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“Still, you have my gratitude.”
Silence fell in the space between them, even as the laughter and chatter in the ballroom rose.Be daring, Pippa. A dare wasn’t about money like wagers, nor something they encouraged each other to ignore. A dare was about fulfilling wishes, hunger, and desires, and they had all sworn never to shy away from dares, especially if they were shrouded in truth. And Pippa’s truth was that at this moment, she wanted nothing more than to know what it was like to dance with the Marquess of Trent.
“Would you honor me with the next dance, my lord?”
She almost laughed at the sheer astonishment that crossed his face.
“You are quite unusual, aren’t you, Lady Phillipa?”
“I decided to be,” she said with candor.
“Ah, I sense an interesting story. Do I wish to know it, I wonder.”
“I might be of a mind to share it,” she said.
He held out his hand to her. “Lady Pippa, if you will honor me in joining me on the dance floor.”
Her heart surged with thrill. She lifted her arm to his and allowed him to sweep her onto the floor. A ripple of surprise went through the crowd, and many ladies and maters stared at him with rank astonishment.
“Have we created some sort offaux pas?”
His eyes gleamed with something almost intimating. “I have not taken to the dance floor in years. Undoubtedly, some will find it necessary to foolishly speculate on my actions and try to predict what I am thinking.”
“Should I apologize for causing undue speculation in your life?”
“You did not force me, Lady Phillipa.”
“Why did you accede?” she said with a gasp, clutching his shoulders when he tugged her too scandalously close after they came out of a twirl.
“I wanted to assure you there is no need to look over your shoulders for Lord Shuttleworth.”
Pippa gasped, her fingers closing reflexively on his arms. “What do you mean, my lord?”
“I noticed that you occasionally searched the ballroom with an air of anxiety. Given what occurred yesterday, I naturally associated the two.”
Her heart lurched. Not even her dear friends had ascertained her disquiet. “You’ve been watching me?”
“No need to appear so thrilled at the idea,” he said, his gaze narrowed on her too intently.
Pippa hid her smile with a small dip of her chin. “I admit I was a bit worried about the consequences of my actions. The viscount might not be happy with my actions, and he—”
“I paid him a visit, and he understands he must never approach you again,” the marquess murmured. “I believe he understood the seriousness of my intentions perfectly.”
The menacing air about the marquess shocked Pippa for precious seconds. He spun her into a wide arc and twirled with her for several moments. “Youpaid him a visit?” she demanded after catching her breath.
“Yes.”
“It was not your right to do so,” she whispered, truly out of sorts.
“I took it,” the marquess said flatly, his eyes gleaming with an unfathomable light.
Oh! Good heavens.Her heart jolted at his words, and Pippa scarcely dared to breathe. Feeling tossed out of order, she had no notion what to say to his hard, uncompromising words.
“When our dance ends, I will slip outside to the gardens. Wait at least ten minutes before you discreetly follow me, Lady Phillipa.”
Her heart felt as if it would burst from her chest. “Why?”
There was a slight hesitation about him before he said, “I believe I owe you some explanation for my action.”
