by Joyce Alec
His wish was granted.
“But of course,” Miss Smallwood said eventually, holding out her dance card for him to grasp. “I thank you, Lord Williamson. I am certain you are an excellent dancer.”
Chuckling, he took the card and looked down at the remaining dances, a little surprised that the lady had so few filled as yet. Throwing a quick glance towards Miss Martin, he saw how the lady glared at him, her eyes filled with warning, and he immediately wrote his name down in two spaces on Miss Smallwood’s card, making the lady blush at his urgency.
“I look forward to proving that to you, Miss Smallwood,” he murmured, directing his attention back to the lady in question. “Until later this evening.”
“Good evening,” she replied, dropping into a quick curtsy before walking past him, her companion in tow. No doubt the chit would have furious whispers in her ear almost the moment he was out of earshot, but Daniel did not think that Miss Smallwood would refuse to dance with him or make some sort of excuse in order to escape from it. No, she seemed a good deal more strong-willed and determined, which he had to admit, he appreciated. Miss Martin would, of course, try to do all she could to separate him from the lady, but Daniel did not think that Miss Smallwood would capitulate and that brought him a good deal of pleasure. Of course, he was only dancing with the young lady out of spite towards Miss Martin, although he felt no guilt whatsoever over the matter and instead felt rather happy that he would be able to do so. Miss Martin obviously thought him entirely unsuitable and that in itself made him chuckle.
“You look much too happy for what is a rather dull evening.”
Daniel laughed, grinning broadly at his friend, Lord Townend. “Not at all,” he replied, smiling as he gestured to the crowd in front of him. “This is quite a wonderful occasion, I think.” He tipped his head and arched one eyebrow in his friend’s direction. “Unless you have been disappointed in some way?”
Lord Townend looked back at him darkly. “You know very well that I do not have that same ease of manner that you display,” he replied, a little frustrated. “Thus, I spend evenings such as this attempting to converse with young ladies who soon realize that I am less than interesting and, therefore, turn away.”
Daniel saw the frustration in his friend’s eyes and felt his heart lift a little with sympathy. “You have nothing to fear,” he told him, wondering if he ought to mention the young lady that he himself had only just met. “Such young ladies are not worth your time, I believe, for they find almost every gentleman staid and boring unless they seek to show an immediate and singular interest.” He shrugged, having met such young ladies before. Young ladies who did nothing but smile, simper, and bat their eyelashes in a vain attempt to secure his interests. Should he fail to show them an intense interest almost at once, perhaps by not quite managing to be caught by their beauty or conversation as they had hoped, then they would turn their attention to the next gentleman and seek him out to be their quarry. “Although I should also tell you, Townend, that Miss Martin has returned to London.”
Without looking at his friend directly, Daniel saw all too well how his friend reacted. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Townend shift forward, as if to catch his breath, whilst his jaw tightened and his hands caught together in a firm grasp, as though to force himself to remain unaffected.
“I thought she was gone with her charge to ensure that the wedding went smoothly,” Lord Townend muttered after a moment or two. “Why now is she back in London?”
“I believe that she is here with another charge,” Daniel replied observantly. “Although she was less than pleased to see me, I will confess.” A slight pang of guilt rolled around his heart, as it always did when he saw Miss Martin.
Lord Townend snorted. “I should imagine so,” he replied with a roll of his eyes that was evidence that he cared nothing for Miss Martin’s reappearance. “Then I shall pray that she is as successful with this charge as she was with the last, so that she might again remove herself from town.”
Daniel said nothing, aware that Lord Townend knew of the difficulties that surrounded Miss Martin and that, in his own way, he was deeply sympathetic for what Daniel had to struggle with. Daniel, however, decided to put the knowledge that Miss Martin was back within society from his mind, thinking that he should simply focus on what would be a most enjoyable evening.
“Are you to dance with this new charge of hers, then?” Lord Townend asked, as Daniel allowed a smile to catch the corner of his mouth. “I presume that is how you managed to meet Miss Martin again.”
Daniel nodded. “I am,” he replied, choosing not to make mention of the fact that he had deliberately engineered an introduction so as to ensure that Miss Martin knew that he was now aware of her return to London. “Two dances, in fact, although Miss Martin was not inclined towards allowing her charge to even converse with me, never mind accept such an offer of stepping out on the dance floor.”
Lord Townend looked across at Daniel with interest. “And yet the girl did so anyway?” he asked, a little surprised. “A spitfire, then, is she?”
“I would hardly call her that,” Daniel replied with a laugh. “Just perhaps a young lady who does not like to be restrained by her companion’s agreement or disagreement.” He allowed his thoughts to return to Miss Smallwood, thinking that she was, he supposed, pretty and certainly a good deal more interesting now that he had seen her turn away from her companion’s advice. “I have two dances with her and the second is the waltz.” He chuckled as Lord Townend burst into laughter, clearly fully aware of what Daniel was doing.
“So you are doing your best to frustrate Miss Martin in any way you can,” Lord Townend said, rolling his eyes although his grin remained. “What is it that you hope to achieve in doing so, might I ask?” His eyes turned back towards Daniel, his smile beginning to fade. “Do you want to force her to realize that her choice of profession is not a wise one?”
