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The silence nearly killed her. Did he have any idea how that sounded? Did he know how sinister and seductive it sounded in the dark empty room?

He dropped his arms quickly. “You are my guest. You are under my protection. I would never do anything to harm you.”

“I didn’t think you would.” She couldn’t help the laughter in her voice. He truly was so very serious.

He did not appear to be listening to her as he took another step back. “I was perhaps too eager to begin these lessons, but there is no reason we should not wait until the morning.”

“Actually, there is a very good reason.” What was she doing? If she had any intelligence, she would have run away the moment she got the chance.

Instead, something inside her seemed determined to rebel. She’d spent a lifetime being the perfect, proper young lady, and where had it gotten her? With nothing and no one—a charity case at the mercy of others’ kindness. With no prospects for a good marriage, or the happy home she’d so desperately craved.

Alex had not moved a muscle. “What reason is that?”

Oh yes, right. Excitement had her heart fluttering in her chest as she explained. “Lady Amelia Goodwin will be arriving tomorrow morning to visit your sister.”

He frowned. “I do not believe I know her.”

“Perhaps not. She is young, the same age as your sister. She has not yet made her debut, but I believe she and Tess became fast friends at a house party last year.”

His frown deepened. “I did not know that.” He scrubbed his forehead. “It seems there is much I do not know.”

Her heart went out to him. “I understand you were often away, before—” Before your brother died. “Before you moved back to this estate.”

She might have been mistaken but she was fairly certain his lips twitched upward. “Yes. Away.”

“Traveling?” she prompted. She already knew the answer. Aunt Gertie had filled her in on this family during their long carriage ride only that morning.

“No, nothing so exciting, I’m afraid.” His tone was droll, and she found she liked this touch of humor in a man so deadly earnest. “My father gave me a property and a living so I might pursue my studies.”

“Ah,” she said. “Well that would explain why I never saw you out in society.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets, and for a moment he looked delightfully boyish. “I enjoy solitude, but now I wish I’d paid more attention. Participated in more society events. Perhaps then I would not feel so…”

He did not finish and for that she was glad. She reached for him, her hands gripping his upper arms in a move that seemed to shock them both. “Do not despair,” she said, with enough conviction to make his brows arch. “I will make sure you are the most charming of all the Earls of Charm by the time Lady Olivia arrives with her family next week.” She dropped her hands when she realized the heat from beneath his thin shirt was burning her. “We start tonight.”

His lips were doing that movement again. Little more than a twitch but it warmed her heart. She had a feeling it was as close to a grin as he would get. At least for tonight.

She spun and pushed the chairs out of the way. “Come, we shall start with dancing.”

“Will I be expected to dance with this Lady Amelia over tea?” he asked, amusement in his voice.

She spared him a tolerant smile. “Of course not, but I have always found that focusing on movement makes it easier to speak. It’s impossible to overthink your words when you’re keeping track of your feet.”

“And is overthinking a problem?” he asked. She couldn’t tell if he was amused or confused by this logic.

“Of course it is,” she said, straightening with her hands on her hips. “You are clearly a very clever man, and I am afraid that has been your downfall.”

Amusement made his eyes warm and soften. “Has it, now?”

“Indeed.” She held her arms out, prompting him to do the same. Soon they were waltzing again, and it was delicious. How long had it been since she’d danced with a gentleman? Her dancing this past year had been confined to playing the part of a man while instructing her cousins and sister.

Despite the fact that he was rigid, Alex was a delightful dancer. His arms were strong around her, his movements shockingly graceful, and his feet moved in perfect time.

And then there was the way he smelled—all masculine leather and soap—the way his body surrounded her with a heat that was both comforting and exciting.

The silence stretched too long. For a lady who was purportedly an expert in small-talk, she was failing spectacularly. To her surprise, and likely to his, he broke the silence. “The Earl of Charm nickname,” he said. “It started with my grandfather.”

She looked up in surprise.