Page 39 of A Dangerous Engagement

What would Mr.Ratley attempt tonight? Would he try to get her alone? She had heard tales of house parties where men would take women into darkened side rooms and take liberties with them. What sort of liberties, she was not sure, but certainly kissing. The thought of kissing Mr.Ratley again was not appealing. Now, she could no longer remember when, or if, it ever was.

Felicity was obliged to greet and speak with several more people before the music finally started.

She danced the first and second dances with Mr.Ratley. She noticed Mr.Merrick dancing as well, though Felicity did not know his partners. One was quite pretty, and she smiled at him a great deal.

“Darling, are you looking for someone?” Mr.Ratley said as they waited for their turn in the reel.

“Oh, I was just wondering who that pretty woman is who is dancing with Mr.Merrick.”

“I believe that is Miss Catherine Watson. I shall make sure you are introduced.”

She must be more careful not to stare at Mr.Merrick or his partners. It was a foolish mistake.

Everyone around her seemed to have forgotten the dead man they’d found in the garden. They were smiling and laughing and drinking sherry. Everyone was relatively young—there were no old men or women—and it might have been her imagination, but everyone seemed to have a sort of reckless look on their faces.

How did I end up here?Had she really wanted to go to China and become a missionary? That girl seemed so naïve now. Everyone had warned her of how dangerous it would be to go there, but England had proven to be quite dangerous itself.

The song ended, and Mr.Ratley led Felicity over to Mr.Merrick and his partner. He greeted Mr.Merrick and introduced her to Miss Catherine Watson.

Miss Watson smiled and said, “Very pleased to make your acquaintance.” But the woman could hardly keep her eyes off Mr.Merrick. Finally, she tore her gaze from him and said, “I am afraid I have promised to dance with a Mr.Webster next. If you will excuse me.”

Lady Blackstone came over and said something very quietly in Mr.Ratley’s ear.

“Oh, darling Felicity,” Mr.Ratley said, “I must go and speak with Lady Blackstone. Why don’t you dance with Mr.Merrick?”

Mr.Ratley moved away and left her standing with Mr.Merrick. The gentleman’s eyes followed Lady Blackstone and Mr.Ratley.

“Where do you think they are going?” Felicity asked him as discreetly and quietly as she could.

“I would follow if I thought they wouldn’t see me.” Instead, he took her hand, and they joined the others on the dance floor.

As they waited in the round, Mr.Merrick said, “You look quite lovely tonight.”

“The maid said I looked pale and nervous.”

“You did seem a bit stiff when I first saw you, but no one would think anything was amiss now. You are doing very well.”

“Thank you.”

They danced all the steps competently. Mr.Merrick was a good dancer. He smiled at her occasionally when he had to take her hand, but she also noticed him glancing about the room. Of course, he had to try and keep up with who was there and who was doing what and was probably also looking for Lady Blackstone and Mr.Ratley to return. And he couldn’t look as intently into her eyes as he did when they met secretly in the library closet.

But she allowed herself to look at him. He was handsome. She’d always thought so, absently, but now that she truly examined him, she imagined how easy it would be to look at this man every day.

But her feelings were only a consequence of the fact that he’d likely saved her life when he snatched her letter and burned it—and she was still relying on him as their only real friend in this place.

He, on the other hand, had no reason to have tender feelings for her. Yes, she had found the crucial papers in Lady Blackstone’s room, but he’d have found them himself soon. But perhaps she might prove even more useful to him and to his mission.

“Thank you for the dance, Miss Mayson.” His eyes were back on her as several people happened to be pressing close to them as they left the dance floor.

“My pleasure.”

His eyes were already back on the door Mr.Ratley and Lady Blackstone had exited by. He excused himself and headed in that direction, perhaps to see if he could eavesdrop on them.

Her mind flitted to Lady Blackstone’s room and those papers in her drawer. Is that where Mr.Merrick had gone, to try to steal the papers?

She wandered over to the refreshment table set up in an adjoining sitting room and took a cup of lemonade. When she walked closer to the doorway, she caught a glimpse of Mr.Merrick walking toward the stairs.

Now might be a good time to go check on Aunt Agnes.