Daniel’s smile was gone completely, his brow furrowing as he considered the question. The truth was, he had no particular idea what it was he wished to do, other than to ensure that Miss Martin knew of his presence and that he was aware of hers also. “I—I am not quite certain,” he admitted, seeing his friend nod. “You are aware that she is completely stubborn and will not be removed from her choice of path.”
Lord Townend’s eyes glinted. “Yes, indeed,” he grated, his smile also disappearing entirely. “I am fully aware of that, as you well know. I cannot see what continuing an acquaintance with her charge will do for you, Williamson.”
“It will not change her mind, that is for certain,” Daniel agreed, his brow furrowing as he thought of how Miss Martin had shaken her head so firmly at her charge, trying to convince the girl to stay away from him. “I just wish I knew what the reasons were for her to…” He did not finish his sentence, closing his eyes for a moment as a wave of pain washed over him, from his head right down to his toes. That was the worst of it. It was the realization that he did not know everything, did not understand it all. If only she had been able to speak to him of her difficulty, then he might have been able to help her.
“So you are simply going to dance with her charge this evening and, thereafter, leave things as they stand?” Lord Townend asked with a slight lift of his brow. “That does not sound like you, Williamson.”
“I left her last charge alone, did I not?” Daniel replied, a little more sharply than he meant. “I knew she was in London and left her to do her work, to go about her business without any sort of interruption. I can do the same again this time, can I not?”
“You could,” Lord Townend agreed quietly, “but from the look in your eye, I would surmise that you have no intention to do so.”
Daniel took in a long breath, settling his shoulders and glancing at his friend before returning his attention to the ballroom. “I do not know what it is I intend to do,” he replied honestly. “I am frustrated and angry, upset and despondent, all in one moment. It is a rather strange set of emotio
ns and I admit that they quite confuse me.”
Lord Townend’s expression had cleared and he gave his friend nothing more than a nod, telling Daniel that he understood but did not want to comment further.
“I shall, therefore, dance and enjoy this evening without any further questions as to my own motives or my own desires,” Daniel finished, trying to convince both himself and Lord Townend that this was precisely what he wanted and certainly was the only thing he would do. “I have more than Miss Smallwood to attend to!”
Lord Townend chuckled, throwing Daniel a wry look. “I am quite certain that you do,” he replied with a grin. “Yes, I have seen how the ladies of the beau monde clamor for your attention, Williamson.” He sighed dramatically. “If only I could have both wealth and a handsome appearance. Then I might garner as much adoration as you.”
“It is a heavy burden to bear,” Daniel answered mirthfully. “But I must do so alone, I fear.” He bowed towards his friend in an affected fashion, making Lord Townend lift his eyes to the ceiling as though praying that Daniel would cease his dramatics, before waving a hand that told Daniel to go and seek his first young lady of the evening. Daniel, laughing quietly and feeling the burden roll from his back, did so at once, moving away in order to find the young Miss Winters, given that she was the first of his dances this evening. A small smile lit his features as he moved through the crowd, aware that what Lord Townend had said was quite true. Young ladies, and some older ladies as well, sought his attention without any hesitation whatsoever. Yes, he had wealth and a decent title, but Daniel was also aware that his dark hair and hazel eyes, square jaw and broad smile seemed to bring him even more attention. He had never considered himself vain and certainly dd not spend an inordinate amount of time in front of the looking glass before he made his way out to whatever social occasion he was called to, but he knew that he was not considered either plain or ugly.
“Might I ask what it is you think you are doing?”
A hissed, angry voice caught his attention and Daniel swung around at once, not at all surprised to see Miss Martin standing to his left, her eyes narrowed and angry and her hands planted firmly on her hips.
“Miss Martin,” he said easily, a little surprised that she had come to speak to him directly. “Is something wrong?”
“You know very well that something is wrong,” she replied, her words harsh and angry. “You cannot come near my charge.”
Daniel raised one eyebrow. “I cannot see why not,” he replied as amiably as he could. “Unless there is something wrong with her that, as yet, you have not told me?”
“I cannot trust you, Lord Williamson,” Miss Martin answered angrily, her brows furrowing all the more. “You are a cad and a—”
“I am not and have never been a cad,” he interrupted, his voice lowering and his anger beginning to flare. “You are mistaken, Miss Martin.” He held her gaze, her anger burning deeply within him as he looked back at her steadily. She had lifted her chin, her eyes bright with apparent fury, as though he had done something wrong when the truth was, he knew nothing of what she spoke. “If you would but speak to me of why you have such an opinion, you know that I—”
“Stay away from Miss Smallwood,” she interrupted, each word spiked and furious. “You are not to come near her again.”
She made to turn away, but Daniel, refusing to agree to what she had said, made sure that Miss Martin knew full well that he had no intention of complying with her demands.
“I shall dance with Miss Smallwood twice this evening and mayhap again another night,” he stated, his voice louder than he had intended. “I shall not do as you wish, Miss Martin. And if you continue to insist on such a thing, then I shall have to speak to you directly until you tell me the reasons for your anger towards me. You have never done so, and I will not be left in ignorance.”
