Page 36 of Pursued Beyond Treachery
“No, only the one that counts.”
They were interrupted when the clock struck nine and the doors of the court were thrown wide open. All conversation stopped and Prince George himself walked in, dressed in his favorite military style, complete with gold buttons and faux medals. His sister, Mary, dressed in a fine silk gown of blue, clung to his arm.
Attendees parted like waves of the ocean, bowing deeply as the royal dinner party passed. Likewise Johnathan stepped back, Al following suit.
“My goodness,” Melior said from beside him. “His Royal Highness has grown rather thick about the middle since I last laid eyes on him.”
Johnathan turned in surprise, not realizing the party from Kendall House had joined him. Al moved back, creating space for Susannah to move to the front in order to have a better view.
His Majesty moved slowly, nodding to those he recognized and every once in a while stopping to speak a word to someone. Those from the royal dinner party, which included the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, waited patiently while he advanced. When he reached them, he stopped, extending his hand out to raise Melior from her deep curtsy.
“Miss Kendall, nay, it is Lady Stanford now, is it not?”
“It is, Your Majesty.”
“Always a pleasure to see you.” Prince George’s eyes traveled liberally over Melior’s form before moving to the rest of the group. “And who is this magnificent creature?”
His Majesty placed the tips of his fingers on Susannah’s head to raise her from her curtsy. She glanced up in surprise. Johnathan clenched his teeth. No one spoke against the Prince Regent, but he did not like the way the man took such liberties with his eyes.
“Your Majesty,” Melior said, “This is Miss Wayland, of Maidstone.”
“Lovely. Absolutely lovely. I do hope you enjoy yourself, Miss Wayland.”
Johnathan wished the corpulent man would move on and keep his hands and eyes to himself.
When the prince finally left, he turned to Susannah. “Are you well?”
“Absolutely divine.” Her eyes were all aglow. “Can you believe the Prince Regent himself called me lovely? How many ladies in England could boast of such a thing? Certainly no one of my acquaintance.”
In the wake of her joy, Johnathan relaxed. At least she’d not noticed the prince’s ungentlemanly attentions, and from a married man no less. It was no wonder he and Princess Caroline were at odds with each other.
Susannah smoothed the front of her pristine dress, still preening over the compliment. Johnathan’s mouth went dry. She was stunning. It was no wonder the prince had noticed her. Candlelight flickered off her locks, making them shimmer like the surface of a golden pool.
“It’s now or never, old man,” Al whispered from behind him.
He swallowed hard. “Miss Wayland.”
“Yes.” She clasped her hands behind her back, the picture of innocent beauty.
“May I… that is, would you…” He was butchering this. “Will you dance with me?” There, he had said it.
“My first two sets are taken, but I would be honored to dance the third with you. If there is room, that is. With this crush, I am not certain we will have any.”
“If not… a turn about the room will do.”
Her face lit up. “I would like that, John.”
His heart stuttered to a stop at her use of his Christian name. He’d heard it on her lips dozens of times over the years, but it had been months since she’d used it. With a painful lurch his heart flew back into action, racing as if it were a horse in a steeple race.
His mind rushed through subjects he wished to speak with her on, words to fill the space between them and pull them closer, but the announcement of the first set and subsequent arrival of Mr. Wallace brought his excitement to an abrupt halt.
Susannah placed her hand in Mr. Wallace’s, her attention fully on her partner as if he’d been completely forgotten. Of course. Why not? He held the place of an older brother after all. Nothing more.
Chapter 12
Mr. Wallace was an excellent dancer and Susannah hoped he would not notice her deficiencies. One of only six couples in the middle of the room, they danced the minuet to the music of an orchestra, the likes of which Susannah had never heard before. Princess Mary led out the dancers at the head, leaving all others to follow suit.
If Mr. Wallace had any complaints about Susannah’s dancing he hid it well, for his attention hardly ever strayed from her. In truth, his attentions were so bold it left her in little doubt of his interest. Never before had any man appeared so awestruck in her presence.
