Chapter Ten
‘I will only be able to dance two, maybe three dances with you,’ Alex said as he helped Lina from the carriage. She pulled a face. For the duration of the journey to Pottersdown Alex had been running through the rules and etiquette of a country dance.
‘What if you wished to dance only with me and I with you?’ Lina asked.
‘To dance three dances with the same person causes raised eyebrows and any more than that is verging on scandalous.’
‘What if you didn’t like a single other person there?’
‘Then I wouldn’t dance with anyone else, but I still could only dance with you three times.’
‘What if...?’
Alex gave her a hard look and Lina fell silent. She’d learnt over the past couple of weeks that there were many rules governing these social situations. It appeared you didn’t have to agree with them, but you did have to abide by them.
‘Is there any time limit on how long we can converse with one another?’ Lina asked.
‘No. As your sponsors for the Season, it will be expected that you return to either Georgina or myself in between dances. We can then introduce you to the other attendees.’
‘And if no one asks me to dance, I have to be content with just watching?’ It seemed unfair to Lina that it was the gentlemen who chose whom they danced with and when, but Alex had assured her there were few quicker ways to disgrace than a lady asking a gentleman to dance.
‘You will be asked to dance.’
‘You don’t know that.’
He frowned at her for a second and then shook his head, but didn’t elaborate any further.
The country dance was being held in a large hall in the centre of Pottersdown and their carriage had been forced to stop at the other end of the square due to the large number of people hurrying towards the festivities. As they drew closer, Lina could see the doors of the hall had been thrown open and soft music drifted out into the summer evening. Groups of young women, their arms linked, rushed past Lina and Alex, laughing and talking in excited voices.
‘It seems quite the occasion,’ Lina commented.
‘I suppose many of the young ladies and gentlemen of Pottersdown will never have the opportunity to have a London Season. This will be one of the highlights of the social calendar.’
Whilst Lina had been absorbed in Debrett’s earlier in the week Alex had explained the difference between the aristocracy and the gentry, and how it was only the ladies and gentlemen of the aristocracy and the very top levels of the gentry who travelled to London every year to partake in the whirlwind of balls, dinner parties and social events for a few months of the year.
‘Remember, it is only a month until the first ball of the Season. We will not have many opportunities to practise, so make the most of tonight. Think of this as a rehearsal, so try to fill your dance card and avoid any potentially scandalous situations.’
With her fingers gripping Alex’s arm, Lina allowed him to lead her into the hall. Despite the thumping of her heart in her chest, she was excited to finally attend one of these dances and the relaxed, happy atmosphere as they stepped into the hall helped her to let go of the tension she was holding in her shoulders and summon a sunny smile.
‘Lord Whitemore and Miss Lock,’ Alex said to a man to his left, who promptly announced their names to the room.
Lina wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but for a second people seemed to pause in their conversations and glance their way, before quickly trying to make it appear as if nothing unusual had happened.
‘You’re causing some excitement amongst these country girls,’ Lina murmured in Alex’s ear. She saw him grin quickly, before adopting a more serious expression. For the first few days of her stay at Whitemore House Lina had doubted if Alex even had a sense of humour, but as she’d got to know him more and more she realised she’d been mistaken. He had a quick, dry wit, which he covered well with a serious expression, so Lina had made it her aim to make him laugh at least once an hour and crack through the sober facade.
‘Behave,’ he said quietly.
‘I wager at least one or two are wondering how they can lure you off into a dark corner and compromise you.’
‘I’m not easily lured,’ Alex said.
‘But easily compromised?’
He shuddered at the thought of being forced into marriage by being caught in a compromising situation, but recovered quickly as they were approached by a middle-aged woman and a gaggle of daughters.
‘Lord Whitemore,’ the mother gushed. ‘How lovely to see you here at our modest little country dance! It was quite the surprise when they announced your name. I don’t suppose you remember little old me, but we were introduced at Mr Sotherby’s ball a few years ago.’
Lina watched as Alex bowed in greeting. It was clear that he didn’t have the slightest idea who this woman standing in front of him was, but he didn’t seem fazed at all.
‘How lovely to see you again,’ he said. ‘Are these your daughters? I do not think I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them.’
‘Oh, no, you wouldn’t have met them. This is Miss Annabelle Potton, my eldest. And then there is Olivia and Amelia.’
‘Miss Potton.’ Alex inclined his head in the direction of the eldest. ‘Miss Olivia, Miss Amelia.’
Lina wasn’t certain which of the younger two was which, but it was clear Annabelle was the focus of their mother’s attention today so it didn’t much matter.
