Page 11 of A Much Maligned Miss

“I will hear no slander against him!” Caroline asserted, slamming her hand down on the table. “He saved my life!” she declared dramatically. “He did not even hesitate, just…just reached down into the trenches and dragged me out by the scruff of my neck! I have never witnessed anything so heroic in my life. I will forever remember it as the…the dearest recollection of my heart.”

“Good lord, you have been deprived in life, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” she said solemnly. “Terribly, horribly deprived. Speaking of which, would you care to dance with me, Lord Atherton?” She extended her hand to him palm up. “You did not dance with me at the Christmas party, and I secretly wanted you to.”

His eyebrows rose. “Even though you thought me a terrible cad.”

“A terrible swine,” she corrected him. “I did not think you were a cad until last week.”

“Ah, yes, it is important to get these things right.” He paused. “But there’s no music, my dear Miss Halperston.”

“Really? I could have sworn I can hear some.”

“I rather suspect you can,” he agreed dryly.

She flapped her hand in front of him insistently. “You will not refuse me in this request, surely? Not after I have been so…so…deprived as you say.”

“Well really, Miss Halperston, you quite put me to the blush.”

“Do I?” If anything, she looked rather pleased by this. “Don’t be shy. I shan’t eat you.”

It was Gervaise’s turn to cough.

4

It was cold out on the terrace, Caroline realized. And suddenly she felt rather tired, and yes, a little confused. Why was she circling the terrace in the dark in the arms of a man who was practically a stranger to her? Even worse, why was she humming a tune so loudly as though she had quite lost her wits?

She tipped back her head and regarded him critically. “Lord Atherton,” she began sensibly, then forgot what she was going to say. She yawned, which was terribly rude of her as she could not cover her mouth. One hand was in his and the other rested on his shoulder.

“Tired?” he asked sympathetically.

“Not at all,” she answered with dignity, then realized she could barely keep her eyes open. She blinked them in rapid succession to try to dispel the feeling.

“Did something fly into your eye?” he asked.

“Um, no. Actually, do you think we could stop twirling? I feel suddenly rather dizzy.”

“Nothing could be simpler,” he said, and brought them to an abrupt standstill. So abrupt, that Caroline’s stomach lurched unpleasantly. She gasped and clutched at him. “Are you going to be sick?” he asked casually, steering her toward the balustrade.

“Oh, I do hope not,” she answered fervently, grasping at the stone parapet and leaning over it to take large gulping breaths.

“It might be better if you are,” he observed impartially, then stood in companionable silence as Caroline filled her lungs with the cold night air. She was not sure how long they remained thus but gradually she became aware of the warm, heavy feeling of his hand resting on the back of her neck. Strangely, she did not mind it. It felt like he was tethering her to the spot, so she did not get lost.

Caroline shuddered. Her brow rested on the stone surface. She must be mad to be out here in the frigid night air with no coat and no hat! Glancing down with surprise, she saw she still wore her green day gown from this morning. She squinted sideways at Lord Atherton. He was wearing full evening dress. Why was that? Something was not right here. She clutched at her head. She felt so bewildered.

“I… Where—?”

“I don’t think you’ll find any answers tonight,” he answered smoothly. “A good night’s rest is what you need. Things will appear clearer in the morning.”

“Do you think so?” she asked doubtfully. Her eyes were closing again. She felt as though she could fall asleep where she stooped with nothing but cold stone for her head pillow. Indeed, she was not entirely sure she could straighten up unaided. “Do you think you could help me to my feet?” she ventured. “If it is not too much trouble.”

Unceremoniously, Lord Atherton grabbed her under her arms and hauled her upright. Caroline squeezed her eyes shut and prayed she would stay that way. After a moment she ventured to open one eye. He swayed before her.

He sighed. “Miss Halperston, I think it might be best if you too succumbed to one of the fainting fits that has afflicted the company at large this evening.”

“I don’t think I quite—?”

Her whole world lurched again, and Caroline found herself suspended in midair. Then she realized she was once more in Lord Atherton’s arms.