off him, not in a manner that left her feeling threatened, but in a way that left her breathless for more. More of what, she did not know. But she wanted to find out.
"Miss Palmer, may I have the next dance?"
Alicia blinked. She looked back at Elizabeth who smiled encouragingly. Mrs. Hancock also smiled and nodded, but a touch of disappointment tainted her approval, reminding Alicia the dear lady had hoped her daughter would attract the attention of the very eligible Lord Amesbury. That he'd singled out Alicia seemed a dream.
She squelched all hope that she might hold his interest. Surely only politeness motivated him to dance with the plainest girl first. He'd soon turn his attention to the beautiful ladies.
Finding her voice, Alicia replied, “Thank you, Lord Amesbury. I would be honored."
As the final notes of the current dance ended and the next began, Lord Amesbury offered his arm. She took it, an unfamiliar quiver beginning in her stomach. The art of dancing, she found as the set began, had not abandoned her as completely as her wits. The handsome viscount danced with athletic grace, his attention focused upon her. The warmth of his hand seeped through their kidskin gloves. He held her gently, firmly.
A playful glint touched his sapphire eyes. “I must warn you. Now that we've danced, my aunt will take it upon herself to ask you your opinion of me. She will most certainly interrogate me regarding you."
She met those probing eyes and felt her mouth curve. “Oh? Is she your self-proclaimed matchmaker?"
A wry smile touched his lips. “Of course. I'm thirty and not yet married. She feels it her duty to ensure I produce an heir before I'm too old. Despite my efforts, she persists."
Alicia nodded, her smile deepening at his indelicate statement. “That is a dilemma."
"Since you and I have only just met, it will be difficult to offer a fair assessment of your character. And if I say anything positive about you, she'll plan the wedding.” His smile brightened, lighting up his stunning face.
Alicia missed her step. Even while dancing with the very handsome Duke of Suttenberg two Seasons ago, she had never felt such a keen attraction for a man. She was nearly twenty, for heaven's sake, not a missish debutante!
"Your aunt is a strong woman and a kind lady, my lord."
"I suppose she possesses a good heart deep, deep down inside, but be truthful; she's sharp-tongued and outspoken."
She laughed and then clapped her hand over her mouth. “My Lord! She might hear you."
He chuckled. “Fear not. We needle each other as frequently as possible. I say worse things to her face. I enjoy watching her squirm and plot a counter-attack."
That reminded her of the playful banter she shared with her cousin Robert. “I don't recall her ever mentioning you, my lord."
His smile turned self-deprecating. “I'm one of those relations no one mentions."
She laughed softly. “You're teasing me."
"No, but I dare not shock you with all of my misadventures."
"She has mentioned a nephew named Christian."
"My youngest brother. Everyone loves him.” A touch of rancor colored his voice.
As the dance pattern repeated, Alicia saw Elizabeth dancing with a young gentleman, who smiled at her with an adoring gaze. “Will you honor my friend Elizabeth Hancock with a dance this evening, Lord Amesbury?"
He raised an eyebrow and his lips pulled in a sardonic smile. “On the rare occasion that I invite a lady to dance, she doesn't normally ask me to seek out another."
"I didn't mean it that way. I only meant that there are a number of ladies in attendance who love to dance, and there is a shortage of men. I hope you will seek out others. Especially those who do not have many partners."
Alicia always felt sorry for the wallflowers, herself having been one more frequently than she cared to admit. And the brief flash of envy in Mrs. Hancock's eyes when Lord Amesbury asked her instead of Elizabeth to dance tugged at her conscience.
He glanced
"Miss Palmer, may I have the next dance?"
Alicia blinked. She looked back at Elizabeth who smiled encouragingly. Mrs. Hancock also smiled and nodded, but a touch of disappointment tainted her approval, reminding Alicia the dear lady had hoped her daughter would attract the attention of the very eligible Lord Amesbury. That he'd singled out Alicia seemed a dream.
She squelched all hope that she might hold his interest. Surely only politeness motivated him to dance with the plainest girl first. He'd soon turn his attention to the beautiful ladies.
Finding her voice, Alicia replied, “Thank you, Lord Amesbury. I would be honored."
As the final notes of the current dance ended and the next began, Lord Amesbury offered his arm. She took it, an unfamiliar quiver beginning in her stomach. The art of dancing, she found as the set began, had not abandoned her as completely as her wits. The handsome viscount danced with athletic grace, his attention focused upon her. The warmth of his hand seeped through their kidskin gloves. He held her gently, firmly.
A playful glint touched his sapphire eyes. “I must warn you. Now that we've danced, my aunt will take it upon herself to ask you your opinion of me. She will most certainly interrogate me regarding you."
She met those probing eyes and felt her mouth curve. “Oh? Is she your self-proclaimed matchmaker?"
A wry smile touched his lips. “Of course. I'm thirty and not yet married. She feels it her duty to ensure I produce an heir before I'm too old. Despite my efforts, she persists."
Alicia nodded, her smile deepening at his indelicate statement. “That is a dilemma."
"Since you and I have only just met, it will be difficult to offer a fair assessment of your character. And if I say anything positive about you, she'll plan the wedding.” His smile brightened, lighting up his stunning face.
Alicia missed her step. Even while dancing with the very handsome Duke of Suttenberg two Seasons ago, she had never felt such a keen attraction for a man. She was nearly twenty, for heaven's sake, not a missish debutante!
"Your aunt is a strong woman and a kind lady, my lord."
"I suppose she possesses a good heart deep, deep down inside, but be truthful; she's sharp-tongued and outspoken."
She laughed and then clapped her hand over her mouth. “My Lord! She might hear you."
He chuckled. “Fear not. We needle each other as frequently as possible. I say worse things to her face. I enjoy watching her squirm and plot a counter-attack."
That reminded her of the playful banter she shared with her cousin Robert. “I don't recall her ever mentioning you, my lord."
His smile turned self-deprecating. “I'm one of those relations no one mentions."
She laughed softly. “You're teasing me."
"No, but I dare not shock you with all of my misadventures."
"She has mentioned a nephew named Christian."
"My youngest brother. Everyone loves him.” A touch of rancor colored his voice.
As the dance pattern repeated, Alicia saw Elizabeth dancing with a young gentleman, who smiled at her with an adoring gaze. “Will you honor my friend Elizabeth Hancock with a dance this evening, Lord Amesbury?"
He raised an eyebrow and his lips pulled in a sardonic smile. “On the rare occasion that I invite a lady to dance, she doesn't normally ask me to seek out another."
"I didn't mean it that way. I only meant that there are a number of ladies in attendance who love to dance, and there is a shortage of men. I hope you will seek out others. Especially those who do not have many partners."
Alicia always felt sorry for the wallflowers, herself having been one more frequently than she cared to admit. And the brief flash of envy in Mrs. Hancock's eyes when Lord Amesbury asked her instead of Elizabeth to dance tugged at her conscience.
He glanced
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