Page 52 of A Noble Affair
“Let me take your coat, madame.” The butler, who had been right behind Charles, stepped up to her, and she handed him her raincoat.
“Thomas, have you said hello?” she prodded.
“Bonjour, docteur. Bonjour, monsieur,” he said, addressing the butler.
Charles leaned down and whispered, “This is Mr. Paltier and he can help you with anything you need. Standing, he coaxed, “Shall we go up? Thomas, do you need help?”
“No, thank you,” was the dignified response, and the group walked unhurriedly up the steps so he would not be left behind.
Charles pointed over to the corner where a sofa had been placed with books and toys. “This is where you’re going to sit, Thomas. You see the screen there? We can ask Mr. Paltier to pull the screen if all the movement starts to hurt your head, okay? If the noise is too much, we’ll find a quieter place for you next door.”
“I didn’t even think of that.” Chastity’s eyes darted up to Charles. “Thank you.” She watched Mr. Paltier observing the viscount as he walked the boy over to the sofa in the corner. It seemed the retainer’s keen eyes missed nothing.
“Ladies and gentlemen.” The dance instructor clapped loudly. “Find your partners and get into position.” He was destined to be interrupted once more as the bell chimed. This time, the viscount did not rush down the stairs, and Paltier moved quickly from Thomas’s side to the entrance. The teenagers chattered and laughed nervously at standing so close to their partners. When Paltier returned, he was followed by the young intern from the hospital. Chastity glanced at Charles, her expression a question, but he gave no explanation.
Noting the new arrival, the instructor called out, “What young lady does not yet have a partner?”
A student with a thick mane of black hair stepped away from her classmate and walked over to Dr. Okonkwo. “This lady doesn’t.”
“Fatima,” was heard, amidst laughter. The teenage boy, who had just been dismissed, put his hands on his hips.
“You can share Becky.” Fatima tossed her hair off her shoulder and smiled at Dr. Okonkwo. He looked amused, and a little trapped.
“Fatima, may I remind you that you are seventeen, and he is an adult.” Margaret James’s voice rang out from the middle of the dance floor.
“Seventeen is almost an adult,” Fatima retorted as her classmates laughed. She smiled up at Dr. Okonkwo seductively.
“I am sorry to tell you, Fatimah, but I’m nearly certain he is already taken,” Charles teased on the other side of her. Louis looked up in astonishment to hear his father joke with one of his classmates. Then he saw his father standing next to Chastity, and she thought she saw a slow comprehension steal over him.
The dance teacher resumed his lesson. “Gentlemen, you’ll want to place your hand between the shoulder blades of your partner. Keep your elbow level with your shoulder.” He demonstrated with his hands in the air. “Ladies, rest your hand on your partner’s shoulder. This will help you sense where he’s leading. Put your other hand lightly in your partner’s outstretched hand. Like so. Very good,” he added, as he observed the couples forming obediently.
Charles had his hand on Chastity’s back, and her free hand was clasped in his outstretched one. They stood still while the instructor gave instructions for the steps, and she was conscious of his nearness. She could feel him looking at her, but she refused to meet his gaze.
“Chastity,” he said. “I’ve been meaning to ask if you will come to the ball with me.”
At this, she did look up, startled. She trembled in his hands. “But you are with… ” Chastity stopped speaking. She had not missed the gossip about Manon’s affair.
“I’m not with Manon. Trust me, it was over before this incident happened with Bruce Richards. I should have ended it sooner.”
“Oh.” She tried to buy herself some time. “I’m missing the instructions.” The dance teacher droned on, and the partners around them began to move.
“Just follow my lead,” Charles said. “You can’t go wrong.” His silence allowed her time to recover her composure while he led her gently in the most basic steps of the waltz. She peeked up at him again, and he chose that moment to lean down and murmur in her ear, his face warm against hers, “Don’t worry. I’m wearing thick shoes.”
She chuckled, and felt herself relax. He pressed again. “Will you come?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “Thomas…”
“I’ve thought of that,” Charles said quietly. “If there was any chance he would enjoy it, I’d find a way for him to come and hire someone to help watch him. The truth is, the crowds and the noise won’t be good for him. Do you think you can find someone you trust to watch him?”
“Mmm,” she stalled. She was awkward and stiff in his arms, and he pulled her closer.
“There’s his father,” he offered—with a grimace, she noticed.
“Yes, but I haven’t decided how much a part of Thomas’s life he’s allowed to have, and I’m uncomfortable leaving him alone with him,” she hemmed. Charles was continuing to watch her attentively, spinning her in keeping with the dance teacher’s instructions.
“Oh, why not.” Chastity smiled, then laughed suddenly. “All right, I’ll come. I’d love to be your date for the ball.”
“That’s a relief.” Charles kept a straight face, but the muscles in his handsome mouth quivered. “Otherwise I’d have been obliged to ask Ms. James.”
