Page 37 of A Dangerous Lord (Regency Spies & Secrets 3)

“Would you care to dance the next set with me?”

A genuine smile came to her face. “I would be happy to.”

“It pleases me immensely to hear you say that,” Lord Brinton said before he turned his attention towards her mother and Madalene and greeted them politely.

Jane took a moment to admire Lord Brinton, acknowledging that he was indeed a handsome man with his narrow jaw and straight nose.

Lord Brinton brought his gaze back to meet hers and offered her a private smile. “I shall be back shortly to collect my dance.”

She watched as he disappeared into the crowd before she turned her attention back towards the group and noticed that her mother had a satisfied smile on her face.

“What is it?” Jane asked.

“I have often thought that you and Lord Brinton would suit quite nicely,” her mother replied.

Jane frowned. “We are acquaintances, nothing more.”

“You are more than acquaintances,” her mother pressed.

“If you must know, we are friends,” Jane reluctantly admitted. “But I will not let you read anything more into it. Sometimes a dance is just that, a dance.”

Her eyes started roaming the ballroom, and she saw Mr. Booth and Mr. Haskett walking towards her. Oliver’s friends. How she detested them.

They came to a stop in front of her. “Good evening, Lady Jane,” Mr. Booth said in a smooth voice. “How are you faring this evening?”

“I am well,” she replied, hoping her disgust wasn’t evident on her face.

Mr. Haskett offered her a flirtatious smile. “I was hoping you would be available to dance with me for the next set,” he said, causing Mr. Booth to cast him an annoyed look.

“I’m afraid that dance has already been spoken for,” she responded.

“The one after that, then?” Mr. Haskett pressed.

The refusal was on the tip of her tongue, but she knew her mother would chastise her for her impertinence. To refuse a dance was simply not done in polite circles.

She tipped her head curtly. “I would be honored, Mr. Haskett.”

Mr. Booth opened his mouth to speak when Lord Brinton suddenly appeared by her side. “I have come to collect the dance that you promised,” he said, extending his hand towards her.

Jane quickly accepted it and let him lead her away from those horrid men. “Thank you for that.”

“I assumed you didn’t want to associate with those rakes,” he remarked, glancing at her.

“You assumed correctly.”

Lord Brinton led her to where she was to line up and took his place alongside the other gentlemen. As they danced the quadrille, Jane found herself relaxing in Lord Brinton’s presence, and she actually started enjoying herself. She was having so much fun that she felt disappointed when the music ended.

“Would you care to take a stroll in the gardens?” Lord Brinton asked.

“I would,” she replied as she accepted his arm.

He led her out of the ballroom and onto the veranda. Couples were walking along the footpaths in the well-manicured gardens.

As they started walking down one of the footpaths, Lord Brinton glanced over at her and asked, “How have you been doing since your brother returned home?”

“Which one?”

Lord Brinton wore a baffled look on his face. “Pardon?”

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