He turned gratefully to Lady Theo as his hostess pulled the two young females aside.
“My lady?”
She smiled at him before turning to the young lady at her side, who blushed bright red. “Miss MacDonald, allow me to introduce Mr. Featherton, who is visiting me from England. Mr. Featherton, this is Miss MacDonald.”
He bowed. “A pleasure to meet you.”
She curtseyed, and said in a voice so faint, he almost couldn’t hear her, “Pleasure.”
“It would be my honor to stand up with you if you have a dance available.”
She held out her dance card. The only name on it was a D. MacDonald, most likely a relation, for the opening set, which was a waltz. He took the pencil dangling from her wrist and scribbled his name next to the second set, a country dance. He was surprised to note only two waltzes were planned for the evening. Fortunately the second one was the supper dance.
“The second dance then.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Never thank a gentleman for offering to stand up with you,” he said gently. “It is always his honor.”
She smiled shyly.
The sounds of the musicians readying themselves could be heard.
Kit bowed. “I must collect my partner.”
He swore softly as a gentleman bowed to Mary, and Kit reached her just in time to elbow the man away.
The Scot growled, and Kit raised his quizzing glass, giving the man his most innocuous look. “I’m terribly sorry, but Lady Mary is promised to me for this set.”
Her eyes danced as he bowed. “My lady.”
She inclined her head. “Mr. Featherton.” As he led her to the dance floor, she lowered her voice. “You remembered.”
“Why would you think I mightn’t?”Good Lord. It wasn’t possible, was it? “Don’t tell me I once requested to stand up with you and forgot?”
Her laughter tinkled like bells. “No, of course not. Though, with the other gentlemen surrounding me, I did think that you might not think me in need of a partner and . . .”
Was that how she saw him? Someone who only danced with ladies requiring a partner? Yet wasn’t that exactly what he had always done? When was the last time he had asked a lady to dance for the pure joy of having her in his arms? It shocked him that the answer was never. Mary was the first.
They took their places, bowing and curtseying with the rest of the crowd.
He took her small hand in his, and placed his fingers on her waist. “You may not have needed to dance with me, but I definitely needed to dance with you.”
“What a lovely thing to say.”
She was as light as a feather in his arms, and he didn’t think he’d ever partnered a woman who moved as fluidly with him, as if they were one.
Kit’s palm burned into her waist. Mary had known he was an excellent dancer. After all, he could make the clumsiest lady appear graceful. What she hadn’t realized was how well they fitted together. It was as if they were made for one another.
She caught several ladies glancing their way, and she didn’t believe it was because they looked so compatible. They probably wished they were with him. She hoped he’d hold her closer. “We seem to be drawing attention.”
His grip on her waist tightened. “I feel like a Royal Menagerie exhibit.”
She couldn’t help but giggle a bit. “A suitable analogy.”
His eyes turned bluer as he gazed down at her. She’d never enjoyed waltzing so much. All too soon the set came to an end, and he escorted her back to Lady Theo, where Mary was once more besieged. Before he left, he looked at her dance card. “Thank you for adding my name.”
“How could I not? You did request the sets.”
