The Reluctant Suitor (38 page)

“Who?” a voice intruded from nearby.

Surprised at having been caught thinking aloud, Adriana turned promptly about to find Roger standing behind her. Although words seemed momentarily lodged in her throat, they came free as she lashed out at him in vexation. “My goodness, Roger, you nearly startled me to death!”

He chuckled, laying the cause of her annoyance to his own tardiness. Heartened by what seemed an eagerness to see him, he readily apologized. “I’m sorry, my lady, but it seemed as if you were caught in a world of your own making. I really had no idea that I would alarm you.” He glanced around as several couples danced past, none of whom was even closely reminiscent of the pair Adriana had been eyeing. “

Were you referring to anyone in particular?”

“A distant acquaintance, that is all.”
Growing more distant by the hour!
Adriana mentally jeered as she caught a glimpse of the very winsome Miss Felicity fluttering long lashes at her tall, handsome partner.

Well, there was no help for it, Adriana decided. As much as she had intended to inform Roger at the conclusion of the ball that she could no longer permit him to follow her about, she feared the closer the end came, the more she’d lose her nerve. Better to be done with it, she thought. Besides, the sooner she made her announcement to Roger, the sooner her rival would find herself without the attentions of his lordship . . . even if it turned out to be nothing more than a three-month interval.

No more delays, Adriana thought, and plunged headlong into the task she had set for herself. “Roger, I have a matter of grave importance to discuss with you. Perhaps we should go into the hall where we can talk together privately.”

The young man raised a brow skeptically. “Grave importance? You mean more important than dancing with you?” He forced a laugh, though it proved a frail attempt at best. He could imagine what kind of statement she intended to make now that the marquess was home. Frankly, he didn’t want to hear it. In fact, his father’s suggestion was beginning to appeal to him as his only chance for claiming the lady for his own. “I think not, my lady, for to be sure, the idea of holding you in my arms has dwelt on my mind almost constantly these past weeks. ‘Twas rare indeed that you allowed me to touch your hand, much less take you in my arms. I don’t want to lose the opportunity to do so. I’ve missed you more in these past weeks than common words can adequately justify. Whenever I’d come to Wakefield Manor and ask to see you, I was informed by your butler that you were either out or indisposed. I was beginning to suspect that you were deliberately avoiding me.”

“I’m sorry, Roger, but I’ve been very busy with other things.” It was certainly no lie, merely an exaggeration. But then, after Colton’s return, the man should’ve realized circumstances would change. “

Seriously, Roger, I have something important to discuss with you. . . .”

“Later.” Claiming her hand, he drew her toward the dance floor. “After we finish dancing.”

Adriana pulled back, trying to free herself, but he refused to let her go, and with a mental sigh of resignation, she conceded, not wishing to cause a stir. After tonight, she’d likely never see the man again.

She could at least allow him a dance or two. “All right, Roger, but we
do
have to talk. Delaying it won’t make it go away.”

All around the hall, plumed and beribboned heads came together in a frantic rush as ladies of middling and advancing years craned their flabby, scrawny, or wrinkled necks in an effort to see the miller’s son leading Lord Gyles’s youngest daughter onto the dance floor. ‘Twas a rare occurrence indeed that a man of low estate was granted such a favor from a nobleman’s daughter, and the event sparked what could have easily been likened to a feeding frenzy among the busybodies who devoured every comment eagerly whispered behind fluttering fans. Laying bejeweled fingers aside their ears, they leaned forward to catch every juicy morsel, relishing each enticing tidbit as if they hadn’t sampled the like of such sweetmeat for months on end. Then they bustled excitedly about to spread the news further, bumping into each other in their haste, weaving in and out, dispersing and converging in their eagerness to carry the news hither and yon. Had any been observing from a high summit, they’d have probably likened the biddies to a mass of plump melons rolling helter-skelter down a steep ravine.

Past and present suitors noticed the ruckus and, in some curiosity, leaned near to hear the reason for the feverish dither. While the rejected sneered and offered rude comments about the lady’s choice for a partner, the hopeful were greatly encouraged by the fact that Lady Adriana had finally joined the festivities.

