Part 5 (1/2)
”Only with you, curiously enough.” He smiled with roguish amus.e.m.e.nt. ”I never did get that neckcloth you promised me. Perhaps I shall have to demand another sort of recompense while we are here together. A dance perhaps?”
”Will there be dancing? In that case, I shall have to make sure my card is completely filled.”
He grinned. ”Come now, I thought we'd laid down arms last week. I like to consider us a good way along the path to being friends.”
”Then you must have a much shorter path in mind than I do.”
”I did give the Meissen box to you, if you'll recall. You are the one who decided to refuse it.”
”Because it was vastly improper of you to give it to me in the first place.”
He gave her another slow, wicked smile. ”Have you not yet realized, dear Lady Thalia, how vastly improper I am? Just say the word and we can be vastly improper together.”
She stared for a long moment, unable to decide whether to toss another flute of champagne in his face or just laugh.
Humor won the day.
She gave a wry laugh. ”What an amazing optimist you are, Lord Leopold.”
”I'm a fatalist as well. Only see how providence keeps setting us in each other's path?”
”Providence has nothing to do with it.”
”Are you sure?” he insisted. ”How else do you account for us finding ourselves here together?”
”Invitations from Lord and Lady Holland perhaps?”
”Touche,” he said, awarding the point to her. ”Still, this party does give us another opportunity to further our acquaintance.”
”And what makes you think I have any wish to know you better? Find another woman on whom you can work your wiles. One who will be dazzled to receive your attentions.”
He gazed into her eyes. ”Ah, but therein lies the rub.” His voice deepened, pitched for her ears alone. ”I don't want anyone else. I have my sights set squarely on you.”
Her heart beat faster, unwanted tingles racing over her skin, though she was careful to let none of her reactions show on her face.
”As for my attentions,” he went on, ”I think you are far more receptive to them than you care to admit.”
”Then you are delusional as well as overly optimistic.”
He leaned closer, his height causing her to tip back her head. ”Agree to spend time with me and we will see which one of us is deluded,” he said. ”Why do we not begin now? Let me take you in to dinner, where we can continue this highly illuminating conversation.”
She shook her head. ”I'll grant you one thing, Lord Leopold: you do not lack for confidence. What a pity for you that I am promised to accompany someone else to the dining room tonight.”
His eyes narrowed. ”Tell me who it is and I shall make certain he relinquishes his seat to me.”
She shook her head again. ”Lady Holland wouldn't allow it. Now, shh, the gentleman approaches.”
Thank heavens for her hostess, Thalia thought, Lady Holland having already chosen a gentleman to accompany her in to dinner. In addition to the usual protocol concerning such things, she was attending the party alone and had need of a reliable escort. Having a prearranged partner made everything so much easier, particularly now that she knew Lord Leopold was one of the guests.
”Mr. Hetford,” she said, putting far more enthusiasm into her greeting than she would normally have done. ”His lords.h.i.+p and I were just talking about you and here you are.”
Hetford sent her a mildly surprised look, his rounded features and bushy brown eyebrows putting her in mind of a grouse. ”Good things, I hope?”
”Only the best.” Thalia gave Hetford another fulsome smile that caused him to blink repeatedly as if he'd looked directly into the sun. She slipped her arm through his. ”I see that Lady Holland is leading the procession into dinner. Shall we follow?”
”With pleasure.” Hetford smiled widely.
Perhaps rather too widely.
She resisted the urge to sigh, aware she would have to be careful not to encourage him further during the meal. She certainly didn't need Hetford chasing after her too.
Looking up, she met Lord Leopold's eyes.
Rather than glowering, however, he looked amused, as if he was fully aware of what she was doing. Somehow the knowledge disturbed her more than if he'd simply been jealous.
”If you will excuse us, Lord Leopold,” she said in a deliberately lighthearted voice.
”Indeed, Lady Thalia. You may be excused.” He angled his large body so that his mouth was near her ear. ”For now.”
A s.h.i.+ver trailed down her spine.
Ignoring the reaction, she turned her back and let Mr. Hetford escort her from the room.
”Still winning her over, I see,” Leo heard a voice say, one that sounded remarkably like his own. ”You've got her trotting at your heels like an adorable Yorks.h.i.+re terrier. Is Lady Thalia from Yorks.h.i.+re, do you think?”
Leo swung around to face his twin. ”Don't be such an a.s.s.”
”I believe there is only one of those in the room tonight and I'm looking at him.”
”If that's the case, then find a handy mirror. You'll be able to see him again.”
Lawrence laughed. ”When you said you had business at Holland House, I ought to have known she was involved. And here I was hoping you had decided to take an interest in politics after all.”
”Everyone is going in to dinner,” Leo said, ignoring his brother's last remark. ”We should join them.”
Lawrence nodded. The two of them started forward.
”Since you aren't making any real progress with Lady Thalia,” Lawrence said after a minute, ”maybe I ought to try my luck with her. If she doesn't care for one twin, perhaps the other will do.”
Leo stopped and grabbed hold of Lawrence's arm. ”Don't you dare. She's out of bounds to you, do you understand? I am not sharing.”
His brother's eyes widened. ”Here now, there's no need for that. I was only joking.”
Leo forced himself to loosen his grip. He wasn't sure where the sudden burst of fury had come from, but without warning, the emotion had burned through him as hot and quick as a fireball. A curious sensation, really, since he wasn't used to being jealous, especially not of his own brother.
”Yes, well, I knew that,” he said stiffly.