Page 32 of The Scoundrel and the Lady

He methodically set down the newspaper then uncrossed his legs to stand. She’d never before thought of a man as graceful, but Merritt’s every move embodied power and elegance.

“That’s it. Now, Lucy, you place your right hand in his and your left on his shoulder.”

Merritt moved his sister backward across the parlor floor. She stumbled a few times but eventually caught on to his rhythm and was better able to follow his lead.

The door opened, and Merritt’s assistant, Rand, stepped inside then stopped midstride. His eyes immediately fell on Lucy and warmed.

“Rand,” Merritt said. “Is there a problem?”

“Not exactly.” The man glanced at Lucy and his eyes widened slightly. He visibly swallowed. “I, uh—”

“Mr. Rand, do you know how to waltz?” Iris asked.

He frowned then turned to face her. “What? Oh, the dance. Yes, my mother taught me.”

“Splendid. It is important that you learn to dance with more than one suitor, Lucy,” Iris said. “All men dance a little differently.”

“Yes, of course,” Lucy said.

“Mr. Rand, come and dance with Lucy.”

Rand shook his head.

“Yes,” Lucy said. “And then you can dance with Iris, Merritt.”

Lucy grabbed Rand and pulled him farther into the room, then placed her hands precisely where they should be.

Merritt swept Iris into the waltz. “Couldn’t wait for me to touch you again?”

Blush heated up Iris’s neck and cheeks. “No, of course not.” Yet the strength and warmth of his arms around her did not escape her attention. “But it is quite evident that your assistant has tender feelings toward your sister.”

“He has for quite a while now.”

“You’ve noticed, then?”

“As I’ve mentioned before, I am quite observant. And he is not very subtle.”

They danced in silence for a moment, and she couldn’t help wondering if he’d used his keen observation skills on her. It was on her tongue to ask him, but she thought better of it. Perhaps she did not want to know his opinions of her.

“By the by, his christian name is Rand, his surname is Lockwood.”

“Well, he did not seem to mind me referring to him incorrectly. Then again, he was rather struck dumb looking at Lucy.” Iris eyed the couple in question. “What do you suppose they’re talking about?”

“Are you matchmaking, Iris?”

“Perhaps a little. Would it be such a terrible match?” she asked.

“No. On the contrary, I would approve. I trust Rand above anyone else. He is worth two of any member of the peerage are.” Merritt watched Rand and Lucy.

“Yet, you are allowing her to debut into Society to find a more suitable match?”

“I don’t believe Lucy sees him as a suitor. She’s known him her entire life.” He shrugged. “Admittedly, I’m hoping that she’ll realize his worth once she sees the reality of aristocratic men.”

Iris secretly motioned to Harriet to continue playing. She told herself it was because she wanted Lucy to practice, but the thought gnawed at her…this was more about her wanting to stay in Merritt’s embrace.

“You have a dreadful opinion of your peers.”

“They are not my peers, not really. I am the son of a merchant.” He eyed her for a moment, and she desperately wanted to know what he was thinking when he looked at her in such a manner. “You must not think too highly of them, either, if you have not agreed to wed any of them.”

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