Good Earls Don't Lie

by Michelle Willingham

  And he was. Iain’s green eyes held a knowing look, as if Rose were the only woman here. His stare was filled with warmth and a sense of mischief.

  “He knows we are only friends,” she managed. “But I’ve told him about you. I think the pair of you should get acquainted.”

  Her friend’s expression turned curious. “I think I might just go find the library, Rose. It looks as if he wants to speak with you.”

  “Don’t go. I’ve been meaning to introduce you to him. Lord Ashton is—”

  “—entirely interested in you,” Evangeline finished. “And I am quite certain that I should leave the pair of you alone. Oh, Heavens, he’s almost here.” She stood up, and promptly stepped on her gown, lurching forward before she caught her balance.

  Iain was suddenly standing before them. Evangeline straightened, wincing as she adjusted the hem. “Rose, I’ll . . . just be going now.”

  “Not yet,” she said, catching her friend’s hand. “Lord Ashton, may I present Miss Evangeline Sinclair.”

  “A pleasure it is, to make your acquaintance, Miss Sinclair.” Iain offered the young woman a kind smile, and Evangeline blushed, fanning herself more rapidly. Then he bowed and greeted her. “Lady Rose, I am glad to see you once more.”

  The look in his eyes reminded her of what it was like to be in his embrace. Rose was well aware that he was here to claim the dance she owed him. She wanted to refuse, and yet, she was not one to break her promises.

  “Would you grant me the honor of your first dance, Lady Rose?” Can you manage it? he seemed to be asking.

  She looked around the ballroom once more, trying to decide what was best. She supposed she could either dance with Lord Ashton and show everyone that she was no longer an invalid . . . or she could remain in a chair beside the wall.

  “Only if you dance with Miss Sinclair next,” she countered with a smile of her own. It was a reasonable enough request.

  “If Miss Sinclair is willing, I should be very glad of her company.” He sent her a charming smile, which made Evangeline’s fan flutter faster.

  “Of course, I would be happy to dance with you, Lord Ashton,” the young woman agreed. Her expression turned worried, and she continued, “But as for Lady Rose, I fear that—” She stopped abruptly, and looked perplexed, as if to remind them both, She cannot walk.

  But the moment Iain extended his hand, Rose took it and stood slowly. He gave her a moment to steady her balance, and then she leaned against him when she took her first step.

  Her eyes fixed upon his with a silent plea, Keep it slow. At least then she could hide her heavy limp.

  She heard Evangeline give a soft gasp, and there were murmurs all around them. It took all her concentration to walk, but Rose leaned against Iain, determined to keep her balance.

  “There’s a lass.” He smiled at her, allowing her to set the pace. Her heart hammered faster, and she felt the eyes of every guest staring at her. Never in her life had she felt so self-conscious. Though she had longed to take her first steps with Lord Burkham at her side, now she was beginning to reconsider.

  Iain was the man who had helped her to walk again, and of anyone here, she trusted him not to let her stumble. He knew the limits of her endurance, and she could confess when she needed to stop and rest.

  “You look grand this night.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as they moved closer to the dancing.

  “Thank you.” She had worn a sky-blue gown with a full skirt and a lace shawl to cover her bare shoulders. It wasn’t the most fashionable gown, but her grandmother had deemed it quite appropriate for the evening.

  Because she expected me to remain in a chair, Rose thought. No one expected me to dance.

  “Do you think you can manage this?” Iain asked. His expression revealed the sincerity of a man who didn’t want her to be embarrassed.

  “Only if it’s a waltz.” A quick-paced dance would be quite beyond her balance. But right now, this was about proving herself to others. She wanted everyone to see that she had overcome her illness and could walk again.

  She took one step that was too heavy, and stumbled forward. Iain caught her immediately and halted, waiting for her to regain her balance. Her cheeks burned, and she blurted out, “I am sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” He brought her to the edge of the dancers, nearest to the wall. They would be away from the others, and yet, she could join in. The music shifted into a lilting waltz, and he rested his hand against her waist. “If you begin to tire, step on my feet. Your skirts will hide it, and no one will notice,” he advised.

