“Charmed,” said Lord Cawley. “And may I present my friend, Mr. Pratt?”
“Mr. Pratt,” Harriet said, acknowledging him.
“Lady Harriet, I wonder if you might have a dance free this evening?” Lord Cawley asked.
She didn’t really want to dance with anyone else, but she knew her grandmother wouldn’t have introduced the young lord if he weren’t an honorable gentleman. “Of course, my lord,” she said, holding out her dance card.
Lord Cawley scribbled his name on her card. Thankfully, she’d danced the only waltz on the program this evening with the earl. Otherwise, the comparison between the earl and these young men would have ruined the dance for her.
“May I have the honor as well?” Mr. Pratt asked.
“Of course, Mr. Pratt. I’m free for the next dance if you’d like?”
“I would be honored.” He held out his arm, and Harriet placed her fingertips on his jacket sleeve. She didn’t feel any connection with him, not like when she was in the earl’s embrace. Mr. Pratt seemed amiable enough. He wasn’t very tall and quite slender, with strawberry-blond hair and blue eyes. She supposed he could be called handsome, but he held no appeal for her.
Luckily, their dance was a country reel that wouldn’t allow for much touching or talking. Harriet kept a pleasant smile on her face throughout the dance. She knew her grandmother was watching her closely and didn’t want to embarrass her in any way.
When the dance ended, Mr. Pratt led her back to her family. “Thank you, Lady Harriet.”
Harriet dipped a quick curtsey. “The pleasure was mine, Mr. Pratt.”
Mr. Pratt bowed and left their table to find his next dance partner. As he was leaving, Lord Spenser returned to the table with Miss Weston.
“Lady Dalling, Lady Collin, Lady Harriet, how lovely to see you this evening,” Miss Weston said with a curtsey.
“Miss Weston,” Eleanor said.
“Miss Weston, you look lovely this evening. That color suits you well. Would you care to join our table?” Marian asked.
She shook her head. “I’d love to, but my aunt has secured a table with her friends, and I’d hate to drag her away, asshe hasn’t seen them in quite a while. I must admit, their conversation is quite lively this evening.”
Harriet watched Lord Spenser’s face and saw a grimace for an instant before he smoothed his features once again. There was definitely something between them; she was sure of it.
“Perhaps you could join us for tea one day soon?” Marian asked.
Miss Weston smiled. “I’d love to. Thank you, Lady Dalling.”
Marian nodded. “I’ll send an invitation for you and your aunt then. Best regards to Mrs. Kennedy. Good evening to you, Miss Weston.”
Miss Weston curtseyed, and Lord Spenser escorted her back to her aunt’s table.
“He likes her,” Harriet said. “I know he does.” She looked at her grandmother, who only wore that knowing smile. She was sure Gran agreed with her.
Summer in Bath promised to be quite interesting after all.
Chapter 5
It had nearly been aweek since her dance with the Earl of Hartley at the Assembly Room. The man haunted her dreams with his intense stare and masculine beauty. What did she care for a scar? It didn’t define the man. His emerald eyes seemed to glitter, like a thousand stars lit them from the inside. She’d never seen their equal, and she relived their dance together over and over again. It never lost its magic over her. She’d been mesmerized then and was still mesmerized and wanted to repeat the experience. Would the earl ever come to another dance? Or was that his one and only venture into Bath society?
Every morning, she took Meribelle out for a gallop around her grandmother’s estate and made sure she followed the property line where she’d first encountered the earl. So far, there was no sign of Mr. Grumpy.
Where was he?
Had he given up riding so as not to encounter her again? That seemed unlikely. He didn’t seem the type to back down from a challenge, and she thought she definitely challenged him.
She hoped so because she didn’t want a fight. Was that what she was to him? A fight waiting to happen? She found the idea of verbally sparring with him delightful, and it made her heart beat faster in anticipation. If only he would appear so she’d have the chance to talk to him again.
The sky had turned ominous while she had been lost in thought with black clouds swirling overhead. The wind had whipped up, and Meribelle pranced in place at the edge of the property line. The mare was clearly agitated, and Harriet sharedthat sentiment, especially since she had no desire to be soaked to the skin if the skies opened up while they were in the meadow.
