Page 84 of An Accidental Romance

A rousing country dance was beginning, and she had to concentrate on the steps of the dance and the strength of her ankle in order to keep up. The focus it required meant it was the right dance to take her mind off the encounter between Ben and Hugh, at least temporarily.

“Well done!” Papa said as he wiped his brow with his handkerchief after the dance concluded. “My, but it’s been some time since I danced to such a fine and lively orchestra. It’s rather invigorating, and I find I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would. I believe it is time I should invite your mama to take a turn with me, regardless of my inelegant dancing abilities.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea, Papa,” Rebecca said.

Papa led Rebecca to the side of the ballroom, and then he approached Mama, and Rebecca watched the look of surprise and delight bloom on her face when Papa bowed and extended his hand to her. The next dance was to be the last waltz of the evening, and Mama would not have imagined Papa would ask her to waltz with him after the fuss he’d made about doing just that.

Rebecca had danced most of the evening, and her foot was tired as a result, so she found an empty chair and sat so she could rest. She sighed and decided to close her eyes—just for a moment, just to breathe in and out and reflect on what a lovely evening Susan and Aylesham had hosted for her and how grateful she was, despite what had occurred between Ben and Hugh, whatever it had been. How perfectly the gown Madame Veronique had designed suited her, how many friends she’d made since arriving in London. She had enjoyed herself immensely in London.

She was grateful.

She wanted to weep.

“Miss Jennings.” A low male voice broke through her thoughts. “It appears you are without a partner for the last dance of the evening. I wonder if you might bestow that honor upon me, despite having every reason to refuse.”

Ben.

She opened her eyes.

He stood before her, tall and serious-looking, waiting for her to reply.

Her heart caught in her throat, and she couldn’t speak. She merely nodded.

He smiled just the tiniest bit.

* * *

Ben had remained in the Duke of Aylesham’s study after Mandeville had left. He had paced about the room, restless at first, unable to quiet the turbulent emotions that had finally found a voice.

Eventually, however, he had begun to feel a semblance of resolution and peace.

Knowing about Gemma and Mandeville, being able to confront the man and make him acknowledge his part in the pain and bitterness that had occurred had been satisfying. It couldn’t right all the wrongs that had happened over the past few years, but it was a beginning. Confronting Mandeville tonight might allow Ben to move on. Finally.

He had sat and breathed in deeply—once and again and then again—and had listened to the beat of his heart as it had slowed from a quick and angry pace to its regular tempo.

He had not expected to confront Mandeville this evening. He’d intended for this evening to be about Rebecca. But when he’d seen the man dancing with her . . .

It had all made sense in that moment.

But afterward, he had known he needed to reassure Rebecca of his real reason for being here, that making the journey from Lincolnshire was so he could be here with her and be hereforher.

He hadn’t done a particularly good job of either of those things yet this evening. In fact, she undoubtedly thought he’d done exactly the opposite.

He had taken a final deep breath, grateful that he had been able to feel some of the ghosts of his past beginning to recede and had set off to the ballroom to find Rebecca.

The ballroom was full to the brim with dancers, everyone seeming to wish to take advantage of one of the last dances of the evening, and Ben had to search the crush of people in order to locate Rebecca. His height was a definite advantage in this particular situation, for he quickly spotted her at the side of the ballroom, sitting alone.

He sighed in relief. It wouldn’t have surprised him in the least to have learned that Rebecca had other suitors eager to dance with her besides Mandeville.

He made his way to the side of the ballroom, heart in his throat, to where Rebecca was seated, skirting around couples as best he could.

Rebecca’s eyes were shut and there was a poignant look on her face that nearly broke his heart. He cleared his throat, hoping she would hear it over the music.

“Miss Jennings,” he said in a low voice. “It appears you are without a partner for this dance. I wonder if you might bestow that honor upon me, despite having every reason to refuse.”

She opened her eyes and gazed at him. After a pause—too long a pause for his comfort—she smiled.

Something inside him relaxed. He managed a small smile of his own.

---