‘Annabelle loves to dance,’ Mrs Potton prompted.
‘Indeed?’
‘Do you dance, Lord Whitemore?’
Not the most subtle of enquiries, but Lina supposed with three daughters of marriageable age Mrs Potton had long since lost any qualms about being so direct.
‘Alas, I am not blessed as one of the world’s great dancers,’ Alex said. ‘If you would excuse me, Mrs Potton, Miss Potton, I think I have spotted my sister and it would be most remiss of me if I failed to greet her.’
Quickly he pulled Lina away.
‘Not one of the world’s great dancers?’ Lina asked as they wove through the crowd.
Alex grinned at her. ‘Well, the Miss Pottons don’t need to know I’m better at waltzing than the celebrated Monsieur LeBon.’
‘You could have asked one of them to dance.’
‘You are sounding more like Georgina every day.’ He shook his head. ‘It starts with a dance, then they suggest a little air or a glass of lemonade together and before you know it they’re expecting to be wooed with flowers and poetry.’
‘You write poetry?’
‘I’ve never tried, but I can’t imagine it would be too difficult.’ He paused for a second. ‘Her hair was as soft as the finest silk, her skin as pale as a bucket of milk. Her eyes were as dark as a burning coal, her legs as long as a newborn foal.’
‘That’s truly terrible.’
‘I’m sure Miss Potton would swoon if I recited it to her. Would you care to dance?’
Lina felt her heart soar as Alex led her to the dance floor. Already the music was starting as the couples took their places and Lina was infused with the familiar rush of energy as her body started swaying to the beat.
‘Follow my lead,’ Alex whispered as he positioned her a few paces away from him, in the middle of a line of women. With her eyes locked on his, Lina’s pulse began to quicken. There was something sensual about dancing, even when standing a few feet apart amidst a crowd of people. It almost felt as though it were only she and Alex in the room and she wanted to reach out and pull him closer to her.
The dance began and although Lina had never learnt the steps it was a basic country dance and she picked it up quickly, moving in the same direction as the women on either side of her. As they came together with their partners, Lina felt Alex’s strong hands take hers and guide her towards the top of the line, before they came together for their dance through the middle of the couples to the bottom. The music was lively, the pace fast and soon Lina was laughing as the musicians got faster and faster with every couple that came together.
‘I never imagined it would be this fun,’ she panted as the music finished and Alex took her hand to escort her from the dance floor.
‘That was fun,’ Alex said, although he seemed a little surprised by his comment.
‘Do my ears deceive me?’ Georgina asked as she hurried over. ‘My brother is actually enjoying a social function?’
‘I merely commented that the last dance was pleasurable,’ Alex grumbled.
‘Wonderful.’ Georgina clapped her hands. ‘Who have you asked to dance next?’
There was a prolonged silence as Alex regarded his sister with raised eyebrows.
‘You haven’t won the wager yet. I can still pair you off with eligible young ladies for the next few weeks at least.’
‘My sister is under the misguided impression that she can influence who I ask to dance tonight,’ Alex said to Lina.
‘I don’t see why you wouldn’t dance every single dance.’
‘If it was just about the dancing, then I agree it is an enjoyable way to spend the evening, but the romantic politics of asking a young lady to dance discourages many men from doing so.’
‘How do you mean?’ Lina asked.
‘Well, I can ask you to dance without needing to worry about your expectations from me. You are aware my invitation to dance has no romantic undercurrent, but imagine if I danced with just one other young lady tonight.’
‘I can’t see there would be a problem.’
‘People would ask why I had chosen her, was I interested in a courtship? The young lady might come to expect something more than just a dance and then when it didn’t materialise she would be disappointed.’
‘Then dance with lots of young ladies. No one will expect anything from you if you share out your attentions,’ Lina suggested.
‘That’s what I always tell him,’ Georgina added.
‘If I suddenly start attending lots of social functions and dancing with all these unattached young ladies, then it will be assumed I am searching for a wife.’
‘What is so bad about that?’ Lina asked. ‘It is only an assumption. You don’t actually have to marry anyone.’
Alex shuddered. ‘When the word is put out an eligible bachelor is looking to settle down he is besieged by ambitious mothers and dull daughters. I value my peace and my privacy too much.’
‘I think you’re overthinking this too much,’ Lina declared after a moment’s consideration.
‘Too clever for his own good,’ Pentworthy agreed as he wove through the crowds and joined their little group, giving Georgina a kiss on the cheek. ‘How lovely you look tonight, Lina. May I have the pleasure of the next dance?’
