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Elizabeth’s mouth twitched. “I should prefer to hear Lady Andover’s opinion,” he said.

“A wise precaution,” Elizabeth murmured.

Lady Sylvan coughed delicately into her handkerchief. Julian looked at the woman beside him, and Elizabeth met his gaze with a small, private amusement. That small look made him willing to endure considerable mockery. After tea, the company began to disperse. Elizabeth rose when Lady Wetherby went to speak to a servant, and Julian stood with her.

“I ought to change before dinner,” she said.

He glanced at the damp edge of her sleeve. “I have kept you out too long.”

“I did ask to stay,” she reminded him.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “You did.”

She looked at his mouth, then remembered where they stood. He felt the glance far more keenly than he ought. “I shall see you this evening,” she said.

He bowed over her hand, giving her fingers only a brief touch of his lips. “I shall look forward to it.”

Elizabeth went upstairs with Lady Sylvan. At the doorway, she turned back once, then disappeared into the hall. Julian remained beside the chair. He would have to write to Caroline. She would take an intolerable amount of pleasure in the news, particularly if he admitted how little he had attended to Sir Henry’s horses. He intended to write anyway. Because he adored his sister and wanted to share with her how he felt. He had finally met a woman he could see giving his heart to,

That evening, Julian discovered that patience grew harder with practice. He had expected the opposite. He had managed very well while Elizabeth sat beside Lady Markham after dinner. He had listened to Sir Henry’s account of a disappointing auction and answered when required. He even resisted looking toward her whenever her skirts rustled.

Then she rose to cross the room, and he forgot what he had intended to say. She wore cream silk with a narrow ribbon beneath her breasts. The gown was nothing particularly daring, but he had held her that afternoon. Now he knew precisely where his hand would rest at her waist, and the knowledge had rendered the ribbon a considerable distraction.

Elizabeth stopped beside his chair. “Have I interrupted?”

“No.” He rose at once. “You have arrived at an excellent moment.”

Sir Henry looked between them, smiled, and wandered toward the card table.

“I hope you had finished speaking,” she said.

He smiled. “So do I.”

Her laugh was quiet enough to be meant only for him. At the pianoforte, Miss Bell began another piece. Two couples had been persuaded to dance at the far end of the room. Lady Wetherby directed that they remove a small table to give them more space.

Elizabeth looked toward them. “Would you like to sit?” he asked.

“Perhaps in a moment,” she said.

He remained beside her. She watched the dancers for a little while, then glanced at him. “Do you enjoy dancing?”

“When I have an agreeable partner,” she told him.

He tilted his head. “That is a very diplomatic answer.”

“It is also true,” she told him. She folded her hands loosely in front of her. “I used to enjoy it more.” He waited. Beyond them, one of the gentlemen misjudged a turn and earned a sharp whisper from his partner. “At home,” Elizabeth added. “Before my first Season. There were fewer people to notice if I made a mistake.”

“You need not dance here,” he said. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Even if he wished to hold her in his arms for the brief minutes of a dance.

“I know.” Her answer was soft, without distress. He had begun to recognize the difference between her wanting an escape and her considering something she hadn't yet decided to ask for. “I wonder whether I might still like it,” she said.

Julian looked toward the adjoining room. Its door stood open, and the candles were lit, though no one was in it. From where they stood, he could see the little table beside the window and a clear stretch of carpet. “We might make a modest experiment.”

Elizabeth followed his gaze. “In there?”

“The music carries.” He smiled. “It is enough.”

Her attention returned to the dancers. No one would be watching in the little room unless they happened to pass the doorway. Even then they would see nothing more remarkable than two guests enjoying their hostess’s entertainment. He let her consider it. After a moment, she looked up. “You will have to forgive me if I am awkward.”