The Reluctant Marquess by Rose Pearson

Author:Rose Pearson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2018-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Lord Donoghue!”

Molly put on her brightest smile as Lord Donoghue came towards her, dressed in his finery. The ball was already in full swing, but Molly had not yet had her dance card filled, having only just arrived.

“My dear Miss Newton,” Lord Donoghue replied, bowing in front of her and then greeting Mrs. Miller. “I do hope you have a space on your card for me.”

“Of course I do,” Molly smiled, holding out her dance card to him. “I have had a few claimed by Lord Huntly and Lord Dalton, although the latter was rather disappointed not to have a waltz.”

Lord Donoghue’s smile flattened. “Do not tell me that Lord Seaworth is still preventing you from such a thing?”

Mrs. Miller cleared her throat gently, making Molly wince. Mrs. Miller was quietly reminding her that she ought not to speak ill of her host.

“No, I’m afraid he has not yet given me that permission, but I am sure he will in time,” Molly replied, quietly. “It is still sometimes frowned upon I understand.”

Lord Donoghue nodded and signed his name on two spaces. “It is, although I cannot understand why. It is sheer delight to dance with one partner and one partner alone, twirling around the floor in beautiful synchronicity.” He grinned, looking down at her with bright eyes, “however, perhaps Lord Seaworth will change his mind very soon.”

Molly did not quite know what to say, seeing the way he practically winked at her but being entirely unaware as to why this might be. Yet again, she felt as though she were meant to know some great secret, but had to admit that it was still kept from her.

“Ah, and I think this is our dance!” he exclaimed, not giving her any chance to question why. “The quadrille. Miss Newton?”

With a gentle nod from Mrs. Miller, Molly took his arm and made her way out onto the dance floor with Lord Donoghue determined to enjoy herself. There was still the somewhat frustrating realization that she did not particularly care for Lord Donoghue in the way that he appeared to care for her – there was no flash of excitement bursting through her veins when she saw him, no stab of heat in her core when he took her hand in his – in fact, there was nothing but an appreciation of his friendship. When Molly had first come to London, she had thought that a gentleman who appreciated her and respected her would do, but now, after the reaction she had experienced when Lord Seaworth had taken her hand to his lips, she was not so certain that she could settle for that any longer.

She and Lord Donoghue were very good friends, that was for certain, but that was all there was to it. Could she be content with that? Would she have to be?

A few dances later, Molly was quite fagged. It was just as well that a short interlude was called, for it meant that she could sit for a time and take the weight off her feet.

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