She latched onto his statement as her escape. “Oh, well, then we don’t need to,” she said, and would have turned and walked away but he captured her hand.
“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear.
Her blood rang in her ears in fear. “About what?” She’d squeaked the words out, actually squeaked.
Before he could answer, the music started, and the caller of the dance announced, “A kiss to the ladies.” Portia barely registered this unusual command when Colonel Chattan leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
Startled, Portia drew back. The touch of his lips had been like a small jolt of electricity.
If he felt the same, he didn’t show it. Instead, he said almost apologetically, “It’s the rule of the Christmas Assembly. To start the dance, the lads must give the lasses a peck. I believe it is a capital idea.”
And she realized she hadn’t been the only one kissed. All the dancers, even the married couples, had kissed. Most were demure kisses and some not so. Minnie’s partner had been overenthusiastic, and those close to them were laughing at her skillful handling at cutting short his efforts.
Heat rushed to Portia’s cheeks. She’d been kissed before. Twice, when she was much younger and she’d had suitors. That was before her father’s death. They’d been kind, considerate men who hadn’t aroused much passion in her.
But Colonel Chattan was different.
He was the sort of man who could makeanywoman’s blood race, and Portia was no exception, except she should be. She must be on guard and not let his lips close to her again.
And then Colonel Chattan took her hand and the dance began.
It had been a long time since Portia had danced. The set’s figures were simple and the caller good so that everyone knew what to do without the music being overshadowed. Portia was out of practice and felt very self-conscious, but she would have been that way with any partner, albeit more so with him. He had a presence about him that threatened her in a way she wasn’t certain she understood.
He knew how to hold a woman’s hand. He didn’t grip too hard or too lightly. He wasn’t a skipper or hopper as some of the gentlemen dancers were. In fact, he moved with an athletic grace, despite favoring his right leg.
Nor did he count the steps to himself under his breath as the gentleman to his left did. Or step on her toes the way the gentleman to the right did to his partner.
And Portia found herself relaxing. She actually smiled. Minnie caught her eye and gave her a sisterly grin in encouragement. The music was merry and fun, the dancers were lighthearted, and Portia couldn’t help but enjoy herself even when Lady Emma managed to move herself and her partner over to where Colonel Chattan was.
And then the dance was over.
He bowed.
She curtseyed.
He reached for her arm—
“Was that not the best fun?” Lady Emma asked, stepping between Portia and Colonel Chattan. “But I do enjoy a quadrille.”
“Yes, it was good,” he answered, again reaching for Portia.
“The next dance will be a reel. You know you owe me a dance, Colonel,” Lady Emma said, her voice dropping, becoming coy.
Portia didn’t wait to hear what else was said. She took the young woman’s distraction as an opportunity to escape among the other dancers leaving the dance floor and those moving toward it.
Colonel Chattan had not denounced her. That was a blessing and she would be wise to not give him another opportunity. She was still intent on gathering her family and leaving, until she noticed Mr. Tolliver slip outside. He went alone, his head down, his shoulders slumped.
Had he seen Minnie’s partner kissing her so enthusiastically? Certainly he could not escape noticing that Minnie was being courted by what seemed to be the entire male population of Glenfinnan.
Across the crowd, Portia located her mother’sbobbling ostrich plumes. Minnie was there. The brief smile the sisters had exchanged was gone from her face. Another eager lad was offering his arm, and there was a line waiting. A line of men who would not make her happy.
Minnie’s feet would be danced off her legs before this night was out. However, instead of the dance being a moment of social triumph, Minnie’s sadness was hard to witness.
The only one pleased with the turn of events was Lady Maclean.
There were many reasons God created big sisters, and the most important, in Portia’s mind, was for them to speak for their younger siblings.
It didn’t seem right that two people who had so enjoyed each other’s company were now apart, and all because neither spoke up.
