Clearly he was still annoyed over their little exchange. “I mean it, Edwin. You’re not the most poetic of dancers, but you keep time well, don’t tread on my toes, and never miss a step. That’s more than I can say for plenty of men.”
“Take care,” he drawled. “You might lead me to think you actually like me.”
“I do like you. Sometimes.” She thrust out her chin. “But I also can’t resist provoking you. You get so deliciously annoyed. And you take my remarks far too seriously.”
A grudging smile crossed his lips. “Warren told me much the same thing.”
“Didn’t you believe him?”
“I never know what to believe when it comes to you.”
“Well, believe this at least: I think you’re a perfectly accomplished dancer. I certainly prefer you over the major.”
That brought his gruff manner back. “I don’t know how you can endure that fool.”
“Unfortunately, enduring fools is what a woman must do to have a little fun.”
His hand tensed on her waist. “You have a peculiar notion of what’s fun. Wouldn’t you prefer a quiet conversation at dinner or a stroll about a museum to dancing with idiots?”
“I happen to enjoy dancing. And sadly, I require a partner for it. Thank goodness even idiots can be good dancers.”
He glanced over to where Major Wilkins was still standing with her mother. “Are you sure that he knows you’re merely amusing yourself with him?”
“Well, if Mama hadn’t started blathering on about my dowry, he would have known it when I refused to dance with him again. She’s bound and determined to get me married, and any fool will do, apparently.”
“In this case, I hope you ignore her.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not about to marry a man who doesn’t know when to stop ogling my bosom.”
His mouth thinned into a hard line. “He was ogling your bosom?”
“Oh, don’t turn into a watchdog again. Men ogle women’s bosoms all the time. A female can wear the most innocuous gown ever, and some fellow will stare at her chest as if waiting for her clothes to rip open and reveal her nakedness. And when she’s wearing a ball gown . . .”
She trailed off, remembering a night she’d rather forget.
His hand tightened on hers. “I don’t do that, do I?”
Forcing her attention back to him, she smiled. “Of course not. You’re a gentleman. Besides, you have no interest in my bosom.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’m not dead, you know.” As if to prove it, he let his gaze dip down for the merest of moments.
If she’d seen one ounce of leering in that quick look, anything to indicate that he thought of her disrespectfully, she would have been disappointed. But his look was more akin to hunger. No, not hunger—yearning. As if he saw what he wanted, yet knew he couldn’t have it.
Good Lord, she was flying into pure fancy now. Edwin was only making a point, as usual. Whatever “yearning” she saw was all in her head. And she didn’t want him to have any yearning anyway. Because that could easily lead in an entirely unpleasant direction, as she knew only too well.
“Come now,” she said, “you must admit you never show me any attention of that kind. That’s why I’m forced to accept offers from men like the major. You rarely attend balls and even if you do, you don’t ask me to stand up with you.” She smirked at him. “So you see, it’s all your fault that I must entertain myself with fools.”
His face darkened. “I have asked you to dance with me.”
“Once. At my debut. But not since.”
That seemed to startle him, for he glanced away. “Has it really been that long since we stood up together?”
“Seven years. The last time was at my very first ball. And even that was out of pity.”
He scowled at her. “It was not.”
“No? Yvette didn’t put you up to it? Beg you not to leave me hanging out there, waiting for someone to ask me?”
“She didn’t have to beg,” he grumbled. “I agreed to it readily.”
“I can’t imagine why,” she said lightly. “I’m sure you found a dance with a na?ve young chit like me perfectly boring.”
“Now that is patently untrue.” Something indecipherable leapt into his eyes that made a delicious shiver skitter down her spine. “I may find you provoking and impetuous and reckless at times, but never once have I found you boring.”
Suddenly she couldn’t breathe, catapulted back to the memory of her come-out. Nervous and anxious after all the “advice” Mama had given her, she’d stood quaking at the edge of the floor, certain that no one would ask her to stand up with him. So when her best friend’s brother had asked, she’d nearly kissed him right then and there. It had shown her a new side of Edwin—the one that was an eligible gentleman, and not just an irritating brotherly planet in the orbit of her friend.
Now, as they glided through the dance once more in perfect accord, it was as if they relived that night. The rhythm had beaten through both of them, matching her frenzied pulse at having her first dance with a real man. The scent of a hundred beeswax candles had swirled about the room, along with a glittering throng of young beauties and their beaus.