The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

you?”
    Victoria’s face had lightened with a smile. “Phillip! I knew you only as Phillip; you did not tell me you were the marquess’s son!” The image was with her. It had been buried in the recesses of her mind, that summer when she was but twelve, but now it came back as though it were yesterday: a sturdy, dark-haired young man flying across the fields on a hot summer day. “You jumped over the fence and your mount landed, and so did you—on the ground in a tumble!”
    He laughed ruefully, his square jaw softened by the movement. “Indeed, and I suffered for my boldness. But I met you, the pretty, dark-haired girl who rushed to my aid and made certain I was cared for. And you even chased down Ranger, the stallion, so he wouldn’t return to the stables without me. If I recall…once you were sure I wasn’t gravely injured, you spent the next ten minutes chastising me for my foolishness. The image of you standing above me, calmly holding the reins of that large chestnut beast whilst flaying me with your tongue, has stayed with me always.”
    Victoria looked away demurely. “I must have been quite bold to speak so to a man I did not know.”
    â€œIndeed, and it was your boldness and your fearlessness that intrigued me. I have not forgotten you, Miss Grantworth, for you made quite a lasting impression on that young man. And,” he added as the dance music came to a close, “it has become clear you have lost none of your boldness, nor your opinions, nor your originality…for I am quite certain that there is not another debutante in this room, or in the ton, that is as unconcerned about finding a husband as you are.”
    â€œAnd I have not forgotten the young man who rode with such carefree abandon in a manner I only dreamed of doing. I envied you that. And I can hardly comprehend that you are the same boy I knew for those few weeks! The marquess’s son—I would never have thought it.”
    He smiled down at her, and warmth returned to her face. “Someday, perhaps we will ride together, Miss Grantworth. And you shall try your hand at leaping over fences and bounding across fields. I promise, I will tell no one.”
    â€œAnd that is a promise on which I will hold you to your gentlemanly word.”
    When they finished dancing, Lord Rockley returned her to her mother and Lady Winnie. “I am rather thirsty; perhaps you are as well. May I provide you with some lemonade, Miss Grantworth? And, of course, Lady Melisande and Your Grace?”
    â€œOh, do not trouble yourself, Lord Rockley,” Victoria’s mother warbled. “But I am sure Victoria would love something to drink.”
    Victoria gave Lord Rockley a surreptitious wink, but slipped her hand from his grasp. “I’m sorry, my lord, but I see my next dancing partner approaching. Perhaps you will be thirsty later?”
    â€œOf course, my lady. I’m certain I’ll have a thirst for the remainder of the evening.” His eyelids swept to half-mast and he gave her a meaningful smile as he captured her gloved hand and lifted it to his lips.
    Lord Stackley was Victoria’s partner for the quadrille, and he led her through the paces with alacrity, if not with skill. Despite the fact that he stepped squarely on her feet twice during the first set with all of his solid weight, Victoria barely noticed. The vis bulla was not only good for fighting vampires…it was protection against clumsy gentlemen!
    After Lord Stackley, she danced with Baron Ledbetter. Another quadrille. And then with Lady Gwendolyn’s eldest brother, Lord Starcasset, Viscount Claythorne.
    But it was during another waltz, with the tall and gangly Baron Truscott, that Victoria felt a familiar chill lift the hair at the back of her neck. Until that moment she had almost forgotten there were things to worry about other than whether her toes would be mangled before the night was over.
    As