Page 87 of Scandalous

Sarah was nonplussed by this unprecedented show of interest.

“Perhaps another waltz?” he asked, as the silence stretched.

“Why ye—yes, if you wish.”

A slow smile took possession of his sensuous lips. “A waltz would please me very much. For a start.”

* * *

“I believe you enjoyed yourself this evening?” Ramsay asked, as they rode the short distance from the Manton party to Davenport House in Ramsay’s luxurious carriage.

Martín hoped Ramsay was not going to start badgering him again about approaching Sarah’s uncles. Luckily he was spared from answering by Lady Ramsay.

“Sir Cedric has expressed an interest in my last paper, Hugh. He wants to read it at the next meeting of the Philosophical Society.”

“You have put my mind at ease, my dear. I had suspected Sir Cedric of making untoward offers to you. He was almost in your lap at dinner. He also had his elbow in your syllabub at one point.” The man in question was an octogenarian with spectacles so thick they obscured his eyes.

Lady Ramsay appeared not to hear her husband. “I will have to change the portion of the paper that deals with Hume. I believe I was premature in my conclusions.”

“Did Sir Cedric have the audacity to say that to you, my love? The brute! Shall I call him out?”

Lady Ramsay’s eyes settled on her husband and came slowly into focus. “Perhaps I shall open the door to the carriage, and Captain Bouchard can shove you out?”

“Shall I tell the coachman to pick up speed first, my lady?” Martín offered.

Ramsay laughed.

His wife turned her disconcerting gaze on Martín. “I hope you are going to attend Miss Fisher’s ball next week, Captain.” It was not a question.

Martín looked from Lady Ramsay’s face to her husband’s. The baron gave a slight shrug of his massive shoulders, as if to say he had no hand in this. Martín never knew what the man told his wife. Probably everything, as besotted as he was.

“Yes. I have already claimed a waltz with Mademoiselle Fisher. Perhaps you will honor me by reserving a set, Lady Ramsay?”

“I shall be delighted, Captain Bouchard. You are a very accomplished dancer.”

Martín reckoned she thought dancing his only accomplishment. He wondered if she, like her husband, felt he was worthy of Sarah. It was hard to tell what Lady Ramsay thought, unless the subject was some long-dead philosopher.

Thankfully the topic of Sarah Fisher was dropped, and the remainder of the short journey was spent discussing Martín’s work at Oak Park.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

To Sarah’s relief, her Aunt Anna took charge of organizing her birthday ball. Fortunately, Anna viewed the opportunity to organize a large party with pleasure. All Sarah had to do was decide on a dress and give Anna a list of guests.

Anna almost fainted when she saw the list contained a baron, a viscount, and a marquess. She was also thrilled to see Mies on the list. Every member of her family was hoping for a connection with Mies. Not only was he of the best blood and a relative to kings, but he was Dutch.

Anna was far less enthusiastic, however, about the inclusion of Martín Bouchard on the list.

“But my dear, who is he, really?”

“He is a friend. He brought me back to England without any expectation of remuneration or reward. And he freed me and the people of my village from Mies Graaf. Whom you must know was engaged in the illegal—not to mention revolting—business of slavery.”

Anna waved this information aside as if it were a mere bagatelle. “Sarah, darling, I understand this captain was very kind and brought you home to us, but can we not simply pay him for his services? That is what one does with tradesmen.” She saw Sarah’s expression and stopped. “Oh, very well,” she said, her natural inclination to avoid strife overriding considerations of status.

By the time Anna was finished with the list, the ball guests numbered no fewer than five hundred names. The dinner before the ball would also be enormous. There were to be two tables, each seating thirty. As much as she wished to sit next to Martín, Sarah could not bring herself to interfere with her aunt’s seating arrangements.

Luckily, thanks to matters of precedence, she could count on being seated beside at least one person with whom she was acquainted.

* * *