A Proper Companion (A Regency Romance) by Candice Hern

Author:Candice Hern
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: london season, romance, traditional regency, england, regency romance, romantic comedy, regency era, regency, romantic fiction, regency romp, historical

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Robert felt Emily's arm trembling slightly as it rested on his. He looked down to find her unnaturally pale face staring straight ahead. Good girl, he thought. Hold your head up. He knew the eyes of this half of the ballroom were on them, as he also knew that all the whispering they heard as they passed was undoubtedly about them. He only hoped that most of the swiftly moving gossip was about himself and the cut direct he had just given another peer of the realm. He hoped that few had actually overheard Pentwick's insults.

Robert could not remember ever having been so angry. He had been on his way to relay a message to his grandmother from one of her cronies when he had seen Pentwick with Emily. As he heard the vile insults thrown at her, he had wanted nothing more than to leap upon the man and beat him to a bloody pulp. But then he had looked at her, sitting there stoically—saying not a word, her widened eyes the only outward sign of her distress—and he had been overwhelmed with the need to protect her. He needed to get Emily out of there, away from Pentwick. This young woman who had been so afraid that his grandmother's harmless matchmaking would publicly embarrass her was now the center of a potentially explosive and very public scene. Despite his almost uncontrollable desire to flatten the blackguard, he knew that such an action would only further publicize the unpleasantness of the confrontation and further distress Emily. The best thing to do was to calmly extricate her from the situation.

The strains of a waltz began as they reached the dance floor. As he turned to face Emily and take her in his arms, she looked up at him, her brow furrowed in alarm as she shook her head. He understood at once. It would only make matters worse if Emily were to be seen dancing the waltz without first getting permission from one of Almack's patronesses. What an idiotic practice, he thought in frustration as he looked frantically around the ballroom. Emily was not a young miss in her first Season, but she was unmarried and must therefore abide by the rules of Society. His eye finally caught that of young Emily Cowper, the daughter of his aunt's friend, Lady Melbourne. Lady Cowper was one of the patronesses of Almack's and a good friend, not only through his long acquaintance with her through Aunt Doro, but also because she was the mistress of Robert's friend, Lord Palmerston. He cocked his head toward Emily and raised his brows in question. Lady Cowper smiled and nodded. He blew a kiss at her in thanks.

"You have permission to waltz now, Miss Townsend," he said, looking down at her. "Lady Cowper has made it so. Have you ever waltzed before?"

Emily shook her head.

"Well, luckily for you, I have," he said, smiling. "It's quite simple. I put my right hand at your waist, like so, and you put your left hand on my shoulder .

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