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She held out her hands and allowed him to walk her onto the dance floor as the musicians started a waltz.
“A rescue, I am so very relieved,” Freddie said, sweeping into the sensual dance with him. “Whatever took you so long?”
“I was giving you time to hold court.”
He spun her in a few graceful steps and arching swirls. “Why have you not danced with anyone?”
Irritated, she huffed out a sharp breath. “Everyone who asked had snubbed me before. I discovered tonight that I am rather petty.”
Percy laughed. “And what of your gentleman, what will you when he asks.” He scanned the crowd that avidly watched them over her head. “Is he here?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Yes.”
“Ah, you will save us from speculation by ensuring that you dance with him.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
His fingers tightened gently around hers. “You cannot refuse everyone tonight and only dance with me, Sprite. Unfounded gossips will be on the tongue of everyone.”
She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. “I could not have designed it better myself. If I did not know better, my lord, I would think this your ploy to find out the gentleman I have developed feelings for.”
“Have we gone to feelings?” he asked archly and almost with dark humor. He was not a man given to jealous, possessive feelings, but he would be a liar to discount the heavy weight pressing against his gut.
“Is it not the same as a tendre?”
“No, a tendre is simply noting the fool has all his teeth and that you sighed over him a few times. Tendres can be forgotten. Feelings have to be dug out with a shovel and unearthed. They are entirely different matters, my dear.”
She stared at him as if he had grown two horns, then she laughed, clearly delighted. The prettiness of her smile was even more pronounced tonight, and that only made him intensely, almost painfully conscious of her lush femininity.
Her eyes softened, and it almost gutted him at the loving tenderness he saw when she thought of this beau.
“I will ensure once he asks me, I dance with him,” she murmured. “Though I do not think society will think anything untoward should I only dance with my papa.”
Percy said nothing to that, and they danced beautifully in silence before he escorted her once more to the sidelines. He walked away from her, though everything inside urged him to stay by her side. Of course, he had to take his own advice lest he acted like a fool and started a scandal.
Lady Bartlett sidled up to him, her rogue painted lips smiling. “Wolverton,” she said brightly. “I was most astonished tonight to see your mou…your ward transformed into such a lovely creature.”
He collected two glasses of champagne and handed her one. Percy did not think her bait required a comment.
“I’ve heard that you chose Mr. Evans as your new paramour.”
She dealt him an arresting stare. “I like that, Wolverton. You calling him my paramour instead of the other way around.” The countess lifted her glass in a toast to him.
“He is a good man,” he said. “You might consider him a candidate for your second husband.”
“You knew that I wanted to remarry?”
“I suspected it. You hinted a few times to me that I am without an heir and must be in want of one.”
She laughed ruefully. “Mr. Evans is without a title.”
“But he is not without money or charm or connections.”
“I do believe—” she cut off to stare beyond his shoulder. “I never thought she would have danced with anyone but you tonight. I believe I have just lost fifty pounds.”
Percy turned, his gut clenching in reaction to see a young buck leading Freddie to the dance floor to dance another waltz. She smiled upon the young man, and Percy noted that she held his stare.
One…two…three…four…five…
He was going to wring her neck. Eye contact in this manner went beyond mild flirtation.
“Is that the honorable Thomas Humphrey? Isn’t he the second son of The Duke of Sterling. A fine catch indeed, and he looks rather engaged.”
They did make a lovely couple indeed. Mr. Humphrey with his light blond hair and fair coloring, and Freddie with her lush sweetness and dazzling smile. Percy exhaled sharply. At least now he knew the objection of her affection. When it was reasonable, or when she agreed, he would approach the man’s father. Percy himself had stood toe to toe more than once with the duke in the House of Lords, but the duke was a decent sort with commendable morals. His second son did not have a bad reputation and was considered to be a prime catch with an income of twenty thousand pounds a year and owing a lesser unentailed estate. He would make Freddie a fine husband indeed.
Unable to watch them dancing anymore, he tugged on his cravat, and with a soft curse, shifted his attention away. He made his way to the cardroom, not liking the way his damn heart ached.
