Page 24 of The Dangerous Lord

“Yes, but I don’t go to dance.” She resumed her death grip on his shoulder. He could always carry her about the room. He was certainly large enough, and she’d already ruined any appearance of ladylike grace by clinging to him like a drowning woman.

When he didn’t answer her comment, she risked a glance up into his face.

It was shuttered, his eyes impersonal as gems. “I forgot—you go to hear gossip.”

“To gather material.” His condescension and obvious ease at the waltz irritated her. “You go to hunt up a brood mare. I don’t see why that’s any more acceptable.”

“A brood mare?” he choked out. “Is that what you gleaned from your interrogation of Sara this afternoon?”

She stumbled and he caught her, whisking her back into the step only moments before she collided with another dancer. It took her a second to regain her composure. “I did not interrogate Sara. She offered information.”

“And you made your usual ‘speculations’ based on hints and innuendo.”

“So you’re not looking for a wife to bear your heir?”

A long silence ensued, during which she became aware of something besides the waltz ... like the broad masculine chest at her eye level ... the scent of bay rum and starched linen and plain, unadulterated male ... the muscled arms holding her a trifle close for propriety. At some point during the waltz, he’d moved his hand from her side to the small of her back. Although she understood why he felt the need to manacle her waist with his arm, given her abysmal waltzing ability, it was still most improper.

She eased back from him, then nearly lost the measure, prompting him to tighten his arm further. When she met his gaze, she found him watching her with amusement.

“You really can’t waltz, can you?” he said.

“Did you think I’d invent something like that?”

“Why not? You invent everything else.”

“Not your reasons for needing a wife, I suspect,” she said, determined to make him answer her question.

He let out an exasperated breath. “Of course I need a wife to bear me an heir. That’s why most men of title and fortune need a wife.” He paused. “There, you have your answer. Shall I expect to see it in the next edition of the Gazette?”

She was starting to feel a bit more comfortable with the waltz, enough that his snide remark didn’t make her lose step. “Really, you do have an exalted opinion of yourself. I have more interesting things to write about than your courtships.”

“Yes, like Katherine’s elopement.”

So he’d finally brought it up, had he? Tilting her head down to avoid his gaze, she focused on his expertly tied cravat. “Why should I write about that? Everyone already knows of it. Besides, despite what you think, I don’t go about trying to ruin people’s lives. Katherine is my friend, after all.”

“You’ve already humiliated her by writing about my supposed mistress. Why balk at discussing her elopement?”

The unfair accusation stung. “I’ll concede that my article might have given her some discomfort, but clearly it didn’t last. The end result was her happiness.”

“Are you so sure? This steward of hers met your impeccable standards?”

Her interest in his cravat grew amazingly acute. “I didn’t know him, but I’m sure he’s a very nice man and will make her happy.”

“I see. Which means you’re as dismayed about the elopement as I.”

He was so smug, drat him, and much too adept at reading her mind. “Not at all. At least he claims to be in love with her, which is more than I can say for you.”

“You have an answer for everything, don’t you? But I know you, Miss Taylor, and you don’t believe in love any more than I do.” He tugged her closer, plastering her to him from thigh to chest in a most indelicate manner.

She’d been about to protest his misconception of what she believed, but this latest impropriety took precedence. She tried to shove him back, but failed. “I may not waltz very well,” she hissed, “but must you hold me so close? It isn’t proper, you know.”

“No, it isn’t.”

When he didn’t allow her so much as an extra inch in response to her criticism, she said, “Would you kindly release me?”

“I think not.”

It dawned on her that this had nothing to do with her dancing abilities. “Why?”