After the dance ended he returned her to Mantheria, who kissed both of Louisa’s cheeks. ‘You were marvellous and so self-possessed. You are the envy of every lady in the room. Let me find you another partner. It would be quite a different sort of scandal if Sunny danced with you three times.’
Louisa held up her hand to stop her well-meaning friend. ‘I am very thirsty and quite out of breath. I think I shall go to the refreshment table and rest for this set.’
Mantheria smiled. ‘I will come with you.’
‘Oh, no you don’t,’ Sunny said, possessing himself of Mantheria’s hand. ‘I have danced with every single lady you have told me to. Now it is my choice and I choose you.’
A pretty pink stole into Mantheria’s cheeks as she allowed Sunny to escort her away from Louisa. How she wished her friend could have the happy ending she so richly deserved! But Louisa knew from her own experience that life was not fair. And happy endings were rare.
Several people openly ogled her as she made her way to the refreshment table. A few ladies even looked at her and talked behind their hands. Sighing, she picked up a ladle and poured some lemonade into a glass tumbler. Her throat felt rather dry and scratchy. She had not been fibbing to Mantheria when she’d said that she was out of breath. Louisa was not used to dancing vigorously for several hours at a time.
After draining her cup, she immediately refilled it.
‘I see that you are fond of lemonade.’
She didn’t have to look up to know that voice—it was Wick’s. He was standing near her, the ladle now in his hand as he poured himself a drink.
Louisa knew that several eyes were on them, but she couldn’t quite keep in her smile. ‘As are you.’
Wick took a sip of the sour concoction and made a face. ‘I would infinitely prefer something stronger.’
Sipping, she nodded slightly. ‘So should I after that awful scene with my family... I feel I am constantly thanking you, but please accept my gratitude for protecting me from my cousin. He’s never tried to hit me before.’
‘You’ve never defied him before.’
Louisa didn’t know how Wick knew that, but it was accurate. She’d been nothing but a doormat for her relatives to wipe their feet on. ‘I wish it had been me who had punched him.’
Wick lifted his glass to his lips. ‘He’s not worth bloodying your knuckles over.’
Her eyes went to his white gloves as he took a drink and she saw that they were discoloured around his knuckles. ‘Oh, dear. I didn’t know that you had been hurt. I am so terribly sorry.’
He drained the rest of his lemonade in one big gulp. ‘Don’t be. My fists have been itching to hit your cousin’s face ever since I learned your true name. I haven’t felt this good in weeks. The only thing that would make my night better would be to dance with you.’
Louisa’s heart expanded in her chest in forlorn hope. His eyes were gazing intensely into hers; she could have happily lost herself in them. Then Wick leaned slightly towards her and she revelled in his scent—spicy and masculine with a hint of vanilla. His gaze dropped to her lips, and she couldn’t help but lick them. How she longed to be kissed by him!
But Wick shook his head and stepped back. ‘It is best not to. I have no wish to cause further scandal, and the entiretonis now aware that you are not in possession of your fortune. I will go and see my grandfather first thing on Monday, and discover if he has learned who your trustees are. There’s not a better businessman in all of England. Your inheritance will be yours soon, and you will need have no further connection or communication with your tedious relatives.’
Louisa brought the tumbler to her lips and choked down a little lemonade. Wick was back to keeping her at arm’s length.
‘Ah, there you are, Lady Louisa,’ a soft voice droned.
Wick jerked his head and gave the man a sharp bow. ‘Norwich.’
The Earl of Norwich was not dressed in gold tonight, but in a stunning shade of salmon. Louisa was certain that no other gentleman could have worn such a suit of clothing and still appeared handsome. No, that wasn’t a strong enough word: he was beautiful.
Louisa curtsied. ‘My lord.’
‘Lady Glastonbury assures me that you would be in raptures to dance with me again,’ he said, with a slight sneer on his lips, as if he were addressing the question to Wick instead of herself. ‘Unless you are already claimed...for this next set?’
The meaning behind Norwich’s pause had to be as obvious to Wick as it was to Louisa. She stole a glance at him. Wick was wearing his grimacing grin that looked more painful than joyful.
‘Happily, she is not.’
He took the glass from her hands and the hope from her heart.
Taking a deep breath, she put on her own grin. Louisa held out her hand for Lord Norwich to take. ‘Iamin raptures, my lord. Thank you for your kindness.’
Lord Norwich took her fingers and lifted them to his lips, placing a lingering kiss on top of her hand.