Although he was rarely at Whitemore House, Lina had warmed to Georgina’s husband on the few occasions he had returned from London to spend the evening with them. He was an intelligent man and successful from what Lina had learned from the snippets of conversation she had overheard, but he was very likeable and kind. He wasn’t as good a dancer as Alex, but he laughed at himself every time he got a step wrong and kept up a stream of conversation throughout the two dances they danced together.
As they stepped off the dance floor, another man approached, introduced himself and asked Lina to dance. With her confidence growing by the second, Lina agreed. In the dances that followed, she was aware that she would crane her neck every few steps to see if she could catch sight of Alex anywhere in the hall, wishing it was he spinning her around, even while knowing she should be content with the partners she had.
‘You seem a little distracted,’ her latest partner commented as he escorted her to the edge of the dance floor.
‘I’m sorry,’ Lina said, turning to look at him properly for the first time. He’d introduced himself as Mr Gillingham, but she didn’t know any more about him than his name. She’d been less than the perfect dance partner—although she’d executed the steps with precision she hadn’t engaged Mr Gillingham in any small talk and now she felt a little guilty about the neglect. ‘I haven’t been to many dances before. I suppose I’m a little nervous.’
‘Let me get you a drink, then maybe you would like to step outside for some air?’
The suggestion was a welcome one. After nearly an hour of dancing and making small talk, Lina’s throat was parched and her head starting to spin. She hesitated for only a second; Alex had warned her about avoiding any situation where she was left alone with a gentleman—it was another way to be the subject of a scandal, but Mr Gillingham seemed friendly and decent and not at all like he was thinking of taking her outside to compromise her. Besides, the doors to the hall had been left open and people were wandering outside all the time.
‘That would be lovely.’
They picked up two glasses of lemonade and headed for the door. Outside the air seemed wonderfully cool compared to the stuffiness of the hall and Lina felt immediately revived.
‘From your earlier comment, am I to assume this will be your first London Season?’ Mr Gillingham asked.
‘It will. Al—’ Lina caught herself just in time. ‘Lord Whitemore and Lady Georgina Pentworthy have been kind enough to sponsor me for the Season.’
‘You are a friend of the family?’
‘Exactly.’
They strolled arm in arm as they talked, never straying too far from the other couples and groups of people emerging from the hall for a few minutes of air. Lina began to relax as she realised no one was going to expose her as a fraud and allowed herself to enjoy this experience. After these six weeks were up she would be back to her normal life. It would be foolish not to treasure every moment, even if she wished it were Alex by her side instead of Mr Gillingham.
* * *
‘Please excuse me,’ Alex said, flashing the four young women gathered around him a sunny smile. ‘It has been a pleasure to meet you all.’
Before any of the women could protest Alex strode away, parting the crowds with his determined expression and quick pace. The evening hadn’t been terrible, but the last hour hadn’t been fun, either. He’d been abandoned first by Lina and then by Georgina and her husband, left to the mercy of the ladies of Pottersdown. Not that he couldn’t protect himself from the gaggles of young women—he’d had plenty of practice at balls and dinner parties over the years—but it was a little tedious all the same.
Glancing around the hall as he reached the area that had been allocated to be the dance floor, Alex frowned. The past hour, throughout the conversations and introductions, he had managed to keep one eye fixed on Lina. As he’d predicted, she’d been asked to dance by a procession of young men and seemed to be having a great time. He’d known she wouldn’t struggle to fill her dance card—Lina was attractive and vivacious, and men were drawn to her confidence and her beguiling smile—but she had followed his rules and not danced more than twice with the same man. Last time he had glanced her way she had been smiling at a smartly dressed young man as he led her from the dance floor, then they had disappeared.
With a growl of frustration Alex spun around slowly and searched the hall. There were swarms of people, mostly organised in little groups, but he had the advantage of being at least a head taller than most of them so could peruse the room quite easily. After a minute Alex was certain Lina wasn’t there, which meant she had stepped outside with her latest dance partner.
Quickly he pushed his way to the door, feeling the cool breeze as he left the hall. The occupants had spilled out into the town square and if Lina and her escort were out here amongst the other guests, there would be no impropriety, but Alex felt his muscles tense all the same.
He saw them underneath a tree in the middle of the square. Lina was laughing in the carefree, light-hearted way that Alex liked so much, although now it was directed at this other man it made him want to storm over and pull her away.
‘Alex.’
He spun, surprised to hear the familiar voice behind him. ‘Victoria.’
‘I didn’t realise you would be here.’
He shrugged. It was a fair assumption to make, he didn’t normally attend country dances.
‘Did your husband accompany you?’ Alex asked, his eyes straying past Victoria to where Lina was perched. Had he seen her sway a little closer to her escort?
