Page 8 of The Lord's Icy Temptress
Any words from him would always be most welcome. Blushing at the praise, Elizabeth replied, “Thank you, Lord Michael. Your skills as a dancer are truly unparalleled. I must confess, I was a bit nervous at first.”
“There was no need to be nervous, my dear. Dancing with you is always an absolute delight.” Michael chuckled softly, his hand tightening slightly around hers. “It is truly fascinating, is it not, Lady Elizabeth?” Michael remarked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Watching everyone preen and peacock themselves in the intricate dance of courtship. It is like a performance, yet there is an undeniable charm to it all.”
Elizabeth smiled, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of continuing the conversation. “Indeed, My Lord, it is quite the spectacle. The elegance and grace displayed by the couples are a sight to behold. One could easily lose themselves in the artistry of it all.”
Michael nodded, but his eyes seemed to hold a hint of contemplation. “You know, I have been thinking that perhaps it is time for me to consider settling down as well,” he admitted, carefully observing Elizabeth’s reaction.
Her heart skipped a beat, but Elizabeth tried her best to maintain her composure. “Settling down, My Lord? That sounds like a sensible idea. Many ladies in the ton would be honoured to be courted by you.”
Michael’s gaze lingered on her face momentarily before he replied, “Indeed, there are many eligible ladies. However, I find myself seeking something more, something genuine and meaningful. Someone who sees beyond the title and wealth and truly understands me.”
Elizabeth’s heart soared at his words, but a sense of uncertainty crept in. “I am sure you will find that connection you seek, Lord Thorne,” she said softly, trying to hide her hopefulness. Elizabeth’s curiosity was piqued, and she could not help playing along with the subtle flirtation. “Ah, My Lord, but the challenge lies in finding such a person in the whirlwind of society events and endless suitors,” she replied teasingly.
He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “That is true, Lady Elizabeth. But perhaps the one I seek has been right in front of me all along,” he said, his gaze holding hers in an intimate moment.
Elizabeth’s heart fluttered at his words, and she felt a rush of warmth spreading through her. “And perhaps she is just waiting for a certain someone to take a chance and discover the depths of her heart,” she replied, her voice soft but filled with subtle invitation.
“Quite right! That would be most ideal,” Michael agreed, his focus shifting from Elizabeth’s face out over those they shared the dance floor with, and her heart dropped. Of course he did not mean her. He saw her as nothing but a friend.
He was likely looking for input from people who would best suit him. She would not do it. She refused to surrender her hope of a future with him. Despite being obtuse from time to time, she adored him. Being near him was just so easy for her.
“You know, Lady Elizabeth,” Michael started, his voice laced with a hint of mischief, “my ideal woman is one who possesses both grace and wit. Someone who can navigate the intricacies of society with elegance but also share a clever repartee that keeps me on my toes.”
Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the description perfectly fitting her. She could not help blushing, her excitement palpable. “That sounds like quite a remarkable woman, My Lord. But I imagine such a lady would be quite elusive to find,” she replied, a playful glimmer in her eyes.
“Ah, but you see, Lady Elizabeth, you have hinted that I have already found her,” Michael said, his gaze tender as he held her close. Closer than was strictly necessary for their dance. It would be far too easy for her to read into such a touch — but he had always playfully blurred that line between friendship and something more.
“Yes, but you will have to be wise enough to see her for all her true values,” Elizabeth managed to say, her face burning from the deep shade of pink she knew was consuming her features.
As the music began to fade, the dance came to an end, and Michael and Elizabeth reluctantly parted ways, knowing they could not linger in each other’s company forever. But not before leaning in close to her ear, his voice low and warm. “I hope to see you again soon, Lady Elizabeth.” He slipped away into the crowd before she had the chance to answer him.
Elizabeth turned to find her mother glaring at her disapprovingly from across the room; she could not suppress the joy that danced in her eyes. Their subtle flirtation had ignited a spark between them, and Elizabeth couldn’t help wondering what the future held for them. She knew her heart was already smitten, and she hoped that Michael felt the same way.
Chapter 6
Seraphina stood in the middle of the bustling ballroom, her heart and mind in disarray. The dance with Lord Ashford had left her feeling oddly unsettled, and she could not decipher her emotions. He had been an enigma on the dance floor, his charm and wit mingling with an air of mystery that kept her on her guard.
She could not deny that Lord Ashford was strikingly handsome, his dark unruly hair and intense green eyes captivating her. Yet, behind that façade of charm, she sensed a depth that she could not quite grasp. It both intrigued and troubled her. What was he hiding beneath that rakish demeanour?
Her best friend, Elizabeth, approached her with a warm smile, breaking through her reverie. “Sera, you danced quite splendidly with Lord Ashford,” Elizabeth remarked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Seraphina offered a small smile in return, her mind still preoccupied with the memory of the dance. “He is an accomplished dancer,” she replied diplomatically, trying to hide the turmoil within her.
“He is indeed,” Elizabeth agreed, her eyes searching Seraphina’s face with curiosity. “But there is something more, is there not? I saw the way he looked at you, Seraphina. It was as though you were the only person in the room.”
A faint blush crept onto Seraphina’s cheeks, and she looked away, feigning nonchalance. “Me? Do not pretend that I have not just seen you dancing with Lord Thorne!”
If she could shift the conversation topic from herself to her friend, that would be ideal. Seraphina did not think she was quite ready to discuss things pertaining to Lord Ashford just yet. Not when she did not understand how she presently felt about him.
But Elizabeth was not easily deterred, even if she did seem to be blushing furiously on every bit of exposed skin. “I have known you long enough, my dear, to recognize when your heart is touched. There is no need to deny it. Lord Ashford certainly seems taken with you.”
A mixture of emotions surged within Seraphina, and she struggled to find the right words. “He is a rake, Elizabeth. I should not allow myself to be swayed by his charm,” she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
It was the responsible answer, even if it was not the whole truth. He might be a rake, but she was swayed all the same. She could not help picturing her book hero’s overlain with himself. In her mind’s eye, she overlaid herself with the role of heroine — it was more than a small indulgence if she were honest. Her mind’s eye embellished their encounter greatly if she were even more honest.
A very large part of her hoped he rose to the challenge he placed upon himself to come and seek her out. Another part hoped that he would simply ask her for another dance or to go on a walk. The men who had attempted to court her in the past had never looked at her with half of the genuine interest that he had already shown. They certainly had not cared what she had to say.
Her gut said not to trust it — that he was a man and, therefore, he had to be like everyone else.
