Page 49 of The Masked Baron
“Your feet are hardly touching the floor,” he said. “The mark of a great dancer, you know.”
“It isn’t my skill for dancing but my happiness making me float.”
Lord Kerrigan stared deeply into her eyes. “Are you really happy?”
Andalin did not know if she should read more into his question. “Yes,” Andalin assured him. “I feel like a princess.”
After their dance ended, she was quickly caught up by Mr. Underwood. Her new partner gave her little chance to think, let alone speak. He talked as fast as a pecking chicken, and before the song ended, she knew his entire life history.
Mr. Higgens claimed her for a quadrille. That particular dance made it harder to converse, but she earned herself plenty of eyebrow wagging and flirtatious glances from her partner. She was just about to sit down when a man grabbed her roughly by the arm and yanked her to face him.
“I knew I recognized you.”
Andalin gaped at the dark eyes staring back at her. Several people turned to watch and listen. It was Mr. Crow, from Corbridge.
Shock kept Andalin from acting. Should she deny the obvious? Or should she try to avoid further disruption from Mr. Crow?
“I would appreciate it if you would unhand the lady,” Lord Kerrigan interrupted.
Mr. Crow reluctantly released her gloved arm, and it ached where his grip had pressed into her skin. She quickly stepped behind Lord Kerrigan’s protective stance.
“I know this girl, and she is no lady,” Mr. Crow accused. His large shoulders and broad body made for an intimidating opponent.
Andalin’s stomach flipped. She never thought something besides her own stupidity would make her stand out at the ball. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever imagine running into Mr. Crow again.
“You are wrong,” Lord Kerrigan said, his voice low and heated. He leaned toward Mr. Crow, daring him to say something. “I suggest you apologize and leave before I have you thrown out.”
Lord Kerrigan’s bravery quite amazed Andalin. Mr. Crow was not a man to be trifled with.
“No, you are in the wrong,” Mr. Crow snarled. “I have a claim on this woman, and I can tell you she is dressed far above her station.”
Their argument was gaining a small audience. Lord Kerrigan lowered his voice even more. “Careful with your choice of words, lest you utter what cannot be forgiven. Let us speak of this as gentlemen, outside.”
It was with great relief when Mr. Crow followed behind Lord Kerrigan to the door. Tempers flared between the men as they waited for a servant to fetch their coats and Andalin’s wrap. As they pulled open the door, they found Katrina and her husband ready to come in.
“Katrina!” Tears welled up in Andalin’s eyes, and she threw herself into her friend’s embrace.
“Dear heavens!” Katrina exclaimed. “What has happened?”
Andalin wiped at the moisture under her eyes and attempted to hold the rest of her tears at bay. Lord Kerrigan motioned for Mr. Crow to pass in front of him onto the veranda. “Follow the path to the side of the house, where we’ll be out of sight.”
Mr. Crow grumbled, but he did as Lord Kerrigan said.
“Looks like you need a hand,” Mr. Trenton remarked.
“In this case, two of us will be better than one,” Lord Kerrigan muttered.
Mr. Trenton possessed dark features and a boyish face. But it was his small frame that captured Andalin’s attention. He would be little help to Lord Kerrigan. Katrina’s apprehensive expression matched her own as the three men disappeared around the corner to a side lawn.
Without a word passing between Andalin and Katrina, they darted after the men. Katrina held Andalin back before they, too, rounded the corner.
“You cannot let them know we are watching,” Katrina whispered. “Dueling is against the law. We will have to close our eyes before anything happens so we can honestly say we didn’t witness anything.”
“They aren’t going to duel, are they?” Andalin shook her head. “Not about me! My pretentious reputation is not worth anyone’s death!”
“Your reputation? How vexing. Well, my brother will know what to do. Most likely nothing untoward will happen here. Likely they will just set up a time and a place for later. I heard that is how it is done.”
They crawled behind the bush bordering the house, careful not to snag their dresses, and peered around the corner. Hanging lanterns glowed from strategic parts of the lawn to show off the attractiveness of the house; they gave just enough light for Andalin to see how dire the situation truly was.
