Page 87 of A Much Maligned Miss

“I am stood next to the punchbowl, casting my jaded glance over Penarth’s finest.”

“You should probably remove your arm from my waist in that case,” she pointed out.

He huffed but dragged his arm away all the same. “What about you?”

“I am stood next to a potted fern, wishing someone would ask me to dance.”

Me, thought Gervaise. She had secretly wanted to dance with him. “Tell me what you are wearing.”

“Certainly, I am wearing my best dress. It is of pale green silk with a white floral pattern and a bertha lace collar.”

Gervaise grimaced. He could think of no compliment to pay such a gown. “Your hair?”

“It is dressed as Mama likes it,” Caroline replied. “Arranged high on my head with fussy ringlets before my ears and a profusion of ribbon. It…well, it does not really suit me,” she admitted regretfully.

“Miss Halperston,” Gervaise said smoothly. “Despite your frankly hideous ensemble, your secret prettiness has recently come to my attention, and I feel I must act upon it, immediately.”

Caroline’s eyebrows rose. “Indeed, my lord? And how did such a thing come to your attention, might I enquire?”

“Let us not concern ourselves with minor details,” he said briskly. He certainly was not going to bring that little beast Teddy up at this juncture! “Suffice to say that now I have noticed it, it fascinates me and attracts me to an uncommon degree.”

“I see. Despite the hideousness of my ensemble?”

“That hardly signifies, for I mean to get you out of it as soon as possible.”

“Lord Atherton! How dare you speak to me, a gently reared maiden, thus! I am shocked, I am—”

“Yes, yes, I am sure.” He placed a hand back on her waist, caressing her there. “Let us discuss this further, in a less public spot.”

“Such as?” she asked, sounding curious. He smiled, realizing she had not demanded he unhand her.

“I am steering you, even now, behind a heavy velvet curtain,” he whispered.

“Am I under the influence of laudanum?” she asked.

“No.”

“Then I wouldn’t have gone with you.” She sounded so regretful that he caught his breath.

“Why would you not?”

“Because I am a coward.”

“No, you are not. A coward would not have fled her home and run away with me to London.”

“But…”

“Allow me to persuade you.”

“We could pretend I am Miss Pomfrey,” she said as if suddenly inspired. “She would certainly accompany you behind any curtain.”

“No, I do not want Miss Pomfrey,” he said firmly, reaching for her hand. “Only you.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Very well,” she said, her breathing hitching. “Persuade me, then. If you… If you wanted to tell me some more about how fascinated and attracted you are to me, then I would not stop you,” she suggested in a rush.

He lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing her palm. “Come with me behind the curtain and I will tell you all,” he promised softly.

Her expression wavered. “This curtain. Is it the dark blue velvet one with the gold fringe?”