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Chloe swallowed around a sudden lump of nerves in her throat. Those dark eyes were watching her, unblinking, the stare so bold that Chloe felt goosebumps rise to her skin.
Once again, her thoughts went wandering. She couldn’t help thinking it was possible that Lord Felton could look at her as she did him.
Does he feel something . . .?
Then he slipped. His shoe squeaked noisily against the floor, and Chloe tightened her hands upon him. One hand locked through his and the other curled around the jacket at his shoulder. They both held their breaths as he stopped moving, managing to avoid the fall. Chloe watched, seeing how Lord Felton closed his eyes for a minute, as if silently cursing what had happened.
Chloe couldn’t resist. A laugh escaped her, in such an unladylike snort that she lifted one of her hands from his shoulder and covered her mouth.
“Well, that has amused you!” Lord Felton said, returning to their dance.
“You should have seen yourself, my lord. You were so worried about falling. It would have hardly mattered if you had.”
“Seen myself? I am glad I did not. I rather fear I would have looked like a goose trying to walk across a frozen pond. All legs and too tall.” His created image continued to make her laugh. “The likeness would have been complete had I really fallen, for I would have probably squawked like a goose too!”
“Oh, my stomach.” Chloe felt her stomach begin to cramp from the laughter. “Stop making my laugh, my lord.”
“Perhaps I should stop. We are earning curious gazes from our hosts.”
“We are?” Chloe felt spun round with sudden energy. Lord Felton held her close as they moved on the spot, so that she had a better view of Maeve and the Duke. They were staring back, with Maeve shaking her head.
“You two do know this is a waltz, do you not?” she said pointedly. “It is supposed to be elegant and refined.”
“What if we are not elegant and refined?” Chloe countered back. “Besides, I am enjoying myself as I am. I’d rather dance like this then be silent and elegant.” To her thrill, Lord Felton continued their dance with vigor at these words. He led her further away from his sister, so that they were quite alone in that section of dance floor. When he nearly tripped another time, Chloe held him up again. Rather than either of them saying anything on this occasion, they held each other’s gazes, both smiling, holding back the temptation to laugh.
“You have a habit of that, you know?” he whispered to her.
“Of what?”
“Stopping me from falling.”
“I will continue to do so, if I can.” Chloe sighed, holding onto his gaze. “We are friends, are we not?”
“Friends? Yes indeed.” His tone had changed. Chloe couldn’t help thinking that there was something new in it, as if he was holding something back, but then she feared it was only her imagination.
It is merely because I wish him to think of us as something more than friends.
“As your friend, Miss Green. I would like to do what I can for you in return.”
“What do you mean?” Chloe asked. The music was coming to a close. She was disappointed. The dance was the happiest she had been all night, and she didn’t want the moment to end, yet it was slipping through her fingers like smoke.
Lord Felton danced with her from side to side, slowly ending their movement, though he didn’t release her to allow them to bow and curtsy. Not quite yet.
“Would you come to see me tomorrow?” Lord Felton asked. Chloe felt her hand tighten in his own with surprise, but it was momentary. “I have been doing what I can to research some places where you might secure your shop. I believe I have a few ideas that I would like to present to you. If you can spare the time tomorrow?”
“I would love that.” Chloe smiled at Lord Felton as they stopped dancing, still holding onto one another.
“Ahem.” The Duke’s rather loud clearing of his throat made them jump apart. Their fingers stopped touching last as they stepped back from each other, and Chloe hurried to curtsy.
Tomorrow. I will see Lord Felton again tomorrow!
“You are sure of this, my Lord?” Chloe asked as she curtsied, then raised her eyes to Lord Felton again.
“I am certain.” He spoke with confidence, his look so full of vigor that she felt rather weak at the knees. “Shall we say tomorrow morning? You could come to my lodgings.”
“I will be there,” Chloe said. She wanted to say more. In fact, she longed to, but Maeve was at her side talking excitedly of the ball once again. Lord Felton bowed and stepped away.
Until tomorrow then.