It didn’t take that one long to notice the excited pother erupting around the ballroom. Adriana had been expecting the gossipmongers to size her up now that she was the only unattached female left in the Sutton family. After all, when a man had three daughters and no sons, there was always a fair amount of speculation whether he’d be successful in making good matches for all of them or if any would be left without a husband. Adriana just hadn’t considered that she’d stir up such a commotion. Having reached the age of twenty and two years and with no apparent betrothal in the offing, she could well imagine they had already considered her destined for spinsterhood.

A fate worse than death
, some would lament. In droning tones, others would offer questionable advice as to what could remedy her plight. At the very least, a few would be inclined to suggest that it was a far better fate to wed a miller’s son than marry not at all,
as if
she were

that
anxious to wed and had no other choice.

Looking back upon her couturier’s last visit prior to Melora’s departure, Adriana now wished she hadn’t yielded to their suggestion that a special gown be made for her so as to leave no doubt that she was being heralded as the last available daughter in the family. The dressmaker had seemed excited about designing something unique for one whom she had described as tall, slender, and elegant enough to wear a feed sack and make it look divine. Though Adriana had never considered herself as one lacking imagination, she hadn’t foreseen the couturier’s final version, delivered to her chamber door this very day, as being a garment that would exaggerate her every movement with a glittering array of dancing lights. Beneath the soft glow of the candles that lit scores of sconces and weighty chandeliers, the little crystals made it seem as if fireflies swarmed all around her. Still, remarks concerning its brilliance would probably seem mild compared to what some harpies would say about her décolletage. Although modest in comparison to the apparel of several young ladies, including the lovely Miss Fairchild, who showed more but had somewhat less to flaunt, it was definitely not what Adriana was accustomed to wearing even on formal occasions, for it revealed the upper curves of her rounded bosom rather generously.

Truly, had she anticipated the possibility that she’d be at the mercy of malicious biddies, she’d have definitely chosen a less conspicuous gown to wear, perhaps something that would have disguised her altogether. Then everyone would’ve been wondering who she was rather than her possible fate as a spinster.

Upon facing Roger, Adriana felt as if every eye in the ballroom was now fastened on them. The apprentice enfolded her slender hand within his and seemed to hesitate before laying his other behind her shoulder. Adriana perceived the reason when she noticed the direction of his gaze, for it seemed momentarily fastened on her breasts, giving her additional cause to regret that she had
ever
yielded to the advice of others.

Much to her relief, Roger’s inspection was cut short by the simple fact that he was expected to dance.

His head lifted, and his brows gathered as he concentrated on the task of waltzing her around the room.

He did so woodenly, as if it were something he had recently learned and wasn’t too sure about. A moment later, the metal rim lining his sole scraped across her satin slipper, causing such intense pain that Adriana’s mouth flew open in sharp surprise. With a seriously strained facade of poise, she gritted out a smile just as Samantha and Perceval swept near.

Behind them came Lord Harcourt whose gallantry readily displayed itself as he danced past with Berenice. Although tutored by an instructor, the young lady seemed extremely nervous dancing with the handsome gentleman and repeatedly trod upon his shiny black shoes. His dark eyes met Adriana’s briefly, and in his pained smile she was wont to find some humor in spite of the empathy she felt for him.

She was convinced she was experiencing a similar torment and could imagine her own gritted smile conveyed as much distress as she strove to force the corners of her lips upward.

Roger’s face had taken on a hue reminiscent of scarlet. He definitely felt out of his element amid all the

elegantly garbed gentlemen who swept their partners around the ballroom with graceful ease. Even the previously lame Lord Colton had far more grace than he had been able to master since the instructor began the task of teaching him just where to place his seemingly oversized feet in a waltz and other dances. “I’m truly sorry, my lady. I was never trained in any of the social graces. It has only been within the last month that I’ve had the opportunity to learn.” He looked rather sheepish. “I guess I need more practice. Would you prefer to sit?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Adriana replied and tried to ease his chagrin. “But you needn’t fret about your dancing, Roger. Not everyone can learn when he’s young. In time, you’ll become more proficient.”

