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‘But waltzes are so fast.’
‘I danced a very slow one for the second,’ Gray pointed out.
‘And with you dressed like that, too—as if it isn’t bad enough to have all these indecent footmen without you exposing your chest and your forearms. And you need a shave, for goodness’ sake.’
‘I’m one of the Varangian bodyguard. A Barbarian.’
‘Which means bearded,’ Gaby explained.
‘Latin barba.’
‘I despair of the pair of you. And do not go sounding like a bluestocking, Gabrielle. It is not appropriate for a young lady.’
‘No, Aunt.’
‘Where has George got to? You should dance with him, at least.’
‘I have promised only to dance with Gray. I’m sorry.’
Over her aunt’s shoulder she saw Gray roll his eyes at her fib.
‘Well, all I can say is that when the scandal sheets and the gossip columns pick this up and you both become notorious, do not blame me.’ Lady Orford got to her feet and swept off.
‘Have a glass of champagne and drink to routing the enemy.’ Gray raised a hand to summon a footman with a tray of glasses. ‘Good God, there’s Henry. How the devil did he get an invitation?’
Gaby hadn’t seen Henry since the evening she had fled from his embrace and his offer to father her child. She knew it was cowardly, but she’d been glad of it—what on earth was the etiquette under such circumstances? She ought to speak to him, reassure him that he had done nothing to offend her. She should have written the next day, she thought guiltily.
‘Gabrielle? What is wrong?’ Gray was looking between her and Henry who was making his way towards them.
‘Nothing,’ she said so hastily it sounded guilty, although what on earth there was to feel guilty about, other than neglecting poor Henry, she couldn’t think.
‘You won’t want to speak to him after what passed between you last time,’ Gray said. He was on his feet and ready, she saw, to intercept his cousin who was attempting to get past two overweight pashas. Henry himself was in a similar kind of costume, although looking slim and really rather dashing.
‘Yes, I do,’ Gaby said. ‘What is the matter? You didn’t say anything to him that time when we—’
‘I kicked him out,’ Gray said, apparently from between gritted teeth.
‘You what? When you knew he was only trying to help me? No wonder he hasn’t been to see me.’
‘Good, because I warned him not to.’
‘Gray, I am not your possession and Henry did nothing—nothing—that I did not want him to do. Or do you think I lied about that?’
Carrying on a furious quarrel in hissed whispers on the edge of a crowded ballroom was not easy. In fact, they were beginning to attract attention.
‘Henry, have you come to ask me to dance?’ Gaby stepped away from Gray and put her hand on Henry’s arm. He came to a halt, smiling at her, but with a wary eye on Gray.
‘If you have one free, I would be honoured. I only wanted to ask how you were.’
‘Oh, look, the next set is starting.’ She was on the floor in the midst of the dancers, Henry looking confused but pleased, before Gray could do anything.
‘I am so sorry Gray has been disagreeable,’ she said the moment the figure brought them together. ‘I thought he believed me that nothing had happened. I had to tell him because otherwise I don’t know what conclusions he might have jumped to.’
‘I think he did believe you.’ The progress of the dance meant Henry had to join hands across the circle and ended up on the far side.
Gaby kept a bright smile on her face until her own turn left her once more beside him.
‘Or, rather, his head tells him to trust me, but his heart—that’s another matter,’ Henry said, as though there had been no break in the conversation.
