“I promise.” She smiled to herself. As if he had anything to worry about.
“For all of my talents, I have failed to master the art of dance. My cohorts attribute my refusal to participate in the activity to boorish behavior. But I would dance, if I could. While attempting to learn, I was constantly in fear of trampling my partners. Every second of it was torture. In London, my refusal to dance is considered my worst fault.”
“You’re joking, of course.” But she was laughing now and so was he.
“Unfortunately, no.”
“But I thought all gentlemen were required to learn how to dance.”
“We are all required to take lessons, my dear Miss...? You never did tell me your name.”
“I did not.” Olivia wasn’t ready to reveal herself to him. The thought that he’d remember and call her that horrible nickname again was mortifying. The thought that he’d remember and apologize profusely was even worse. Besides, oddly enough, she was enjoying walking with him. Even if he was only doing so out of pity.
“A lady of mystery. Lovely indeed. Finally, something of interest in Misty Brooke.” As the path widened, he lengthened their strides. “As I was saying, we all take lessons, but not all of us learn. To date, I remain my dancing master’s greatest disappointment.”
He was incorrigible!
“So, you follow innocent maidens into the gardens instead—purely to offer your protection, of course? You know, you could always excuse yourself to the gambling tables.”
He sighed dramatically. “But then I wouldn’t come upon mysterious young ladies, er… hiding amongst the foliage.”
Absurd! He was being absolutely absurd! “I suppose not.”
“And you, my mystery lady, have you been dancing the night away?”
She dropped her head. She had been taught to dance, along with Louella, but had never been asked. One must actually attend dances in order to be asked. Another activity her parents had curtailed when they’d realized her eye would never settle down.
“I can but….”
“Don’t tell me you are breaking all the gentlemen’s hearts with your refusals?”
Olivia shrugged. “I’d have to refuse them to break their hearts.”
“Now it is you who are joking.”
The gazebo appeared ahead though heavy clouds covered the moon. The fountain beckoned in front of it. Was the object of the statue doing what she thought he was doing?
Oh, but this was priceless. Perhaps she wasn’t the hoyden she’d imagined after all!
The Perfect Spinster is available to read in full in Amazon as well as Kindle Unlimited.
FIRMLY UPON THE SHELF...
Miss Olivia Redfield labors under no misapprehension that anything other than spinsterhood lies in her future. Not for lack of dowry, or breeding, or education, but because of one tiny flaw.... one might even call it... a curse. Removed from society for this ill-fated defect, she’s resigned herself to caring for others in a somewhat dreary existence. Until, that is, she falls for the charming but unattainable, Lord Kingsley.
TOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS...
Gabriel Fellowes, Earl of Kingsley is doing a favor for a friend by overseeing the dangerous–– but promising––mine on the border of Viscount Hallowell’s property. With time to spare, he finds himself irresistibly intrigued by the viscount’s daughter, Miss Olivia Redfield, and delights himself in their mutual provocation. In no position to promise more than a dalliance, but unable to stay away, Gabriel takes the unprecedented step of befriending a woman.
IS FRIENDSHIP EVEN POSSIBLE...?
Their flirtatious attachment threatens to erupt in passion, but duty and honor forbid anything more. Will love be defeated when tragedy strikes, or can Olivia and Gabriel overcome Society’s dictates and put the notion of Olivia’s curse to rest once and for all?
About the Author
Annabelle Anders began publishing in 2017 and left her day job a year later. Since then, she’s published over ten full length Regency Romance novels, with one of them receiving the distinguished RITA nomination in 2019. She writes at her home in the small town of Grand Junction, Colorado with the “help" of her two miniature dachshunds and husband of over thirty years and is happy to have finally found her place in life.
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The Perfect Christmas: With Added Bonus Material (The Not So Saintly Sisters Book 3) Page 13
