased you, Miss Grey? Do not say I am responsible for that frown.’
‘Was I frowning? I do beg your pardon. It is just the…the noise and the heat. I am not accustomed to balls, you see.’
‘Then you must have a glass of lemonade and some air, Miss Grey.’ He was guiding her from the floor with practiced smoothness, one hand just resting under her elbow, smiling and bowing as they made their way through the throng.
‘I am all right, really, Mr Lynley. If I could just go back to Lady Parry.’ It was difficult to know how to extricate herself without making a scene.
‘In a moment, Miss Grey. You are quite flushed and I am sure there is a risk of you swooning if you return immediately to that crush and heat. Now just here... Ah yes.’
He pushed open a door and Tallie found herself in a little room, almost like a box at the theatre. It opened out onto a balcony overlooking the garden, although the windows were closed against the chill March night.
‘I will just open this a crack, so, and if you sit here,’ he patted a sofa encouragingly, ‘then you will not be in the draft but you will have the benefit of the air.’
It all seemed very sensible, even innocuous. ‘Thank you, sir.’ Tallie sat down, suddenly aware of just how warm she was feeling. ‘Perhaps if I was to drink some lemonade as you suggested, I will be able to go back in a moment.’
‘Of course.’ Instead of going out for the drink he sat next to her and lifted her hand in his. ‘Why, your pulse is racing, my dear Miss Grey. I think I had better remain here for a moment just in case you feel faint. Put your head on my shoulder so…’
‘Stop it!’ Tallie struggled to stand up and found herself very effectively pinned against the upholstery. Mr Lynley might affect the airs of a languid man of fashion but the muscles under his coat were alarmingly hard as she pushed against them.
‘Just one little kiss before we go back, my dear.’
Tallie freed a hand and swung it. It made satisfying contact with the side of his head but left her gasping and clutching her wrist with the jarring pain. Lynley’s hands groped for her, found her hair and gripped in an effort to turn her face for a kiss.
Tallie wrenched back and felt pins and combs falling down. With a jerk of her knee she was free, on her feet, half-way to the door.
It opened and she found herself face to face with Nick, William at his back. She stopped dead, the carefully piled coiffure came loose and hair cascaded down her back. Behind her Jack Lynley swore, a sharp, vicious sound. In front of her she saw Nick pull William into the room and slam the door to behind him.
‘Stop anyone coming in.’
William placed his back against the panels and stared at the scene. The sight of the shock and distress on his young face hurt Tallie more than anything else.
‘You will name your seconds, Lynley.’ Nick sounded icily calm.
‘Now look here, I know how this looks…’
‘It looks as though you were assaulting Miss Grey.’
‘I was not. Thought she was going to faint – heat and so on. Brought her in here, opened the window, see. Wouldn’t do a damn fool thing like that if I was going to tumble the girl, now would I?’
William straightened up from the door, his fists clenched. Nick put out a hand and stopped him. ‘You will speak of Miss Grey with respect or I will not trouble with form and deal with you here and now.’
