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“My father taught me formality and aloofness as part of my rank. I fear I may have taken his lessons too much to heart,” Harold said. “It has kept me from many social occasions.”
“Yes, I suppose your father was a very formal man. Some would say distant. Well, I am glad you are changing your attitude. Such grace should be seen. I hope to see much more.”
“I’m sure His Grace does not wish to monopolize Lady Hathway,” Simon said. “Rafe should be returning soon, surely.”
He craned his neck to look around. Alice found it pitiable. He seemed so desperate to deny any opportunity for her to be in Harold’s company, even here in a public place.
Such hatred must take so much effort to maintain.
“I do not see him. I pray, young lady, please allow His Grace to monopolize you. My wife and I will be glad to be observers only at the next dance, to watch the two of you,” the gray-haired man said, enthusiastically echoed by his wife.
“May I have the continued honor of your company, Lady Hathway?” Harold asked with a smile.
“You may, Your Grace,” Alice replied.
Just one more dance at the request of others, too. Surely, Simon cannot be provoked by this. Surely, I am safe to enjoy this moment without risking his life. Please, Simon, let us have this moment.
The music began again and Alice didn’t know if it was her imagination, but it seemed there were far more couples now on the room’s periphery, watching. She tried not to trip over her own feet, suddenly very conscious of her lack of experience. They could not all be watching her dancing with Harold. Not even some of them. But, the sensation of being watched remained with her.
“We are safe for the moment. Enjoy it,” Harold said beneath his breath.
“What is going on? Rafe was very cryptic,” Alice replied.
“Not now. I want this moment before the world intrudes once more.”
It was a perfect echo of her own thoughts. Knowing that Harold desired to savor this moment just as much as she, allowed Alice to let go of her worries and her self-consciousness. She found herself smiling in simple pleasure and saw that smile echoed by her partner.They danced to music that was heavenly and in a setting so divine. They danced, glorying in each other’s physicality but in a way that was acceptable in public.
The other way, the way they had begun to explore in a moment of brazen daring, was for the private world. This was a means of expression that could be shared with all. Alice felt a sense of pride that it was she that was dancing with him. That for her, he had broken his self-imposed prohibition.
He does this for me. There is nothing he will not do for me.
The pride almost made her feel giddy. It was a power she held over him, one that matched and countered the physical power he held over her. She knew, first hand, that he could pin her down and use her body as he wished. But, she knew that she could make him go against his own nature, just to please her. It was a power she did not think she would ever wish to use. But the knowledge that it existed was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
“You could ask anything of me in this moment and I would be powerless to refuse,” Harold said.
Alice laughed gaily, hearing her own thoughts once again mirrored.
“That is funny?”
“No, not funny. I’m just happy that what I think, you then speak,” Alice replied.
“That is why we have caught the eye of so many tonight. We are attuned to each other. Two hearts in perfect unison,” Harold replied.
Alice loved the imagery, loved the poetic language that came from this austere man, for her. Once again, the music came to an end. This time there was a ripple of applause directed at Alice and Harold. Dozens of couples had turned to them to express their admiration. Simon was forced away from his sister, stepping back as a tall man with thinning auburn hair and whiskers came forward. He wore a military uniform, resplendent with medals barely containing his spreading, elderly body.
“Magnificent! Magnificent! Now, good sir, I know your face and I’ll have your name in a minute. Never forget an officer I served with,” the man proclaimed.
“Clauder,” Harold said, “Duke of Redwood and formerly a Colonel in the recent disagreement with the French.”
“Colonel Clauder of His Majesty’s Coldstream Guards. Yes, I know you, old chap. Well, I never saw you take to the floor whenever old Nosey got his officers together for a social occasion and I can see we all missed a treat. Introduce me to your young lady.”
“Of course, Your Grace. This is Lady Alice Hathway of Lindley Manor. Alice, may I introduce His Grace, the Duke of Hastings.”
Alice curtsied gracefully.
“My wife and I were quite in awe of the two of you. I declare that you are the best dancers here tonight. What do you think, my dear?” he turned to the woman who held his arm.
She was as tall as he but pole thin while he was portly. Her dark hair was piled atop her head and she looked out at the world through pince-nez held to her face on the end of a long, ivory handle.