  He’d worn gloves tonight, and she took his hand, feeling braver. She lifted her gaze to the onlookers and saw both her sister and grandmother watching. Their faces revealed shock and joy. Lily was beaming at her, while the matrons spoke in excited whispers. Behind them emerged Lord Burkham.

  He, too, was watching. But there was no warmth in his expression. She didn’t know what that meant, nor did she care. This was no longer about him; it was about all that she’d done to overcome her illness.

  “Lord Burkham is here at last,” she informed Ashton. “Just behind you.”

  “Good. I hope he regrets leaving you behind and realizes his mistake,” he admitted. “If I were you, I’d not dance with him at all.”

  “It wouldn’t be polite to refuse him,” she said. “After all, we were nearly betrothed. I cannot refuse to dance with him.”

  “Of course you can. And ‘nearly betrothed’ means nothing at all.” His hand squeezed her waist lightly.

  There was something about Iain Donovan that drew her close, tempting her to surrender. She was intimately aware of his touch, of his palm upon her spine, pulling her near. If they were alone, she had no doubt that he would kiss her again. And it would unravel her senses if he did.

  He led her gently into the dance, moving slower than the other couples. She tried to follow him, but her footsteps were not light at all. It was far more difficult than she’d ever imagined.

  “Don’t be nervous, a chara. I won’t let you fall.” True to his word, Iain cut their pace in half, moving slowly as he turned her. Her skin warmed, her cheeks growing flushed. But she trusted him implicitly, knowing that he spoke the truth. He would never let her go.

  His hand tightened against her waist, and the heat of his palm warmed the silk of her gown. “I know you won’t.” She could feel herself softening, transfixed by his gaze. His green eyes burned into hers with an undeniable intensity. The rest of the world seemed to fall away, and her wayward thoughts imagined his mouth upon hers, coaxing her to want what she could not have.

  His thumb rubbed a slight caress against the base of her spine as he moved her in a circle. Though he spoke not a word, she never took her eyes from his.

  “You look as if you belong here,” she murmured. “Our lessons helped.”

  His mouth tilted slightly. “I don’t belong here, and we both know it.” He lowered his voice and added, “I find myself not wanting to obey any of the rules.”

  “What do you mean?” Her voice came out breathless as the music slowed to a stop.

  Iain led her away from the dancers, back toward the wall. “I know I should lead you back to your chair and behave as if nothing happened. But that’s not what I’m wanting.”

  Her pulse quickened at his words. “What are you wanting, Lord Ashton?”

  His gaze was penetrating. “I want to kiss the soft skin of your throat and take out the pins of your hair until it surrounds your shoulders.” He tucked her hand into his arm and added, “And I’m wanting to unfasten the buttons of your gown, one by one. To kiss every part of your bare skin. But I can’t.”

  Goosebumps erupted over her skin, and she felt her cheeks burning with the wanton desires he’d conjured. The invisible heat burned between them, and an ache resonated over her body with his words.

  She didn’t know what to say or do, but Lord Burkham was suddenly standing before her, breaking the spell. “Lady Rose, I am very glad to se
e you.” He sent her a warm smile and added, “I came to claim my promised dance. I did not realize that Ashton would steal you away first.”

  The earl only shrugged. “Lady Rose is far too beautiful to leave standing against the wall.”

  “Then I shall claim the next dance,” Burkham insisted. “Lady Rose?”

  She saw that the next one was a country dance, and the speed of the movement would be far too difficult. “Not just now. When another waltz is played, perhaps—”

  But he only took her hand and pulled her forward. She nearly stumbled, barely catching her balance. “Nonsense. I missed out on the first, so I shall dance the next set with you.”

  No, not a set. She hadn’t the endurance for that, and there was no doubt she would fall and make a fool of herself.

  But she didn’t want him to know how fragile her walking skills were. “In a little while,” she promised. “Once I’ve had a moment to rest.” She wanted him to believe that all was well, that she could do everything the other ladies could.

