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“Truly?”
“I speak the truth! I am astonished at myself, but I must confess it to you.”
Her smile faded.
“I am not at all of your standing.”
His heart stuttered and his hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her a little closer to him.
“That is not what I meant, Miss Fullerton. When I say that I am astonished at myself, it is not because I consider you to be lesser than I, nor that I am surprised that I have come to care for someone such as you – more that I am astonished at the depth of feeling which has suddenly overwhelmed me. I did not ever think I would feel anything akin to this – and yet you, Miss Fullerton, have brought these feelings to the fore.”
“Oh.” Her lips curved lightly again, and he could almost feel the relief that came from her. On instinct, Jonathan dropped his head and kissed her again, albeit with a very light touch indeed. Letting out a long breath, he lifted his head and tried to think clearly. “Is – is there a reason that you are hiding here, Miss Fullerton?” Up until now, he had not even thought about why she had been hiding in an alcove and had pulled him in towards her. “I have only just realized that… and my mother?” An urgency burned in his mind, and he caught his breath. “Why did you tell the footman that my mother is unwell and needs me if you were then to hide here?”
She shook her head.
“I did not give you any such message. Your mother is quite well! She is in the ballroom and does not know of my absence.” Her teeth caught her bottom lip for a moment, clearly concerned. “I came here alone, following Lady Vivian.”
Confusion wrapped around him.
“Lady Vivian?”
Miss Fullerton nodded.
“There is a long and convoluted explanation required, but for the moment all that is required is to state that Lady Vivian intends to make certain that you and she become betrothed.”
Shock slammed hard against him.
“Betrothed?”
“Some days ago, she came to speak to me directly, insisting that I should not stand up to dance with you again, and stating that you were soon to be betrothed to her. At the time, I believed that this was the reason for your eagerness to prevent me from dancing. I thought that it was atherbehest, which then confused me all the more when you stated that you wished to dance with me again.”
Jonathan closed his eyes.
“Good gracious. I had no knowledge of her intentions.”
“Miss Newfield was of great help and informed me that there was no betrothal, only the desire for one on Lady Vivian’s side. Given what I had overheard, I came at once to prevent you from being caught up in her plan. It was only by sheer luck that I saw Lady Vivian and Lady Catherine leave the ballroom! Had I been only a few minutes later, then….” She did not finish her sentence but closed her eyes tightly, giving him a small shake of her head. Letting out a long, slow breath, Jonathan let his fingers skim lightly across her cheek before pulling her tight against him. “It was Lady Catherine who gave you that message,” he heard her say, her voice a little muffled. “I have no doubt that Lady Vivian is waiting for you in the parlor – and that Lady Catherine will be nearby, ready to capture whatever moment it is that she intends to create. And likely to set up a loud outcry, to bring the attention of others.”
A vision of Lady Vivian wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on tightly until Lady Catherine walked in sent trails of ice running down his back.
“I have no doubt that your expectation is quite correct. Oh, Miss Fullerton, I believe that I am quite in your debt!” His hands cupped her face, his heart suddenly aching for her, even though he was standing as close to her as he could be. “And in coming in search of me, you have risked a great deal. Thetonwill notice if you and I return together.”
“But I cannot stay here indefinitely!”
“No, you cannot. Therefore, Miss Fullerton, let us allow thetonto watch us. Let them see us walk back into the room together with your hand on my arm. I have no hesitation in doing so, Miss Fullerton. Not after what we have shared here together.” He could not see her blush in the shadows, but he was sure that her cheeks were a delicate, gentle pink. Her smile was unmistakable however and, when he turned, her hand was at his arm in an instant. “Lady Vivian shall not have me,” he murmured, as they stepped out of the alcove together. “Of that, I am quite determined.” As they neared the ballroom, the first strains of the waltz came towards him and, looking down at Miss Fullerton, Jonathan smiled, reached across, and patted her hand. “It seems as though we are to be able to dance the waltz, Miss Fullerton. I do hope that you are still willing to step out with me?”
Her eyes sparkled, swirling with hints of gold as she smiled her agreement up at him.
“I am, Lord Havisham.”
A deep sense of contentment settled in his chest as he walked out into the ballroom with Miss Fullerton on his arm. She had saved him from Lady Vivian’s intentions, and he could not have felt more gratitude. Yes, he required a little time now to consider his feelings for her and what the future now meant for them both but, for the moment, he would enjoy dancing with her once more.
* * *
“Lord Havisham.”
Jonathan quickly rearranged his features from a grimace into a genial expression, not wanting Lady Vivian to have any awareness of the deep and cutting dislike that now filled him. After all, she would not know that it had been Miss Fullerton who had saved him from stumbling into her clutches, and Jonathan did not intend even to mention the matter. Bowing, he smiled as best he could, noting the paleness in Lady Vivian’s cheeks and how her returning smile did nothing to brighten her eyes.
“We are to dance, I believe.”
