Lavinia pointed to the dance floor. “She’s with Nicholas Clark. He’s an old suitor of hers, from before she left for America.”
Tiny, five-foot-one Delilah Remington was dancing with a six-foot tall man. An incongruous sight! He was an older man, graying around the temples, but quite dignified looking. Meredith grinned at them. Delilah was as determined to find herself a new husband as she was at finding one for her niece.
“Let’s get some punch, shall we, Meredith?” Lavinia suggested, her chubby face showing signs of perspiration. “It’s rather warm in here.”
Meredith had begun to follow, when a tall, broad, male figure stepped in front of her.
“Excuse me, Miss Remington. May I have the honor of the next dance with you?” a deep, rich voice asked.
It was the handsome and pompous earl!
In spite of Lavinia’s vigorous nods of encouragement, which declared Lord Waverly as an acceptable dance partner, Meredith’s first instinct was to refuse him. How she longed to spurn his offer, if only to see a look of surprised indignation on his smug, handsome face!
But his gorgeous green eyes boldly dared her to dance with him. They glittered with amusement and superiority as if to say, are you afraid? Meredith was not one to back down from a challenge. She glared at him, piercing him with her frostiest stare, leaving him with no doubt about how little she thought of him.
“Yes, you may.”
With that brisk acceptance, Meredith walked with him to the dance floor just as a waltz began.
As they took their positions and his arm encircled her waist, a little thrill went through her. Just the touch of his gloved hand against hers sent a shiver of delight coursing through her body. He smelled good too. She recalled that from seeing him earlier that day. Was it bergamot? She wasn’t sure. The man was so startlingly handsome. The force of it momentarily knocked her off balance, and she stumbled awkwardly.
One dark eyebrow rose in question and he paused while she righted herself. “Are you quite all right?” he asked in mock innocence. “Do you require assistance?”
“I am just fine, thank you.”
She was mortified, but would not give him the satisfaction, although she sensed that he already knew. Her cheeks turned scarlet, and she avoided looking directly at him.
They began to move in time with the lilting music.
She hated to admit it, but he was an excellent dance partner. He had a firm grip on her, yet it was a light touch. His movements were commanding but not pushy. He was graceful while at the same time entirely masculine. He knew exactly what he was doing. Unlike Lord Ainsworth, who floundered about more than he actually led her, Lord Waverly was quite accomplished. In fact, he was perfect. Drat him!
“You don’t like me, do you?”
She looked up at him then. He was grinning at her, his dimple flashing and his eyes full of amusement. It was quite dizzying to look in his eyes.
“What gave it away?” she responded dryly.
He laughed then. Actually threw back his head and laughed.
The sound of his laughter warmed her. He had such a wonderfully shaped mouth, and she idly wondered what it would be like to be kissed by him, a man who knew what he was doing. And Lord Waverly clearly seemed like a man who knew what he was doing. It would be something special to be kissed by him.
Meredith! She mentally shook herself at her wayward thoughts.
“Why is that so funny?” she asked when he finally composed himself.
“Because you’re honest.”
“And that amuses you?”
He looked at her quite earnestly. “No, it’s not funny in that sense. However, I find your honesty refreshing. You don’t hide your feelings, unlike most women I’ve met. I know you don’t like me, and you didn’t deflect when I called you out on it.”
“You’re a very odd man.”
He laughed again. “I admit I have never been called odd before. So now you must tell me . . . why don’t you like me? Is it because I was staring at you in the bookshop?”
“You were rather rude,” she pointed out. Did she not like him? She wasn’t sure. Perhaps she liked him a little bit.
He twirled with her so gracefully, she felt as if she were flying. Meredith had danced with dozens of gentlemen back in New York, but Lord Waverly was by far the best partner. Never had she so enjoyed a dance. She found herself wishing the waltz wouldn’t end.
“Perhaps it was rude of me to stare,” he offered.
“It was more than staring. It was ogling.”
“But you smiled at me when I ogled you.”
“I did no such thing!” she protested. “You smiled at me after you winked at me.”
“Because I could tell that you liked when I winked at you.”
“That’s not true in the least.” Meredith stared at him in fascination. “My, my, you are full of yourself. Your vanity knows no limits.”
Again he smiled at her and she was enchanted by him.
He said in a low voice, “Did you ever think it was your fault, Miss Remington?”
“My fault?” She almost laughed. “How would your rudeness be my fault?”
He gave her a pointed look. “You are most definitely a beautiful woman. Your beauty captivated me, and I could not look away. I was helpless. The blame is clearly at your feet.”
Ignoring the giddiness that spread through her at his words, Meredith rolled her eyes at him. “If you think I shall fall for your arrogant charm, you are sadly mistaken, Lord Waverly.”
Again, he flashed that devilish smile. “Good girl! I was just testing you!”
“And clearly, I passed.” She grinned back at him. She couldn’t help herself. His smile was so irresistibly charming.
“Clearly.”
“Do you test all the women you dance with?”
“Just the ones who stare right back at me in a bookshop.”
They both gazed into each other’s eyes then. She recognized the admiration she saw within their green depths. Meredith felt her pulse race unexpectedly.
“I liked that you stared back at me,” he said in a low voice.
“Then I wish I had not done so.”
“But you did,” he reminded her, raising and lowering his eyebrows. “Because you couldn’t help yourself.”
“I stared because I was stunned by your boldness. There’s a difference.”
“You stared at me because I’m a handsome devil.”
“You are the most conceited man,” she said. But she grinned at him while she said it.
“Guilty as charged.” He winked at her again. “But you also know I’m right.”
Luckily for Meredith, the waltz came to its inevitable end before she could respond to him. Her heart was pounding, and her cheeks were hot, so flustered was she by their conversation.
She’d never bantered with a gentleman like that before and had found it thrilling. She’d attended a few dances in New York but had never met anyone remotely like Lord Waverly. He irritated and attracted her at the same time.
With his hand on her arm, he escorted her back to where Delilah was now standing with her sister Lavinia, both of them regarding her intently.
“Thank