  “If I do that, someone else will steal you away,” he teased. And before she could deny him again, he was lined up across from her.

  “I am sorry, Lord Burkham. But not now.”

  “Have pity on me, Lady Rose.” He took her hands and forced her to stand across from him. A moment later, Lord Ashton claimed another young woman as his partner, and the two of them lined up beside Burkham and her. She could see the warning in Iain’s eyes. He knew, as she did, what a risk this was. And though he did nothing to reveal her weakness, she understood his silent offer to take her away.

  She curtseyed to Lord Burkham, and he smiled as he bowed to her. Though she had known these dances since her childhood, her feet refused to manage the steps. Her movements were ungainly and stiff, though she tried to mask them beneath her long skirts.

  Dear God, what had she been thinking? She could never manage to dance at this tempo. It was a catastrophe waiting to happen. Within a few seconds, she found herself paired up with Lord Ashton. Beneath his breath, he muttered, “Tell him you’re feeling faint, Rose. It’s your best hope to get out of this.”

  He was right. She nodded in understanding and turned back to Lord Burkham when they switched partners.

  The speed of the dancing grew swifter, and before she could protest, Lord Burkham spun her in a circle. She started to lose her footing, and the room tipped.

  No, please, she thought to herself. She swayed violently and tried to bring herself closer to her partner. She reached out to grasp his arms, but at that moment, Lord Burkham stepped back.

  Without warning, she fell forward, sprawling on the ballroom floor. The pain of her face striking the wood was nothing compared to her humiliation. The soft exclamation of the guests and nervous titters only made her wish she could disappear, never to be seen again.

  For a moment, she remained on the floor, dimly aware of Burkham asking if she was all right. Then, someone lifted her from the floor and carried her away.

  It was Lord Ashton. Within seconds, he’d brought her to the opposite side of the room. She remembered his earlier suggestion and kept her eyes closed, as if she’d fallen into a faint. But inwardly, she wanted to die.

  This was supposed to be her moment of triumph, of proving what she could do. Instead, everyone had seen her failure. She had embarrassed herself, and a hard lump of disappointment caught in her throat.

  “It’s all right,” Iain murmured. “I’m bringing you to the terrace where you can get some air. Your sister and grandmother are following us.”

  Against her eyelids, the tears spilled out. It had been a disastrous night, and now, she only wanted to go home.

  Her tears were dampening his coat, but she kept her face pressed against his chest, not wanting anyone to see her. Only when she felt the cool breeze of the night air did she dare to open her eyes.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked when he gently set her down on a stone bench.

  “My pride is shattered,” she admitted, wiping at her eyes. “He wouldn’t listen when I told him no.”

  There was no sign of Burkham anywhere. He didn’t seem to care that another man had taken her away. But her sister and grandmother hurried forward.

  Lily sat down beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. “Rose, I’m so sorry this happened.” She embraced her hard and then pulled back. “But I was so overjoyed to see you walking again. You surprised all of us with this miracle.”

  “It was too soon to dance, and I knew it.” She’d simply wanted to try, to see if there was any hope of becoming the woman she had once been. “I should have insisted that Lord Burkham let me go. I just . . . didn’t want to cause a scene.”

  Her sister gave her a gentle squeeze. “You tried to do too much too soon.” With a nod to their grandmother, Lily added, “Grandmother, please tell the duchess that Rose was feeling faint and let everyone believe it was the heat of the room. I’ll take her home.”

  It was the logical move, and oh, how she longed to escape this humiliation. And yet, if she left now, it would feel like giving up. She needed to pick herself up again and overcome her failings. Only then could she hold her head up among the others. If she left now, her only memory would be falling on her face.

  “What are you wanting to do, a chara?” Iain was asking.

  “I can’t go home. Not just now.” She needed to face all those people with her head held high and walking, yes walking, back to the ballroom.

  Rose took a deep breath and stood up. “I want you to escort me back to the ballroom.”

  Iain hesitated, and it didn’t surprise her that he had doubts. Lily was already protesting, “Why would you want to, Rose? Surely you ought to rest. It’s been a difficult night.”

