An Impossible Alliance by Susanne Marie Knight

Author:Susanne Marie Knight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age story, timetravel romance, making a magical wish on a enchanted lake, modern young woman meets regency earl, regency timetravel romance, true love and fairies, young woman overcoming actress mother
Publisher: Susanne Marie Knight

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Seven

As soon as Ian and Neville stepped into the Yellow Drawing Room, Arabella jumped up from the bench by the harpsichord. As usual, she clapped her hands. “The men are here! Now we can finally dance. Regina, do play us a merry tune.”

Ian transferred his gaze from Arabella to Willa. Dancing with Willa as partner did hold allure. Much allure. He glanced at his would-be partner sitting on the same settee as his elegant mother. The sight of the demure young woman, dressed in a stylish dinner gown with revealing décolletage, made his heart thump wildly in his chest. Seated next to her at dinner had been a delicious torture, but now, now his hands fairly itched to touch her.

However... dash it all, she appeared as remote as a Greek statue. Wan, almost lifeless. Whatever troubled her?

Already at the harpsichord, Regina pulled out a sheet of music, and then complied with Arabella’s request with triple time music for an informal country dance. As this allowed dancers more freedom in their movements than a stately minuet, Ian nodded approval at his sister.

He wasted no time. Approaching Willa, he bowed, then held out his hand. “Come, Miss Berkeley. I am certain this lively jig will revive you.”

She worried her lower lip. “No, thank you. I don’t think I can--”

“Nonsense. I insist.” Feeling bold, he reached down and took hold of her ungloved hand. The warmth of her velvety skin emboldened him even further. Taking her other hand, he gently lifted her to her feet. Her floral fragrance tickled more than his nose.

“We shall be the lead couple, my dear.” He then glanced at his father to confirm his statement for by tradition, the highest ranking member... the Marquess... would begin the dance with the Marchioness.

The Marquess sat in a nearby chair that had a good view of the hardwood open flooring. Removing a handkerchief from his tailcoat, he then wiped his forehead. “Yes, yes, do go on, Wrexham. I am sitting this set out. ‘Tis the very devil getting old, you know!”

Neville picked up the slack by bowing to Arabella. Although at first she lifted her nose, she then, thankfully, agreed to him as partner. Carswell, definitely in his cups, tottered over to the Marchioness, also bowed and then held out his giant paw of a hand to her.

After she placed her hand in his, Carswell grinned so fiercely that even the Marchioness was taken aback.

Ian sighed. It was true his mother was a timeless beauty. Evidently Carswell, three years older than her and a widower for many years, was smitten by his neighbor.

With the three couples now in a circle, Regina pushed back a tendril of hair that had escaped her upbraided hairdo and started the musical piece again.

As everyone skipped to the middle of the circle holding hands, Ian glanced over at Willa to his right. A slight frown disturbed her beautiful face as she concentrated on the movements. As impossible as it sounded, perhaps she had never danced a jig before.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.