“It is. Let’s go.” I could always change partners later.
The beam he flashed my way stunned me into silence. I couldn’t remember having ever seen him smile like that. Or maybe he had, but I’d been too focused on feeling sick to notice.
The ballroom was right next to the dining hall. Well, one of the ballrooms. The ship had three of them. Ridiculous. The notes of a waltz floated in the air, and excitement sizzled in my chest.
“So, what’s your job?” I asked as we walked towards the room.
“I work with your father.”
I skidded to a halt. “You promised to give me some answers.”
“I didn’t.” The fabric of his waistcoat stretched over the broad wall of his chest when he inhaled deeply. “Your father is my superior. I work in his unit.”
“Are you a soldier?” Father had been in the army, and he was now working at a government office.
Certainly, Rennie looked like a warrior with his hard muscles and sharp gaze. But why would a soldier leave his job to supervise me on a cruise I’d never wanted to take?
He trapped his bottom lip between his teeth, somehow attracting my attention. “More or less.”
“What does it mean?”
He resumed walking, leading me to the ballroom. “It means I can’t tell you more than that because secrecy is part of the job.”
“Fine. Then tell me why my parents chose you, then.”
When he pushed open the glass door to the ballroom, the music and chatter hit my senses and distracted me for a moment. The ladies’ skirts twirled over the polished floor, and the lights from the chandeliers gleamed over the glossy black dinner suits of the gentlemen. Except Rennie’s. He wore his clean but plain grey suit.
“Well?” I prompted him when he didn’t answer.
He sighed. “Your parents were worried about you.”
“Because of Sandro?”
“Who the hell is Sandro?” He slid an arm around my waist, and I was distracted for the second time as a little shiver crawled up my neck. Blimey, everything he did distracted me.
“Would you please mind your language?” I rolled my eyes. “Sandro is the prince I met at Lady Thompson’s ball. He’s the reason my parents decided to send me away. I expected to be punished, but they paid a fair amount for this madness, and then they told me you’d come with me.”
On the notes of the waltz, he twirled me around, one hand on my waist, the other holding my hand with a gentle touch. I had to admit I’d been with better dancers. Not that Rennie lacked technique, but his feet moved heavily, almost stomping on the floor, and his shoulders were too tense, as if he were ready to fight off an attacker at any moment. Not to mention, he steered me dangerously close to other couples. I didn’t want to bump into that lady covered in diamonds and silk. Sandro had held me like a feather and moved with grace and elegance, smiling throughout the dance. Why couldn’t I see him again?
“I see,” Rennie said, gripping my waist a bit too tightly. “I guess your parents don’t approve of Sandro.”
“You’re an expert at dodging questions and stating the obvious. Sandro is a prince. Mother has been pestering me for months to find a suitable husband. Who can be more suitable than a prince?” My skirts twisted around my legs when Rennie made me turn suddenly. “Besides, I like him, and he likes me. I don’t understand why I’m here with you.” Oh, dear. I wished my last statement didn’t sound like the hiss of a cobra about to strike and wasn’t just as poisonous. As much as Rennie was annoying, he didn’t deserve my anger. He was doing what my parents had told him to do.
Rennie didn’t flinch, though. If my words offended him, he didn’t show it.
“Have you thought that maybe your parents know something about Sandro that you don’t?” The low baritone of his voice reverberated in my chest as he inched closer.
“I have, but then why didn’t they just say so? Why the cloak and dagger? If anything, they made me even more curious about Sandro. If they’d told me he was a scoundrel, I would’ve forgotten about him.” No, I wouldn’t. I would have pursued him with more insistence. Every girl needs a scoundrel in her life.
Rennie gave an unconvincing shrug.
Oh, enough of that! I stopped dancing. My skirts twisted again after the abrupt halt. “You know why, don’t you?”
“Monia—”
“Just tell me the truth.” My voice rose. A few heads turned my way.
He took my shoulders, his strong fingers holding me in place. “I can’t. Stop asking me.”
