She glanced over her shoulder. “I should return to the others.”
“Of course. I hope the rest of your evening goes as well as the first part has. I will be watching.” He shouldn’t have said as much, but he wanted her to think of him.
She tilted her head to one side as if considering his words. “I will be watching you, too.” She flashed a smile that had his breath catching. “Do advise if we need to meet again for Mrs. Sutton’s party.”
He nodded and watched as she returned to the ladies who were still talking. Did her words mean that she was open to further exploration of the physical attraction between them?
Damn, but he dearly hoped so, his body tightening at the thought.
Prue didn’t think she’d enjoyed a ball more. Watching Lord Ulstead’s arrogant manner shift to confusion and then to outrage had been delightful.
Silas had come at the perfect time to lend support. It was all the other ladies could speak of, though she hoped none had their eye on him. She sighed as she realized how possessive she was, ridiculous when he could never be hers.
As she and Millie slowly made their way through the guests to return to their mothers, she realized how different she felt now than when she’d arrived in London a few weeks ago. Did he have any idea how much he’d helped rebuild her confidence in the short time they’d known one another?
He’d assisted her in overcoming the feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness the scene with Waltham had caused three years ago in numerous ways. She couldn’t claim to be over those debilitating emotions, but she was working toward that.
All thanks to Silas.
He’d allowed her to see herself in a new light. As someone worthy of attention. Worthy of admiration. Worthy of desire. She was grateful and wasn’t ready to allow it to slip away when she had only just begun to believe it.
Did her heartbeat quicken when he was near? Definitely. Did her entire body tingle even when they weren’t touching? Absolutely. Did she hope they might kiss and caress one another again soon? Without a doubt.
How could those precious moments be wrong? It was impossible to regret time with him when being together felt so right.
Of course, she couldn’t allow it to go any further than it had. There was still a chance she would marry if her mother had anything to say about the matter.
The thought had her closing her eyes, heart aching, because she couldn’t imagine being with anyone other than Silas.
“Prue? Is all well?” Millie asked.
She opened her eyes and smiled. “Yes. Quite well. I was just remembering the look of consternation on Ulstead’s face.”
Millie giggled. “He deserved it with his high-handedness. I am thrilled the other wallflowers joined together the way they did. It was perfect.”
“A lesson he won’t soon forget.” Now if only they could manage a similar feat with Maynard.
He was of the same ilk as the Marquess of Waltham. They thought nothing of treating others poorly, as if it was their right. Would challenging them serve any purpose?
Prue’s confidence was still a fragile thing, like a butterfly’s wings. She couldn’t risk losing it, which meant confronting either of the men was impossible. The thought of doing such a thing was nearly enough to make her shudder.
There had to be an indirect way to force Maynard to see the error of his behavior.
“Whatever are you girls up to?” Millie’s mother asked when they returned to her side.
“We’ve been watching and are quite confused,” Prue’s mother added. “Why did no one dance with Lord Ulstead?”
Prue allowed Millie to explain the rogues’ wager. Her cousin seemed to be gaining some confidence through the situation as well. Prue hoped that was true since over the past year, Millie acted as if she’d given up hope of the future she’d always dreamed of.
There was always someone younger and prettier to catch a man’s eye. It felt as if they stepped in front of ladies like Prue and Millie, pushing them to the back where they were rarely seen for who they truly were.
With each Season that passed, the wallflowers faded a little more, like a rose wilting in the chill of autumn, its colors muted.
That was why she intended to enjoy the next week or two. With Silas as a willing partner, doing so might be possible, at least until his grandmother’s birthday party was over in just a few days.
She pressed a hand to her aching heart, hoping it would stay strong. Unfortunately, reminding herself that charming, handsome rogues like Silas didn’t marry wallflowers who weren’t heiresses had little effect.
As if she’d conjured him with her thoughts, her gaze caught on him some distance away where he conversed with an older lady whose daughter stood nearby. Was the young lady an heiress? The thought of Silas giving the lady the same smile he gave her pinched her heart.