Page 4 of Beth: A Regency Romance Novell

His answering smile was so infectious, she couldn’t help being drawn to him. A glance at his mouth made her wonder what it would be like to kiss him. The thought shocked her. Surely she was too serious to succumb to such feelings. So this was the effect rakes had on women! Andrew was right to warn her!

The orchestra struck up suddenly drawing her attention to the three couples in their set who seemed to be watching them. They all joined hands to form a square. She steeled herself to concentrate and move through the steps, but Beth was more interested in talking to Mr. Nyeland.

Their conversation continued in much the same bantering manner when the dance allowed it. Beth enjoyed his amusing repartee. She found herself watching him from beneath her lashes. He was of a powerful build, yet graceful on his feet. She really must not respond to him so readily. Jenny was not here to guide her. She must learn more about him. “Is your friendship with the duke of long duration, Mr. Nyeland?” she asked when they came together again.

“Yes, some years.” He seemed slightly amused, perhaps at her sobering manner. “Our paths crossed often on the Continent.” He offered no further explanation as the dance continued, which left Beth to ponder it. Andrew had spent some time in Vienna on government business, before he married her sister, so it was likely that Mr. Nyeland met Andrew there.

“Do you like animals, sir?” This was a question she intended to ask every man who drew her interest. And he did, despite herself. He was clearly at ease with women. And he worked for the foreign office. He would not be the right man for her, even if he wasn’t a rake.

“Yes, horses. Some others not so much.”

Beth believed all animals should be respected be they fox, or otters, or field mice. But she was aware not everyone shared her view. “Which do not please you?”

“A goat on my family’s home farm took a dislike to me when I was a young lad. Butted me whenever it got a chance, and if I wasn’t quick, sent me flying.”

She looked at him disapprovingly. “I suspect you deserved it. Young boys are so often up to mischief.”

He grinned. “Isn’t that a little harsh, my tormentor?”

She flushed at his description of her. It seemed most inappropriate. But still, she was rather taken by it.

“And I am not overly fond of snakes,” he added. “I’ve a reason to distrust them.”

They were parted again for the change, and she had to wait to find out more.

“When on the Peninsula,” he began, when they came together, “I was bitten and rendered quite ill for a time.”

So he was in the army and had fought in the Napoleonic wars. “I am sorry.”

He smiled down at her. “No need to be as you see I recovered with all limbs intact.”

She smiled. “Which regiment, sir?”

“The Light cavalry.”

“Were you at Waterloo?”

“I was, yes.”

“You must have been quite young.” She guessed he’d be several years younger than Andrew. Not much above thirty.

“I joined at seventeen.”

“My goodness. And your father agreed?”

“He would not have given his approval. I was to go to Oxford. But he was no longer with us. And I had a yen for adventure.”

She and the other women in the set joined hands, and she danced away from him. One woman looked at her very disapprovingly. Beth thought her unfair. She was not giving the dance her serious attention it was true, but she had managed to keep up. Once at his side again, she waited for her breath to return, eager to glean more about him. “Do you regret not attending university?”

He bent his head closer to her, and the scent of his sandalwood soap filled her senses. “I went to Oxford after the war ended, with the intention of entering the foreign office.”

The dance progressed allowing only a snatched sentence as they moved through the steps. Then the music slowed, and the dance drew to a close. She laid her hand on his sleeve aware of the strength of his arm beneath her fingers. Fierce curiosity consumed her. “The foreign office? I assume you met the duke in Vienna. In what circumstances?” They joined the line of dancers leaving the floor.

He smiled seemingly amused by her curiosity. “Yes in Vienna, Miss Harrismith.”

“You have only answered half of my question, sir.” She raised her eyebrows and said half-mockingly, “I suspect that, as with Andrew, I shall learn very little from you.”

He chuckled and his gaze settled on her mouth causing her pulse to flutter. “You are adept at teasing, Miss Harrismith.”

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