His expression brightened. “I’ll try very hard not to make another mistake if you’d grant me another dance now. I do need the practice, and dancing with you is definitely preferable to the instructor.”

“Later,” she said, wondering if her feet would ever be the same. “Right now, I need to talk with you.”

Roger let out a muted, agonized groan. “Not now. Come dance with me instead.”

“A rest would likely do you good, Roger,” she replied forthrightly. “You were dancing on my toes more in the last few moments than you were when you first began. Perhaps some wine would help relax you.”

“Would you care to join me in a glass?”

Wine was the last thing she needed to muddle her brain. She had to remain alert to avoid offending the man if at all possible. “Perhaps later.”

“I’m reluctant to leave you,” he insisted.

Adriana sighed, frustrated by the clinging tenacity of the man. “Then perhaps we can have our discussion now.”

His face darkened, and as his eyes moved about the room, he seemed to sulk as he glowered at no one in particular. “I know what you’re going to say, and I don’t want to hear it.”

“Then perhaps I don’t need to waste my breath since you’ve acquired such keenly intuitive powers.”

Of a sudden, Adriana felt a presence behind her. Then she saw Roger’s eyes flare, indicating trouble ahead. She was about to turn when a request came over her shoulder.

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

Smiling in relief as she recognized Lord Harcourt’s deep voice, Adriana faced the handsome gentleman. “

Of course, my lord.”

She turned back to excuse herself from the apprentice, but his hotly glowering eyes warned her that he was none too pleased by her eagerness to dance with another after she had just refused him. In a low whisper, she chided, “I never promised to spend the entire evening with you, Roger. I only granted you permission to come. Lord Harcourt is not only a guest of ours, but he happens to be a close friend of mine, and I shan’t let your ominous scowls keep me from dancing with him . . . or, for that matter, any other man. Kindly refrain from using such tactics or I shall ask you to leave forthwith.”

Roger’s lean jowls tensed and flexed as he retreated several steps, then he swept his hand before him and bowed deeply as if doing obeisance before a queen. “My lady.”

Fretting that she had been too harsh in chiding him, Adriana watched Roger plow his way through the

guests in a most ungentlemanly fashion, causing people to turn and stare after him in astonished wonder after being shouldered roughly aside by the man.

“Never mind the fellow, Lady Adriana,” Riordan urged in a low murmur, leaning near her shoulder again.

“Obviously he fears his grasp on you is too frail and would hold you prisoner if he could.”

Adriana faced the marquess with an uneasy smile. “I didn’t realize he’d be so upset. I’m sorry you had to witness that.”

“ ‘Twas the lad’s fault for imagining that he could monopolize your time tonight. If he did indeed think you

’d devote the entire evening solely to him, then I, for one, resent his audacity. The sad truth is that I’m not alone in desiring as much of your time as you’re willing to spare, and though I’d like to dispense with all your smitten admirers so I can have you entirely to myself, I suppose, in lieu of that, I shall have to share your company, at least until a more permanent arrangement comes about.”

Smiling at his humor, Adriana yielded her hand to him. “Then lead me out onto the dance floor, gallant lord. Only there will we be safe from intrusions.”

“Your wish is my command, my lady,” he avowed, drawing her hand to his lips for a kiss.

Riordan Kendrick was as light on his feet as he was easy to look upon, Adriana mentally reaffirmed after several turns about the ballroom. Of all the suitors who had previously been vying for her hand, he had been the only one who had appealed to her. In the past, she had enjoyed dancing with him more than any other. Even now, she found herself relaxing in his arms, but her heart was not the same as it had been even two months ago. If nothing else, she had to be true to herself by admitting that Colton Wyndham had stolen a march on everyone. Yet, Colton really didn’t want her; he was merely going through the motions of addressing himself to their courtship for the sake of his mother and the contract his father had proposed.