She blew out a breath, realizing how difficult it would be to not only watch him woo another but marry her. Knowing how much his family’s lack of funds weighed on him, she understood. Duty first was something most members of Society learned from a young age. The burden he carried couldn’t be easy.
Perhaps her uncle would see potential in Silas’s design of the windmill, and it would bring him prosperity in the coming years.
She turned away. Watching him court another was painful, and she comforted herself with the knowledge that if she truly wanted to, she could ask him for a dance. She smiled at the thought. Before the end of the Season, she wanted that—a dance with Silas.
Her smile held the remainder of the evening. Even when she saw Lord Randolph ask a wallflower to dance and the lady gladly accepted. To her relief, Millie noticed it, too, and approached the lady after the dance.
The more “wallflowers” they gathered together, the better hope of showing the rogues they couldn’t use others for their entertainment. Whether Silas had been asked by one of the wallflowers, as he’d suggested, she didn’t know.
“Who is Viscount Winstead dancing with?” Millie asked when she returned.
Unable not to look, Prue saw he danced with the young lady he’d been speaking with earlier. “An heiress, I presume,” she whispered.
The besotted look on the lady’s pretty face suggested she was far from immune to Silas’s charm. But Prue could see a hint of unhappiness on Silas’s face. If she were to guess, he wasn’t overly pleased to be with whoever the lady was. That made Prue feel slightly better.
Millie squeezed her arm. “Life isn’t fair, is it?” she whispered. When Prue glanced at her, she added, “I’ve noticed how your face lights up when you speak with him. He is very charming and handsome.”
Prue nodded, uncertain of what else to say. Luckily, she was kept from adding anything by the Marquess of Linford’s approach.
“Miss Davies, may I have the pleasure of a dance?”
Prue watched with bated breath. Just as Millie had noted her reaction to Silas, Prue noticed her cousin’s response to Linford, confirming how much Millie cared for him.
Millie’s face flooded with color, and her mouth opened and closed several times. Prue’s heart twisted, knowing exactly how her cousin must feel. To refuse the one man who meant something to you was nearly impossible. But knowing he’d asked you to dance only to try to win the wager was equally impossible.
Millie’s chin lifted. “How kind of you, but as I assume you ask only because you’re involved in the rogues’ wager, I must refuse.”
Prue wanted to applaud her strength, uncertain if she could’ve done the same if Silas asked her to dance now that she knew how it felt to be in his arms.
“Wager?” Linford stiffened, a ruddiness coloring his face.
“Do you deny it?” A hopeful note colored Millie’s question that Prue knew only she could hear.
His lips twisted, much like a young boy caught stealing an extra biscuit at tea. “Perhaps it would be best if I didn’t say.”
“Then I must refuse.” Millie held the lord’s gaze and leaned closer as if to impart a secret. “But when you truly wish to dance with me, my answer will be yes.”
“It will?” Linford’s confusion was almost as amusing as Ulstead’s had been.
“Most of the ladies involved know about the wager, and we’re not helping any of you with it,” Prue added, wanting to lend support.
“I see.” Linford glanced away, obviously uncomfortable.
Millie’s gaze shifted to the couples dancing. If Linford had been looking at her, he might’ve seen the flash of longing in her face. “You might as well admit defeat.”
“Humph.” Linford cleared his throat and pinned Millie with his dark gaze. “Of course, I truly wish to dance with you, or I wouldn’t have asked.” He glanced at Prue then returned his focus to Millie, looking like he wanted to say more. “Have a pleasant evening.” With a dip of his head, he strode away.
Millie’s breath caught. “You don’t think he really wanted a dance, do you?”
Prue bit her lip as she watched the lord’s stiff form wind through the crowd. “I don’t know.” She smiled at her cousin. “It will be interesting to discover if it’s true.”
A faint light of hope lit Millie’s eyes. “Perhaps so.” She gasped. “We already danced once, so dancing again with me wouldn’t help him win the wager.” Her eyes met Prue’s. “Maybe I should’ve accepted.”
The moment was a reminder that circumstances could change in the space of a heartbeat. No matter how much Prue told herself that wouldn’t be true for her and Silas, hope burned eternal.
Chapter Nine
Silas paced his grandmother’s drawing room, relieved she was out shopping. The unfortunate news he’d received that morning would be impossible to hide.