Lady Emma's Dilemma (9781101573662) by Rhonda Woodward Page A

she did not care. By the avid stares from a number of the other guests, it was clear that most of them had heard about the scene at the theatre last night. Well, she was in no humor to provide more gossip for the scandal-mongering appetite of the
ton.
    She held his gaze steadily for a moment and was suddenly struck by the unusual color of his eyes. Last night, in the indifferent light of the theatre, she would not have suspected their startling beauty. They were a dark, flawless blue, like a perfect sapphire.
    He held his chin high before he made a bow to Grandmère and the rest of the group. It looked as if he was about to speak when Grandmère snapped her fan open and said, “So how is your mother, young man? Last time I called upon her, I was distressed to see that she had taken to her hartshorn for some inexplicable reason.”
    Emma bit her lip to hide her amusement. How like her grandmother to make a not so subtle reference to the common knowledge that Monteford’s mama was distraught over his scandalous behavior with his mistress.
    By Lord Monteford’s calm expression, it appeared he was completely unperturbed by the dowager’s jibe. “Thank you for your concern, Duchess. My mother has always been fragile, but she never misses her Tuesday evening whist party, which I believe you attend as well, ma’am?”
    Grandmère sent him a brittle smile. “I do indeed. We always enjoy the
liveliest
conversation.” Again, there seemed to be another level of meaning to the old lady’s words.
    Lord Monteford’s lips compressed, but he obviously thought better of sparring any more with the dowager Duchess of Kelbourne.
    â€œLady Fallbrook, Lady Colhurst informs me that thenext set will be a quadrille. I would be honored if you would dance with me.”
    The quadrille!
That elegant dance had always been a particular favorite of Emma’s. Something about moving in harmonious synchronicity with the other dancers, weaving the figures in graceful time with the music, had always had an almost mesmerizing effect upon her senses. As a girl, when she had first learned the complicated steps, she had fancied that if the dancers carried long ribbons, by the end of the dance they would all be entwined in an intricate braid.
    â€œI would be delighted, Lord Monteford.”
    He offered his arm and she placed her fingers on his forearm, then sent a smile to her grandmother. The old lady did not look as pleased as she had when Emma had taken the floor with Lord Darley.
    Doing her best to ignore the stares from the other guests, Emma moved to stand opposite Lord Monteford and waited for the other dancers to take their places.
    Glancing around the room, she noticed Penelope joining another set with her husband. Evidently, Lord Tunbridge decided to leave the billiard room after all, she thought with a smile. She continued to watch as Penelope leaned toward her husband and pointed to Emma. The earl turned with a broad smile and sent Emma a jaunty salute just as the music started. She smiled back at her friend’s handsome husband, glad that there were a few familiar faces among the hundreds crowding the ballroom.
    She and Lord Monteford danced in silence for a few measures, and Emma noticed that although the quadrille was a completely different kind of dance compared to the waltz, he did not possess Lord Darley’s easy grace. Oh, he performed the steps well enough, but his manner was a little too studied to be truly pleasing, Emma decided.
    She hoped he was not the kind of gentleman who talked through the whole dance. For the quadrille in particular she preferred little or no conversation. Jack had always remainedsilent when they had danced together. She recalled the way his intense dark eyes held hers as they formed the figures. It had been dizzyingly romantic to gaze into his eyes as the room swirled around them.
    With a jolt of shock, she realized that she was actually remembering