‘I think every man of four and twenty has at least imagined himself to be in love once or twice,’ he replied lightly. ‘And you?’
Raising her eyebrows and shrugging her shoulders, Frederica grinned. ‘Oh, several times.’
‘Really?’
‘The first a footman when I was thirteen. Then an under groom. His name was Jacob, he helped me put the bear cub in your room. Helen and Becca helped, as well. Then there were a few lords and an Italian count.’
He creased his forehead. ‘So, you haven’t been waiting for me all these years.’
Biting her lower lip, she shook her head. ‘No. Did you think I was?’
Samuel stiffened. She could feel the tenseness of his leg muscles. The tightness of his entire body. ‘No.’
Frederica gave him a playful shove on his shoulder, before kissing his cheek. ‘You are jealous. How delicious! But you need not be. Truly. I never fancied myself in love longer than a fortnight. How about you? Was there a dark Spanish beauty? Or a saucy German baroness? No. I know, a young French comtesse with an elderly husband.’
He stepped back from her and she immediately missed the warmth of his body against hers. The contours of his shape and how they fitted so perfectly against her own curves.
Samuel cleared his throat, then swallowed heavily. ‘I suppose I should bring you back to the party before your presence is missed by your mother.’
She linked her arm with his and leaned her head against his shoulder. ‘Spoil-sport. I merely wish to know you better. Next time, I will make you confess before we kiss.’
He returned them to the ballroom and they were met at the door by her dear friend Lady Georgiana Lennox. She was a short brunette with large brown eyes. Her hair was a darker shade of brown than Frederica’s and her skin was a paler cream. Georgy took Frederica’s arm from Samuel’s and led her to another antechamber that led to a retiring room.
‘What are we doing, Georgy?’
‘Fixing your hair,’ she replied, deftly arranging several curls in Frederica’s hair that had fallen into disorder. ‘Did you want the whole room to know that you dallied in the garden with your betrothed?’
‘I do not know what I would do without you, Georgy,’ Frederica said earnestly. She looked around for a mirror, but could not see one. ‘Am I presentable now?’
‘Yes.’ Georgy linked arms with Frederica again and they walked back to the party. ‘Your Colonel Lord Pelford certainly looks strong and—do not eat me when I say this—very handsome.’
Frederica’s nostrils flared. ‘I suppose he is pleasant to look at. Especially from behind.’
Blushing easily, Georgy laughed. ‘Am I to understand that you are more reconciled to your engagement?’
She winked at her friend. ‘Of course I am. Why else would I be kissing him in the shrubbery?’
‘Sport,’ Georgy answered and they both laughed as they left the retiring room.
Captain Wallace walked up to the ladies and bowed. If she had not just kissed Samuel, she might have been tempted to see how the Scots compared to Italian counts.
Bowing her head, Georgy curtsied. ‘Cousin Mark.’
‘Captain Wallace,’ Frederica said, giving him a nod of acknowledgement.
The captain smiled at them and somehow placed himself between them with a lady on each arm. He was certainly a smooth manoeuvrer.
‘Any luck finding an heiress?’ Frederica asked coyly, squeezing his arm.
Georgy giggled and swatted at her cousin’s shoulder. ‘You didn’t tell her, did you?’
‘Lady Frederica,’ he said in mock surprise. ‘I am shocked that you would treat a fellow’s delicate confidences thus.’
Grinning, Frederica tapped his arm with her fan. ‘Oh, I am sorry. But it is only Georgy after all, and she is your cousin, so I assumed she was already aware of your matrimonial plans. And is possibly a co-conspirator.’
The captain flashed them both a knee-melting smile. ‘If she is “only Georgy” can I be “only Mark”?’
Georgy let go of her cousin’s arm. ‘I can see that I am not needed for this conversation, I shall go beg a partner for the country dance.’