The Return of the Earl by Joan Wolf

Author:Joan Wolf [Wolf, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: regency romance
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Published: 2021-10-04T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The furniture in the drawing room had been pushed back against the walls or removed. The Persian rug had also been taken away and the floor polished. A small orchestra fitted nicely into a corner, and with the furniture gone and the room opened up, there was enough room for forty people plus a dance floor.

The first thing I did was look around for the earl. I didn’t see him, but I did see Mark. I was making my way toward him when I was intercepted by Mr. Fenwick, the sportsman.

“You’re looking lovely this evening, Lady Aston,” he said. “Quite regal.”

“Thank you. You are looking rather splendid yourself, Mr. Fenwick.”

He looked pleased. “I was looking for you when the first dance started but I hope I may have this second one.”

I smiled. “Of course.”

At this point the floor began to fill for a cotillion and I let my partner take my hand and lead me out to the floor.

I like to dance, and once I got into the rhythm of it I began to enjoy myself. I danced with Mr. Fenwick, then with Mr. Lovejoy, then with Mark. I danced with Mr. Emmott, the only one of Aunt Rose’s group I liked but who wasn’t interested in me. I also danced with a few older men who were good dancers and rather fun. I kept hoping the earl might ask me to dance, but he didn’t. He seemed to be occupied with Lady Margaret Fleetwood.

The evening was halfway over when Lord Castlewood, the heir to the Duke of Albany, asked me to dance. He had been placed next to me at dinner the previous evening and I hadn’t liked him. He had a way of looking at me, as if I were a piece of merchandise, that made me uncomfortable. On the surface his conversation had been unobjectionable, but I would rather listen to Mr. Lovejoy talk about gardens or Mr. Fenwick about shooting grouse than have Lord Castlewood looking at me while he talked.

Of course I had to accept his invitation, and when the dance was over he suggested we step out into the garden for some fresh air. It was getting warm in the drawing room and I would very much enjoy getting outdoors, but not with Lord Castlewood. However, he was the heir to a duke and I didn’t know how to reject him, so I agreed.

The moon was so bright in the sky that the patio lay clearly before me. Unfortunately we were the only ones there. I took a long breath and said brightly, “The cool air does feel good. The drawing room was getting rather stuffy.”

He said, “I have been watching you ever since you arrived.”

Well, I knew that. I replied, “Have you?”

“You outshine every one of those silly girls who want me to marry them.”

That was a surprising remark. I looked up at him and was further surprised to find he seemed serious. “I don’t like innocent little girls,” he said. “I like women.

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