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Oh, this was most promising indeed! Edith thought with a sideways glance at Lord Whickerton. Two-fold!
“We are delighted to meet you, Mr. MacKinnear,” Edith greeted him, delighting in the way Lord Whickerton’s eyes narrowed as she smiled at the Scot. “Are we not, Addie?”
As though shaking off a trance, Adele bobbed her head up and down. “Y-Yes.” She cleared her throat. “Yes, we are.”
“If you are a Scot,” Edith remarked, noting the way Mr. MacKinnear’s gaze lingered upon her friend for another heartbeat or two before it turned to her, “then you must know how to dance a Scottish reel, do you not?”
The man laughed good-naturedly, and it was a lighthearted and joyous sound. “Aye, I do.” Again, he briefly glanced at Adele before meeting Edith’s eyes once more. “Would ye like to dance?”
Edith saw his reluctance, saw his desire to lead Adele onto the dancefloor instead of her. She also noticed Lord Whickerton tense, a muscle in his jaw suddenly twitching furiously, as though he wished to prevent her from accepting Mr. MacKinnear’s invitation. Was she truly the only one who noticed? How could that be?
“You’re too kind, Mr. MacKinnear,” Edith told him with a glowing smile that made Lord Whickerton’s muscle twitch even more. “However, I admit I am already fatigued. But perhaps you would like to instruct my friend?” she asked, turning to look at Adele.
Out of the corner of her eye, Edith noticed Lord Whickerton exhale a deep breath.
“It would be my pleasure,” Adele breathed, her gaze now fixed upon Mr. MacKinnear’s. All shock had disappeared, and she stepped forward and accepted the Scot’s arm without a moment of hesitation. He, too, looked overjoyed with this outcome, and before long, they joined the other dancers on the dance floor, completely unaware that the next dance was, in fact,nota Scottish reel.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Lord Whickerton, Edith smiled, seeing Adele’s face light up as she stepped toward Mr. MacKinnear. “Why so furious, Lord Whickerton?” she asked, before turning to look at him, allowing a wide grin to show upon her face. “Still jealous?”
His eyes widened as he stared down into her face, as though she were a fairy, just sprung from the earth. Then humor overtook his face, and the smile that teased his lips sent another flutter through Edith’s belly. “Are you playing matchmaker?” Lord Whickerton asked, a devilish grin marking his amusement.
Returning his smile, Edith shrugged. “I suppose I am. Quite frankly, I never thought Fate particularly knew what she was doing. It always seemed rather accidental that some people would find love while others did not.”
“You are aware that Lady Adele is to be married to Lord Aberley, are you not?” he inquired, his brown eyes once more searching her face as though trying to unearth her secrets.
“That is their fathers’ plan, yes,” Edith conceded, casting a quick glance at the two men across the ballroom. Fortunately, they were deep in conversation with one another, completely unaware of the glowing expression upon Adele’s face as she danced with Mr. MacKinnear. “Their children, however,” Edith continued as she turned her attention back to Lord Whickerton, “clearly disagree.”
“Are you certain?” Lord Whickerton turned to look at Lord Aberley, looking rather bored as he stood beside his father, his gaze distant, as though his mind were elsewhere. “What if Lord Aberleydoeswish to marry your friend?” Yet doubt rang loud and clear in his voice.
“He does not,” Edith said with conviction.
Lord Whickerton smiled at her. He smiled at her in a way that made Edith’s knees go weak. A smile that reached his eyes and whispered of secret longings in his heart. A smile that made Edith momentarily forget what she was about to say.
Heat shot to her face, and yet she delighted in these unfamiliar stirrings within her. What did they mean? Was he truly the one meant for her?
“Are you unwell?” Lord Whickerton asked; his voice, however, held no sign of concern, but rather rang with teasing delight. “You look rather…flushed.”
Edith smirked at him. “I’m perfectly fine, my lord.”
His grin broadened. “I’m glad to hear it.”
The moment between them stretched into another and then another. Edith felt something tugging her closer, saw him lean in ever so slightly, his sparkling brown eyes fixed upon hers. The world fell away, and for one long moment, nothing and no one existed but them.
And then Lord Whickerton’s shoulders snapped back, and he cleared his throat, his face looking a little unsettled. “So,” he began, his gaze slightly narrowed as though he were reaching for something to say, “you’ve chosen Mr. MacKinnear, is that right? For Lady Adele, I mean.”
Edith grinned at seeing him so flustered. It made him look terribly endearing. “They are a much better match.”
He glanced past her shoulder. “How do you know?”
“How do you not? Anyone with eyes can see that there is something between them.”
Smiling, he nodded as his gaze continued to linger upon the dancing couple. Then he turned to look at her. “Nothing can dissuade you?”
Edith shook her head, a flicker of nervousness darting down her spine.
Lord Whickerton’s smile broadened. “Good,” was all he said…
…and it was all Edith had wanted to hear.
