She moved away to confer with another matron, apparently satisfied for the moment.
"Far too cowardly," Esme repeated."That may be the first untruth I have heard from you."
"You wound me," he said lightly."I tremble before your mother."
Genny, balancing a glass of lemonade, spoke without looking up."You tremble before the possibility of boredom, not Lady Woodmere."
"Both can be fatal," he said.
Esme watched the crowd disperse, reform.Watford hovered near a window, looking miserable.Lady Honoria had cornered him again, gesturing with her fan as she spoke.Mr.Dane stood with Lady Burner's eldest daughter, red to the roots of his hair but smiling.
"You did that," she said quietly, nodding toward Mr.Dane.
Redford followed her gaze."He did most of it himself.We merely nudged."
"We," she repeated.
"You object?"he asked.
"No," she said slowly."I think...I approve."
Something flickered in his expression.A glint of satisfaction, certainly, and something warmer beneath it.
"Careful," he murmured."Too much approval and I shall become intolerable."
"You already are," she said.
They drifted toward a side table.A footman offered wine, but Esme accepted lemonade instead.The room felt close, and her stays seemed to tighten.
Redford's shoulder brushed hers, just for an instant—a steadying, accidental touch.
"I have been thinking," he said.
"A dangerous occupation," she replied.
"Nevertheless, our Society has rules, and now a motto, but no clear purpose beyond the prevention of sensible arrangements.We may require...an experiment."
Her brows rose."What sort of experiment?"
"Observe.Tonight, the seating has been adjusted.You are between allies.Watford is out of direct range.Your brother cannot object without accusing Langley of folly.Result?"
She looked around, considering.
She could breathe.She could laugh quietly with Genny and Lady Oakford, and she could listen to music without fending off unwanted suitors.Perhaps most enjoyable of all, she could stand here with Redford and talk nonsense without anyone dragging her bodily away.Though she would never admit that to anyone.
"Result," she said, "I am not currently being lectured about duty."
"Precisely.A small change.No harm done.No reputations damaged."
"Except yours,” she said.
"My reputation thrives on suspicion.This hardly moves the needle."
A string of notes sounded from the pianoforte.Alexandra’s signal that the second half would begin shortly.
Redford glanced toward the chairs, then back at Esme.
"Walk with me," he said suddenly."Just once around the room."
