“Like the one about not kissing me while Mother and I are here?”
“Especially that one,” he said with a grin.
She turned away, but not before he saw a small smile grace her lips. “Then I should take care not to be alone with you, sir.”
“You should.” He added in a whisper, “If you can.”
That was all the conversation his brothers allowed him before they crowded around her to say how pretty she looked and to ask her for dances later on.
She laughed. “I can see I will only be dancing with Oakden gentlemen this evening.”
Even Zack was promised a dance.
“Do you even know how to dance?” Heath asked the lad.
“Giselle has been teaching me,” he said.
That caught Heath off guard. “She has?”
“She has,” Giselle repeated. “He wanted to learn so he could be ready for the ball, so I gave him a few lessons. He is a quick study, your brother.”
“If you say so.”
“Do you doubt my ability to teach dancing?” she quipped.
“I saw you dancing at the Thanet party, so no, how could I? I will merely add it to my ever-growing list of your talents.”
He was rewarded for that bit of gallantry with a brilliant smile from her.
Unfortunately, before they could dance, they had to wait through an interminable receiving line. The guest list had been quite large, including détenus and local gentry alike. He noticed that the longer he and Giselle stood there, with him introducing ladies, gentlemen, tenants, and farmers he’d known since childhood, the paler Giselle became.
No doubt speaking to a lot of strangers was wearing on her. So, he was vastly relieved when at last they could end that torture and start their waltz.
For the first several moments, he reveled in the pleasure of having her in his arms, of being able to dance with her and hold her close. Then he realized that his usually cheerful fiancée still wore a tight-lipped expression.
“What’s wrong,chérie?” he asked her.
“I had no idea how many people know you here,” Giselle said in a low voice. “When I jilt you, they will all hate me.”
“Why do you care? You won’t be coming back here.”
“True” was her only answer, though she turned her face away as she said it.
And he realized he didn’t like the idea of her not being part of his life here. Hell, he didn’t like her not being part of his life anywhere, since he wouldn’t be able to see her if they were supposed to be at odds.
The thought of it made his stomach churn. No more bright smiles, no more arch remarks, no more unexpected kindnesses.
God, what was wrong with him? “You’re the one who reminded me that this is a ruse.”
“I am, indeed.” She forced a smile to her lips. “And I am not playing my role very well, am I?”
“You’re playing your role just fine.” Because holding her like this, having her in his arms didn’t feel like a ruse. It felt …
Enchanted.
She danced like a princess, ever aware of where her feet landedand never once landing onhis.This close he could see how her eyes shone in the candlelight, and how her rigid smile softened to a real one the longer they whirled about the floor. Best of all, he could feel her body shift and adjust to his, taking his every lead even when his leading probably left much to be desired.
He hoped he didn’t dance too much like a clumsy oaf.