‘Cheswick, is that you? I thought you hibernated during the season with your father’s beasts.’
Wick manoeuvred both himself and Louisa to face a man whose looks were arresting. His curly golden locks were longer than most men’s. His eyes were a startling light blue in his slim, pale face. His suit was also golden, and he wore lace on his sleeves and around his throat. On his feet were golden heels with large brass buckles.
Louisa had never seen a more beautiful gentleman, or any person more sumptuously dressed. But he appeared fashionably bored and indolent.
The man held an ornate golden quizzing glass surrounded by diamonds and he brought up to his right eye and feigned surprise. When he spoke again his voice was surprisingly high and soft. ‘Itisyou! I do believe you once told me at a curricle race that polite society was not your natural habitat.’
Louisa could feel the muscles in Wick’s arms tighten underneath her fingers as he gave the man a painful smile that looked more like a grimace. He inclined his head slightly. ‘Lord Norwich.’
The golden man dropped his quizzing glass. ‘Would you do me the honour of presenting me to your companion? Word has spread quickly of her beauty and her identity. And how she was singled out by the Queen for conversation.’
Louisa couldn’t help but look from the dazzling man to Wick and back again in surprise. Rumours about her were spreading through town! She wondered how long it would be until they reached her family.
Taking a step, Louisa moved closer to Wick.
Sighing, Wick gave another grimacing smile. ‘Lady Louisa, may I present the Earl of Norwich?’
Louisa curtsied slightly and the golden man, with a speed belied by his previous indolence, took her free hand in his and gently kissed it. Her pulse quickened in fear or attraction—she was not sure which emotion.
‘Lady Louisa, would you do me the honour of joining the set?’
She glanced at Wick and he gave her another sharp nod. Releasing her hold on his arm, she allowed Norwich to lead her away from him. She couldn’t help stealing a glance over her shoulder to look back at Wick. He was no longer alone, but surrounded by a crowd of women. Some, she guessed, were the matchmaking mamas, and the others their daughters. A sharp pang of jealousy cut through her.
Turning back to her partner, she knew that she had no right to be jealous. Wick was not hers. And he never would be.
Lord Norwich led her to the dance floor and to their correct place. Louisa’s pulse continued to race. She was finally dancing at atonball and she prayed that she wouldn’t make a cake of herself. She saw that several eyes were upon them. She couldn’t help but think it was her partner’s elaborate suit in its shocking golden shade that made them look. But not all the eyes were female. Men of all ages were looking at them. At her.
Louisa’s hands shook as she clasped hands with Lord Norwich for the first figure of the set. She tried to block out the people around her and focus solely on the music and the dancing. She desperately wished that she’d had more time with the dancing master Mantheria had employed to prepare her.
Taking another gentleman’s hand, she glanced up to see that it was Wick.
He smiled at her, with no grimace. ‘You’re dancing superbly.’
But before she could answer he had moved to his next partner in the set and she was back with Lord Norwich. The look he gave her felt predatory... Shaking her head, she thought that perhaps she’d spent too much time with the younger Stringham sisters. She looked for Wick and saw that he was partnered with a pretty brunette with a heart-shaped face. The young woman was smiling, but Wick looked as if he’d had all his teeth pulled out.
‘Would you be willing to indulge my curiosity, my lady?’ Lord Norwich asked, his voice so soft that she could barely hear him over the lively music.
They spun together in a circle. ‘I do not know, my lord. Ask your question and I will do my best to answer.’
Norwich laughed softly. It was more a breath of air than a sound. ‘Despite having the countenance of an ingénue, you play the game like a dowager. Why were you not presented before now? You are older than most of the debutantes.’
Louisa was grateful that the figure caused them to separate at that moment, giving her time to come up with an answer. She could tell him the truth—but she did not wish to confide in him. Lord Norwich was certainly beautiful, yet he felt cold. Mocking. Indolent. None of the things that she hoped for in a suitor and a husband.
They clasped hands again. She gave him her most dazzling smile. ‘I was thinking the same thing about you, my lord.’
One of his eyebrow’s quirked up. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘That you look older than most of the debutantes.’
Norwich gave another of his nearly soundless laughs.
Louisa was glad that her sally had not insulted him.
The music ended and they bowed to each other. Lord Norwich took her hand and led her to the side of the room, where Mantheria was standing next to Lord Sunderland. He relinquished her hand and bowed to them both. Mantheria snapped her fan open to hide her face and Louisa guessed that she disliked the Earl.
Sunderland inclined his head. ‘Norwich.’
The Earl took a deep breath before slowly picking up his quizzing glass and gazing at Mantheria and Lord Sunderland. ‘Sunny...still pining for the one who got away?’