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“Note?”
“About our conversation which was to take place.”
Nodding, he closed his eyes as if closing out the sight of her would help him gain enough clarity to respond.
“Yes, of course.”
“Miss Fullerton is dancing this evening.” Lady Havisham put one hand on Deborah’s shoulder, pushing her forward just a fraction. “It would be good if you might consider standing up with her also.”
“Also?” Lord Havisham held out one hand and Deborah quickly placed her dance card into it, seeing him frown. “Lord Harrogate has already come forward, I see. I shall not permit you to have onlyhiscompany, however.” He quickly wrote his name down and then returned the card to Deborah. “Another waltz, Miss Fullerton, since our last one was so very enjoyable.”
His fingers brushed hers as he returned her dance card and Deborah pulled her hand back a little too quickly as fire shot up through her fingers. Lord Havisham’s smile was a little crooked as he looked back at her, as if he had felt the very same.
“Might I say, Miss Fullerton, that you look remarkably beautiful this evening.”
Deborah did not know how to respond, looking up into his eyes and finding herself so overcome by all that she felt and his nearness to her, that speaking even a single word seemed impossible.
“I am certain that you will garner a great deal of attention this evening, but I must claim the waltz for myself.” Reaching out, he took her hand and, much to Deborah’s astonishment, bent over it, his lips brushing the back of her hand. Nothing more was said between them, but as he released her hand and then turned away, Deborah was all too aware of the heat which had swirled between them.
She did not understand it. Her eyes lingered on him as he moved away, no longer hearing anything of the ball around her. If Lady Vivian was as dear to him as the lady herself had stated, then why had he done such a thing as kissing the back of her hand? Such an action was an intimate, meaningful gesture and Deborah did not know what to make of it.
Her gaze snagged on a pair of sharp eyes flashing back at her. Blinking, she quickly realized that it was none other than Lady Vivian who, from the way her lip curled, was clearly furious with what she had witnessed. Her stomach rolled, but Deborah did not drop her head or allow herself to be cowed. She was here this evening in her own right and if Lord Havisham wished to dance with her, then Deborah was not about to refuse him. Lady Vivian narrowed her eyes, but after some moments, tossed her head and turned sharply, cutting off their connection.
Deborah let out a long, slow breath. Whatever was between Lord Havisham and Lady Vivian was not anything to do with her, and if Lady Vivian was displeased, then she would have to discuss it with Lord Havisham rather than herself. With a small lift of her chin, Deborah turned back towards Lady Havisham, ready to greet whoever came to speak to her next.
* * *
“Oh,Miss Fullerton, I am so very glad that I have found you!”
Deborah blinked in surprise.
“Miss Newfield. You are a little out of breath, are you quite well?”
“I have been a fool!” Miss Newfield shook her head, her red curls flying. “I told you that Lady Vivian and Lord Havisham were to wed very soon but it seems that the connection between them has been entirely fabricated! Lady Vivian is very angry this evening about something which involves Lord Havisham, but when I stated that she had nothing to worry about since they were betrothed, the truth came out!”
Her world began to narrow, and Deborah stared into Miss Newfield’s eyes. Remembering what she had heard from Lady Vivian some time ago about gaining a gentleman’s attention one way or the other, Deborah felt her heart squeeze with both fright and pain.
“She is not betrothed?” she whispered, as Miss Newfield nodded fervently. “There is naught between them?”
“Only what Lady Vivian has created,” Miss Newfield returned, her eyes still wide. “I am truly sorry, Miss Fullerton. I did not mean to deceive you.”
Deborah reached out and grasped her hand.
“And you did not. That was not a deliberate act, I hold nothing against you.”
Miss Newfield’s expression was pinched.
“I came to beg of you to speak to Lord Havisham, Miss Fullerton. Lady Vivian was so angry that she told me she has every intention of making certain that Lord Havisham has no other choice but to claim her as his bride. I could not speak to him myself, of course, for fear of being found out by Lady Vivian – you will think me a coward, Miss Fullerton, but the lady could easily make things very difficult for me – but I come to you in the hope that you will be able to do so.”
Deborah nodded fervently, looking around for Lady Havisham but seeing her a short distance away, speaking fervently to two others.
“But of course. I – I will go in search of him at once.”
It was not proper for her to do so, given that she ought to stay by Lady Havisham’s side, but the urgency which flooded her demanded that she act.
“Thank you, Miss Fullerton.”
Deborah pressed Miss Newfield’s hand and then hurried away, walking through the ballroom and in between the guests. Her eyes roved over each and every face, trying to discover him, but he was not to be found.