‘No.’ A moment’s hesitation. ‘He stayed in Hampshire.’
Alex wondered if he sensed there might be a strain in their relationship, but then realised he did not want to know. Once Victoria’s pain would have been his pain, but she’d chosen her path, pushed him away and he had come to terms with it. Now he did not want to know if her marriage was a happy one. They were not friends and they never would be.
He heard Lina’s laugh again and stepped forward.
‘I’m keeping you from Miss Lock,’ Victoria said, a hint of sadness in her voice, placing her hand on his arm.
Alex stopped and saw her look up at him hopefully.
‘Please excuse me, Victoria. I hope you have a pleasant evening.’
Swiftly he walked away, closing the gap between him and Lina within a few seconds. She was turned half-away from him, but seemed to sense as he approached, stiffening and the laughter dying on her lips.
‘Lord Whitemore,’ she greeted him formally. Although she’d been doing nothing wrong Alex could see a hint of guilt in her expression.
‘I was worried, Miss Lock,’ Alex said.
‘I never wished to cause alarm.’ Lina’s companion stood and turned to Alex. ‘I am Mr Gillingham, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Whitemore.’
Alex gave a stiff nod of greeting before turning back to Lina.
‘Come, it is time we left.’
‘But it is still early.’
‘You will thank me for the early night in the morning.’
‘Can we not...?’ The question died on her lips as she met his eye and instead she turned to Mr Gillingham. ‘Thank you for a most pleasurable evening, Mr Gillingham,’ she said sweetly. ‘I very much enjoyed our time together.’
Alex knew she was just doing it to annoy him, but he could hardly suppress the growl in his throat when Lina fluttered her eyelashes at the young gentleman. As she placed her hand on his forearm, Alex started to stride away, forcing her to almost run to keep up.
‘What a lovely gentleman,’ Lina mused. ‘So polite.’
Alex grunted.
‘He is a keen rider. Goes out with the hunt every month.’
‘Enough about Mr Gillingham.’
‘I think tomorrow we need to work on your manners, Alex,’ Lina said primly.
They walked back to the hall in silence and spent ten minutes trying to navigate the crowd whilst searching for Georgina and her husband. Throughout their search Lina walked passively by his side, but he could sense she would tell him exactly what was on her mind when they were in private.
‘Enough,’ Alex declared when they still hadn’t found Georgina after two laps of the crowded hall. ‘Home.’
‘You’ve been reduced to sentences comprising of just a single word,’ Lina observed.
Ignoring her comments as they made their way to his carriage, Alex tried to let some of the simmering feelings go, but found it was almost impossible. Seeing Lina enjoying herself with Mr Gillingham had made him feel something he hadn’t felt for a very long time: jealousy. He’d wanted to storm over and snatch her away and keep her all to himself. It was ridiculous—Lina wasn’t his to covet. In four weeks’ time she would be out of his life and moving on with her family. And he would be... Well, his life would return to normal. Once he’d won the wager he could concentrate on what was really important: training his racehorses.
‘I was the model of propriety this evening,’ Lina declared as he helped her up into the carriage.
‘And I?’ Alex asked, raising an eyebrow as he settled into the seat beside her. It was a snug fit and Lina had to wriggle over a little to make room.
‘You were rude.’
‘Forgive me?’
She huffed, then looked at him slyly. ‘Were you jealous?’
‘Of Mr Gillingham?’
‘You certainly acted as though you were jealous.’
‘I acted as any responsible sponsor would on finding the young lady they were chaperoning had disappeared outside with an unknown man.’
‘There were plenty of couples outside.’
‘Has anyone ever told you that you’re exceedingly argumentative?’
‘Has anyone ever told you you’re arrogant and self-important?’ Lina countered.
‘My sister tells me most days.’ Alex smiled. ‘I take it as a compliment.’
Lina exhaled sharply as if biting her tongue and turned towards the window. Although he’d never admit it out loud he’d begun to like how argumentative she was, how she was never afraid of voicing her opinion. It might make their relationship a little more fiery, but underneath that it was a testament to how much she cared about what they were doing, how she had started to care for him. That was a hundred times more valuable than an easy life.
The ensuing silence gave Alex a chance to study her profile; the soft lips, round cheeks and thick, shiny hair. It would be so easy to turn her to face him and kiss her. He didn’t think she’d protest, he’d seen the way she responded when their hands touched or when he held her to dance. Perhaps he should allow himself this one pleasure. He’d held himself so tightly, been so strict for so long. Maybe it was time to start indulging in a little of what he desired again.