Page 4 of An Enchantress for an Earl

Chapter Two

A distressing feeling of being trapped filled Violet.

He had asked her to dance – and his expression said, all too clearly, that he thought her another vapid young woman with little education and even less interest in anything other than fashion. But politeness required that she accept, especially when her brother appeared to regard the man as a friend. She swallowed, made sure that the smile stayed on her face, and responded.

“Of course, Lord Merryfield.”

He looked, for a fraction of a second, as if he felt shocked in some way – then his face took on a smile which matched her own – and which she suspected was equally false. That was interesting – why would he react like that? He had asked her to dance, after all, and if he was the sort of man that rumour suggested, then she would have expected him to be genuinely pleased by her acceptance.

Regardless, now she was committed.

He offered his arm, and she placed her hand on it, allowing herself to be led to where the dancers were forming up for the next set. It was to be one of the slower country dances – at least not a waltz! That would limit the amount of conversation she might be expected to make with him, which was a relief. Perhaps, if he were actually the typical sort of young rake that the rumours implied, he would not expect her to truly converse, but simply to smile, and nod, and agree with him in the appropriate places. Most young men, she had found, were far more interested in talking about themselves than in hearing words from a woman.

But… as they took their places, he said nothing, and she felt the silence stretch thin between them. Despite her best intentions, she found herself surreptitiously glancing sideways at him from under lowered lashes. The way that the light from the chandeliers made his handsome profile seem even more chiselled quite took her breath away. Internally, she chastised herself – his handsome appearance mattered not one whit if he was the sort of man who could throw away the chance to study.

The orchestra struck up, and they stepped into position. He met her eyes and smiled, and for a moment, she thought that it was genuine – but no, he looked away quickly, and irritation surfaced – she was used to men finding her good to look at, even if she wasn’t as pretty as some of her older sisters! And still, no conversation! She would just have to do something about it herself. The steps of the dance began, and when they came back to being face to face, she spoke softly.

“Lord Merryfield, you seem somewhat preoccupied – what fills your thoughts so?”

It was a rather forward thing to ask, but Violet felt oddly at ease with this man, even though she shouldn’t.

She also felt that he did not deserve consideration – for the very idea that he had allowed himself to do something that got him sent down still filled her with anger.

He almost started – she felt it through his fingers, where his hand held hers for a moment as they turned, and she brought her eyes to his, that gaze almost demanding an answer.

“I do apologise, Lady Violet. Before we came out this evening, I was studying some matters of law, and I find that my mind is still pondering some of that – it is nothing which would interest a lady, and I am sorry that I let it intrude on a moment when courtesy demands that I give my attention to you.”

It was Violet’s turn to almost startle – but she forced herself to simply continue with the pattern of the dance, grateful for the few moments when it moved them apart, so that she could compose her expression to that expected of a young lady. To be told that such things would not interest her! It made her grind her teeth in frustration – why men thought that women had no interest in learning, or in the laws and the workings of government, was something that she simply could not comprehend. She had come to accept that they thought that way, but still, comments like his grated.

The dance turned them back together, and she presented him with her best charming smile.

“I see. I do hope that you are able to let such concerns go, and enjoy yourself a little this evening, Lord Merryfield.”

“Of course. I shall set myself to do just that. Let us speak of other things. The weather has been distinctly colder of late, as winter approaches, and I suspect that we will be sadly lacking in opportunities to socialise soon, as many retire to their country estates. Do your family plan to stay in London this winter?”

Violet almost choked, feeling a bubble of near hysterical laughter rise within her. The weather. He had fallen back on talking about the weather! That was beyond dull. But he had given her an opportunity to answer him honestly and politely, yet still, perhaps shake his typical assumption that she cared for nothing more than Balls and fashion. She swallowed the urge to laugh, and waited until the dance brought them around again.

“Why Lord Merryfield, I have good hopes of continuing social engagements this winter, for I believe that Parliament will be in session from November - which means that my father will need to be in London, as will some of my sisters’ husbands. Our whole family will stay. I expect that many families will stay in London as a result.”

He blinked, and she knew that she had surprised him. The dance turned them apart, and she felt oddly colder without those deep amber eyes regarding her.

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Arryn forced himself to smile. Today had been a good day – until the moment when his father had insisted that he leave his research and dress to attend this Ball. Now, he was torn – his mind wanted to continue with the research, but here he was, required to fulfil his promise to his father, and present the appearance of a perfectly charming and well-behaved man of the ton.

He was, so far, rather failing at charming, given that Lady Violet had noticed his preoccupation. It really was socially unforgiveable to ask a lady to dance, and then barely converse with her.

Not only had he left it to her to begin the conversation, but he had then, foolishly, actually answered her rather forward question honestly. He should know better – young ladies cared nothing for law, or politics, or anything complicated at all, as far as he could see. But now, as the dance turned them apart again, he discovered himself confounded.

He had turned that conversation to the weather, and the time of year – a perfectly ordinary topic – which she had somehow made not ordinary at all, by her response. She was aware of when Parliament would be sitting – admittedly, her father was a Duke, so she would have some awareness of such things, but still… how should he respond? Perhaps simply by focusing on family, and time together as the Christmas Season approached? They came back together, and he spoke again, his eyes holding hers, finding himself half drowning in their blue-violet depths.

“That should, indeed, provide a situation where more company is available. And to have one’s family together throughout the Christmas Season will no doubt be most pleasant.”

She smiled, and there was almost a wry edge to it. He wondered if he imagined that expression, for it did not align with his perception of the expressions common on young women.

“Indeed, Lord Merryfield. My family are close, and will appreciate it – but we are just as like to discuss the goings on in Parliament as anything else. One must stay up to date with what is happening in the world.”

The music slowed, and they turned through a final set of steps, coming to rest facing each other again. He bowed and offered her his arm, and they stepped away, back towards where her mother and brother waited.