  “And it will be far worse if I leave. You would have to go with me, and everyone will only remember my fall.” She paused a moment. “And that isn’t the memory I want to take from this night. I’d rather remember walking. Feeling like a normal woman.”

  Although her legs protested, she forced herself to stand up. “I can do this, Lily. I must, for all our sakes.”

  Lord Ashton drew her hand into his arm. “Then I will walk with you, in case you need to lean against me. And you will wait a few moments, until you’re steady once more.”

  She knew it was unwise, for others would gather their own opinions about their relationship. But she did trust Iain to keep her safe.

  With great effort, she managed to limp toward the open doors. Candlelight glowed from the ballroom, and the low buzz of conversation continued as he helped guide her back inside.

  “I would have caught you, had I been beside you earlier,” he said. “We were at the far end of the dancers when you lost your balance.”

  “I know you would have. I don’t blame you for my fall.” She forced a smile onto her face and nodded toward some of the guests she knew.

  Lady Arnsbury came forward to greet her, and she offered a sympathetic look. “My dear, you had us all frightened when you fell.”

  “Yes, it was quite sudden. The last thing I expected was to swoon during the dancing. It was very hot within the room.” She fanned herself and saw the Duchess of Worthingstone approaching. Several other women stepped closer in an effort to eavesdrop. Rose pretended as if she didn’t notice them. “Your Grace, I am so sorry for causing a scene. I don’t know what came over me. I suppose it must have been the heat.”

  The duchess took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so relieved to see that you are feeling better. All of us were worried about you.”

  “I am, now that I’ve had some air. But I think I shall avoid dancing for the remainder of the night.” She braved a smile and leaned against Lord Ashton. After she left the duchess, he took her in a slow walk past the others.

  “Take me to the far side of the room,” she pleaded. “Near the food and lemonade. I can pretend to be thirsty.”

  “And what about Burkham?” he asked. “The man is watching you.”

  What a
bout the viscount indeed? she thought. He’d done nothing to catch her, but had stepped back just as she’d fallen. A twinge of resentment caught her. “I don’t want to speak with him.”

  Thomas should have prevented her from falling. It was almost as if he’d wanted to humiliate her. But why? And did he intend to keep his distance, behaving as if nothing had happened?

  A moment later, the viscount crossed the room. Immediately, Iain stepped in front of her. “Were you wanting something, Burkham?”

  The viscount appeared discomfited by his presence. “Ashton, if you don’t mind, I would like a word with Lady Rose.”

  “To apologize, you mean.” The earl’s voice held resentment, and she didn’t at all disagree. She hadn’t wanted to join in the country dance, but Lord Burkham had insisted.

  “I am sorry she fell. And if you wouldn’t mind giving us a moment alone . . .”

  “No.” Iain crossed his arms over his chest, and she nearly smiled. It looked as if he wanted to pummel the man senseless. “But I will allow you to apologize before you slither away.”

  Burkham cleared his throat and sidestepped so she could see his face. “Ashton is right. I do owe you an apology. I didn’t expect you to fall.”

  “I told you I didn’t want to dance. You wouldn’t listen.”

  He sent her a crooked smile, one that would have caused her heart to soften, a year ago. Now, she saw it as an empty gesture. “Forgive me. I was jealous of Ashton because I thought we had agreed you would save the first dance for me.”

  Jealousy would imply that he actually cared about her, and she simply didn’t believe it. “You weren’t here.”

  “I was late, and that, of course, was my fault,” he finished. “But I didn’t expect to find you dancing with another man.”

  She gave a shrug. Of course not. Because you thought no man would want me.

  “Did you want to dance with Lord Ashton?” he asked. There was a thread of annoyance in his tone, one she didn’t like.

  “Yes,” she answered honestly. Although she’d danced with Iain primarily because of the wager she’d lost, it was also because she trusted him. He understood her limitations and hadn’t tried to push her past them. Iain went to stand beside her, and he rested his hand upon the back of her chair in a silent mark of possession.