Page 25 of Captivating the Countess
She flashed him a golden glare that practically reflected the light in sunbeams. “I told Alicia you were never rude to people. Must I retract that statement? I can dance once I’m back in practice. I choose my own gowns. I have been running my own estate since infancy. Why do you pretend I am a toy to be displayed as an act of defiance against those who only wish the best for you?”
“Is that what I’m doing? I thought I was flattering a lovely lady and displaying her for a roomful of eligible young gentlemen to admire. Most women would be delighted.” He was doing no such thing. He was spiting Teddy and Alicia and enjoying himself.
“I am beginning to see the family similarity to your sister and cousin.” She relaxed in his arms a trifle.
“And you call me rude!” He truly was insulted. Teddy and Alicia were scatterbrains. “That was unfair. I bear no resemblance whatsoever to that pair.”
“I don’t know your other sisters well enough to judge, but I suspect all of you are managing, manipulative, and accustomed to having your own way. I assume that also applies to the duke?”
Rain couldn’t decide if he wanted to dump the countess in the corner with his sisters or hang onto her for the rest of the evening. He couldn’t remember ever having a conversation like this, much less on a dance floor. “It’s the way of the world. Someone must lead.”
“And all of you have appointed yourselves leaders without regard to what others think? I am trying to learn how to be a countess, you see. And I’m thinking my tenants would lock me up before they’d accept my manipulating their lives as I pleased.”
“They work for you.” Rain glanced down at her in puzzlement. “They are supposed to do what you ask.”
“It is not really asking, is it? Not when we own the land and hold the purse strings. They either do as we say or leave. And since my tenants only know farming and have no other home, they can’t leave. I know far less about farming than they do, yet I’m supposed to lead?”
“Well, yes, there’s the flaw in allowing women to inherit—”
She released his hands and walked off in the middle of the dance floor.
Rain had no choice but to follow her. He wasn’t entirely certain if he wanted to catch up and strangle her or continue this very odd argument. What the devil was wrong with the woman?
Teddy was right there, handing her a glass of lemonade and laughing over some quip—probably angry—that she’d made—probably about Rain. He signaled a servant to bring the tray of champagne and snatched a glass as he approached. There were some advantages to being the damned marquess around here.
“Walking away from an argument is the reason women will never succeed in leadership.” Rain knew he stoked the coals, but he was enjoying the fire too much.
“A dance floor is no place for an argument,” she countered. “If that is the sort of conversation you wish while others are anticipating pleasure, I can understand why you have difficulty finding a match.”
Rain hid his grin behind his glass when he replied. “I do not normally talk at all during a dance. I have very little to say to young misses, as you can see.”
The music plodded on. The dancers continued their foolish parade. Heads turned to watch them. Rain was fairly certain Alicia was glaring holes in his back about now.
“You must say nice things to the ladies, old man.” Teddy offered helpfully. “Tell them their hair is like spun gold and their eyes are the color of the moon at midnight, that way you don’t even have to figure out the color.”
“I did say nice things.” Rain gestured his glass at the lady, who looked as if she were prepared to escape. “She took them as a rude comment on her person and decision making, I believe. It is the countess who is out of practice at cloying sweetness.”
“You did not sayanythingflattering. You insinuated I would not dress properly without Alicia’s aid and that I could not deal with my estate because I am female. I do notwantflattery,” she added hastily. “I am a mere employee and you have made a spectacle of me.”
“To be fair, my lady,” Teddy interrupted. “He showed the company that you are a countess, the next highest ranking title after his, since it is yours and not bestowed by marriage. If you had a dance card, the bids would be rising.”
Rain was denied the pleasure of her response when Estelle swept over, holding out the infamous dance cards.
“If Rain wishes to pay to blackball the other suitors on Lady Craigmore’s card, I think we can double or triple the bids. Your outrageous behavior, dear brother, has caused a clamor for the countess’s attention.”
Rain watched the angry pink fade from his steward’s cheeks. He suspected she was prepared to bolt. He couldn’t be certain of her reason, but if he had to attend this damned entertainment, he wanted to do so with a sparring partner at his side.
He took the card Lady Estelle waved, tore it into shreds, and flung the bits into the air so all the shallow young cads could see. “Tell Alicia I’ll not deduct the cost of this affair from her proceeds if Lady C is allowed to choose her own partners. The young pups will have to ask properly.”
His reward was her expression of relief. Gratitude would be too much to expect. The lady wielded as much arrogance as he did—she simply hid it better.
“Fine then, I claim the supper dance!” Teddy crowed.
“Over my dead body, Cuz.” Rain bowed before the suddenly tongue-tied countess. “I hope you’ll reserve the supper dance for me, my lady. I’ve been told it will be a waltz and that you dance beautifully.”
Her expression was priceless. Her reply was not.
“I think Teddy might be right about his sketches.” Her voice shook a little. “There is a very ominous shadow in the corner to the left of the musician’s gallery. Perhaps someone should check on the duke.”