“You know very well, Williamson.”
A flush darkened her cheeks as she bent her head and hurried away, leaving Daniel feeling as though he had struck her hard in front of everyone else present at the ball. A small flicker of guilt began to burrow its way into his heart, but Daniel dismissed it almost at once, refusing to let it linger. Miss Martin had stated that he was nothing more than a cad, as though he was well known amongst the ton as a rogue when the truth was that Daniel had done all he could to behave with the utmost decorum. He did not like treating ladies as though they were nothing more than playthings in whom he might take an interest for a while. Nor did he believe that one ought to take advantage of one’s title and standing within society, merely for his own pleasures. At times, it had been difficult not to do so, when he knew full well that he had the opportunity to behave as so many others had done, but his own personal sense of morality had driven him to stick to his decision. That was why it grated on him all the more that Miss Martin had called him such a thing, for it had no basis in truth and he could not understand her reasons for doing so.
“Ah, Miss Winters.”
Thankfully, his thoughts were caught up by the arrival of Miss Winters, who had seemed to appear out of nowhere, perhaps not wanting to miss even a moment of their dance. She accepted his greeting with a quick curtsy and bestowed an even brighter smile on him when he turned to offer her his arm so as to lead her out to the middle of the dance floor. As the music began, he bowed quickly and stepped forward to start the dance.
“And so, my opportunity finally presents itself!”
Daniel could not help but chuckle at the quizzical look Miss Smallwood sent him as he bowed before her.
“To prove to you that I am not a clumsy oaf,” he explained, seeing her eyes flare with a sudden understanding. “I know that we have already enjoyed one dance but that was the quadrille and certainly a good deal less was required of me compared to this particular dance.” He tipped his head, hesitating for a moment. “You are permitted to waltz, are you not?”
Miss Smallwood blushed furiously but did not drop her gaze. “I am, of course,” she told him unequivocally. “Else I would have told you from the start that such a thing would not be permitted.”
He inclined his head. “But of course.” Holding out his arm, he waited until she had settled her own upon it before making his way to the floor where so many other couples stood. “I must pray that my steps will be sure and that I will not stand on your toes, Miss Smallwood, for what then will you think of me?”
She did not laugh, however, as he had expected. Instead, she merely looked up at him, her gaze questioning. “My companion has reservations about you, Lord Williamson,” she said honestly. “I do not know of them precisely, but—”
“Have you had your companion long?” he asked, as the music began. He stepped forward and took her carefully in his arms, moving quickly across the floor. “Has she been with you throughout this Season?” He knew full well, of course, that Miss Martin had not been with Miss Smallwood for long, given that she had been the companion of another, but did not want Miss Smallwood to be aware of his prior knowledge.
“No,” Miss Smallwood replied, a touch uneasily. “This is the first outing we have gone on together and I have been a little surprised at her… firm direction.” These words were obviously chosen carefully and Daniel suppressed a smile as he twirled her about the floor. “Although,” Miss Smallwood continued, “I shall, of course, listen to her concerns when she comes to share them with me.”
“Indeed,” he replied, suddenly hearing a warning ringing in his mind. “But you must also remember, Miss Smallwood, that such concerns may not be entirely factual.”
She looked up at him, moving easily with him as they waltzed, her steps never faltering as they conversed. “You mean to say that my companion might be unfairly prejudiced against you?”
He nodded, surprised at the openness that was growing between them. It was not something he had ever experienced before with a young lady of the ton and, as such, he was not quite certain what to do with it.
“That is something I must consider, I suppose,”
Miss Smallwood murmured, her eyes still latched onto his, framed by dark eyelashes that seemed to beg for his attention. “As I have said, Lord Williamson, I am a little confused as to my companion’s sharp tongue and resolute decisions. I thought her to be rather gentle and kind, but it appears that I may have misjudged the lady.”
Daniel wanted to say that, yes, she had misjudged the lady entirely and that underneath the gentle expression that could appear on Miss Martin’s face, there was a shrewd and often harsh character, but to speak such things aloud would be to inform Miss Smallwood that he already had a prior acquaintance with Miss Martin and that was not at all necessary.
“I do hope, Miss Smallwood, that you might permit me to dance with you again, at another ball or some such thing,” he found himself saying, although whether it was from a true desire to dance with the lady or to merely prove to Miss Martin that he was not a dangerous cad, he could not quite say. “I know that Miss Martin thinks poorly of me and will inform you to stay far from me, but I must beg of you to make your own decision on the matter.”
Miss Smallwood hesitated, turning her gaze away for a long moment. “I am not of a particularly strong character, Lord Williamson,” she told him, showing her vulnerability without hesitation. “I do not much like being told what to do or whom I should or should not speak to, but I must admit that it takes a good deal of strength on my part to do such a thing. It will be difficult to continue arguing with Miss Martin, when she may have good reason for her request.”
“Reason which you can listen to but not necessarily believe without evidence,” he stated, not wanting Miss Smallwood to believe that he was a cad simply because Miss Martin thought him so. “Seek things out for yourself, I beg of you. Do not allow rumors to bind your hands.”
