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Eden’s insides fluttered wildly as Percy stared at her, his dark eyes intense, filled with some unnamed emotion that both exhilarated and frightened her. Something had just happened. The atmosphere between them had changed somehow, in a way she didn’t understand.
The dance held them apart while the other couples promenaded between, preventing her from asking his thoughts. To hear the music draw to its conclusion was a sore disappointment in many ways, not the least of which was the sudden appearance of another man’s face before her even as she rose from her curtsy.
Percy flashed a rueful smile at her before making a graceful retreat.
It was difficult to hide her irritation from the man who’d so rudely stepped in before the dance’s completion. He wasn’t the first to do so. Percy’s claim on her seemed to have only inflamed the interest of the other gentlemen. In a way, she was grateful for the constant flow of partners and conversation. It kept her stepmother at bay—and Ravenwood along with her.
When would Percy speak to him? Not tonight, surely. His message had been clear enough without a direct confrontation. If he did have to address the man, he would certainly do so in private.
A lull in the music was a signal for everyone to seek either refreshment or air. Percy was nowhere in sight. Her stepmother, however, was. The moment their eyes met, Eden knew she was in trouble. At her side were Papa and Lord Ravenwood. There was no choice but to wait while they made their way over.
Papa was the first to speak, and he wasted no time with preamble. “Eden, this is Viscount Ravenwood. Lord Ravenwood, I present to you my daughter, Miss Eden Lowther.”
She curtsied and waited for the man to bow.
He did so, but only barely enough to qualify the word. “A pleasure, Miss Lowther.”
Beside him stood her stepmother, her narrowed eyes commanding her to be agreeable.
“Likewise, Lord Ravenwood,” Eden replied without inflection.
“May I have the honor of your next available dance, Miss Lowther?”
“I am engaged for the next three.”
“Then I will look to the fourth.”
Catherine’s cheeks were as red as ripe apples. “Lord Ravenwood has been telling us of his estate in Warwickshire,” she interjected.
“I’m sure it’s very lovely,” Eden answered. It was not. Having traveled through the area on her way from Lancashire to London, she remembered much of it as being sparsely populated and rather desolate. When she failed to inquire any further, her stepmother’s face darkened another shade. Her distress was clear, but Eden refused to soften her stance to placate her.
Ravenwood broke the silence. “Perhaps you might do me the honor of paying a visit on your way home.” His nervousness was apparent as he licked his narrow lips and fidgeted. “I invite your family to overnight with me as my guests. Late summers are fine in that part of the country. It is the time of year I enjoy best. Good riding and hunting, too. I’ve a very well-stocked stable,” he added with a glance at her father, who smiled weakly in return.
Inwardly, Eden cringed. This was going about as well as she’d expected.
“Perhaps we will, at that,” replied Papa in a noncommittal tone. “And now I think I should like a bit of a rest and perhaps a pipe. I’m off to the gentlemen’s lounge. You are welcome to join me if you like.”
“Thank you,” said Ravenwood. “I must decline your kind offer, however, as I’m obligated for the next two dances.”
It was all Eden could do to keep her mouth from dropping open. Of all the nerve! What would he have said had she accepted his invitation to partner her for the immediate dance? Would he have abandoned his other obligation, leaving some poor girl without her promised partner, or would he have retracted his offer and put her off until he was at liberty to fulfill it? Neither would have been acceptable. Catching her stepmother’s eye, she held her basilisk stare with one of her own, letting Catherine know she was less than impressed.
Ravenwood did not appear to notice the silent battle between them. He merely bowed—again only shortly. “Ladies. Your humble servant.”
Infuriated, Eden said nothing as the arrogant ass departed. For a man reputed to be nearly as big a rake as Percy, he was certainly lacking in charm.
“You could have been a bit more genial,” groused her stepmother.
“I could say the same of you with regards to Lord Tavistoke,” Eden snapped before thinking better of it.
“You know my opinion concerning him,” hissed Catherine. “I expect you to treat Ravenwood with all due courtesy.”
“I would never be discourteous to any gentleman,” Eden answered, reining in her ire. “Excuse me, I must find my next dance partner.” As she turned, she spied Lord Wells. He was watching her with a most unfriendly expression. She half expected to look down and find the hilt of a blade protruding from her chest. His wife was with him. A pale ghost of a woman, Lady Well
s stood by her husband with downcast eyes.
A shudder ran through Eden. There but for the grace of God… She looked away, searching for Percy, and noticed Ravenwood now standing amid a group of men. To her surprise, he wore an easy smile. Only moments ago he’d seemed so uncomfortable and awkward. Was it because he realized she belonged to Percy? She hoped so.
Her attention during the next two dances was divided between watching Percy, whose passing smiles much improved her mood, and keeping an eye on Ravenwood who was, as he’d said, partnering other ladies. When it was finally time for her dance with him, she was able to smile and engage in polite conversation. For Ravenwood’s part, he seemed far more relaxed. She attributed his earlier state to her parents standing guard over them.
