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Lily’s cheeks bloomed with bright spots of color, a smile stretching over her lips. “I could bake a batch of ginger biscuits this week, I suppose.”
“In that case, would you care to dance, Miss Burke?” Roger asked, stepping forward and offering his hand.
Lily looked between Roger and William, her smile widening before she laughed and accepted. They walked toward the dancers in the clearing, and William returned to his hunt for Ainsworth.
If the revenue man had just arrived in Collacott and made his way directly to Ravenwood Cottage, he could not have chosen a better time to arrive than now, when their home was overrun with people. Though the longer William’s search came up empty, the more he grew to doubt his own eyes. But no, he’d seen the man clear as day. He was here somewhere.
Or perhaps he was no longer here precisely. Could Ainsworth have slipped away so quickly? He did not have reason to hide from them, surely.
He had the law on his side. He was the law.
A sickening lurch roiled William’s stomach, fear tightening the coil within him. They weren’t safe here anymore.
The dancers shifted while a new set formed, and William caught sight of Pippa across the clearing. Her face came in and out of view as people walked between them, and he shifted his position to see her better. She nodded along to what an older woman was saying to her, her gaze focused and intent, listening in a thoughtful way.
William must have been staring, for Pippa turned her head and caught his eye, and he couldn’t help but smile. She dipped her neck, a shy smile crossing over her lips.
He was relieved that she hadn’t ignored him completely after his impoliteness earlier when he’d walked away from her. Seeing Ainsworth had been a frightening surprise he hadn’t been prepared for; he was fairly certain he hadn’t even bid her farewell. The shock had been great, but Pippa didn’t know that. She must think him the rudest sort.
William circled around the dancers, and Pippa studiously avoided his gaze as he approached. He caught her eyes repeatedly, only for her to shift away quickly as though she hadn’t been watching him. But she had. And he loved it.
“Good evening,” William said, sketching a soft bow. “Again.”
Pippa watched him with mild confusion. She gestured to the woman she was speaking to. “Are you familiar with Mrs. Nibley?”
“No, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure of an introduction yet,” William said, bowing to the matronly woman.
She tittered, dipping in a soft curtsy. “I knew your father when he was a lad. In fact, I remember when you were just a lad, too. Though I cannot recall quite how long ago that was.” Mrs. Nibley pressed her finger to her chin. “The years all start to run together, you see.”
“I would supply you with that information, but I fear it will age me dramatically. I’d much rather pretend I am young.”
Mrs. Nibley laughed, and he’d managed a smile from Pippa. Success coursed through his body at that small win. He could not imagine how wonderful it would feel to obtain a large win from Pippa. A laugh or some such thing.
Mrs. Nibley tsked. “Compared to me, you are quite young, Mr. Blakemore. Surely you could not be more than five and twenty.”
William cleared his throat, glancing at the people around them. “I believe another dance is beginning shortly, and I wanted to ask if you would be interested in partnering me, Miss Sheffield?”
“She loves to dance,” Mrs. Nibley said. “I’m certain she would much prefer dancing to listening to an old woman chatter on.”
William looked at the lady in question, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “Is that so?”
“I will not speak to which of the two options I prefer,” Pippa said, giving Mrs. Nibley a reproachful look, “but I do feel I must dance now, or I risk offending our newest neighbor.”
“We cannot have that,” Mrs. Nibley said in all seriousness.
William shook his head. “No, I dare say we cannot.” He offered his arm and Pippa took it, wrapping her hand around his forearm.
“Have I saved you from a most laborious conversation?” he asked, tilting his head toward her and lowering his voice.
“No.”
She did not grant him more of a response, despite his quiet patience, and they joined the group preparing to dance a lively reel. William divided his attention between Pippa and watching the crowds for Ainsworth’s familiar face, but was fruitless on the last count. It appeared that the revenue man was gone, which was equal parts nerve-inducing and a relief.
The music soared around them, and William threw himself into the dance, finding that he enjoyed it far more than he would have expected. Pippa danced without reserve, performing the reel with enthusiasm and little care for what others might think of her.
The effect was absolutely dazzling. William had difficulty keeping his eyes off her, which resulted in more than one misstep. The dance lengthened, the music continuing on and on as the dancers repeated the steps in rhythm. Pippa caught William’s gaze and grinned, her unabashed joy penetrating his reserve until his smile matched hers.
They seemed to be unable to tear their gazes away from one another. Mid-step, Pippa turned the opposite direction she was meant to, colliding directly with William’s chest instead of curling away from him. He caught her in his arms and moved back so the dance could continue without them. He tugged Pippa away from the crowd, their chests heaving in time, and she laughed, throwing her head back in unrefined, unabashed humor.
