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Her breath caught in her chest at his boldness, but other than that reaction, there was no spark. Her body remained annoyingly calm. She was grateful he was busy filling the remaining spots on her dance card, or he would have surely been put out by the frown on her face.

“Oh. I seem to have come a little too late,” he said, frowning as he spotted the names that had taken up most of the slots on her card. “There are barely any available slots left, but that is to be expected, considering you look as wonderful as ever tonight.”

“You flatter me.” She smiled as shyly as she was supposed to, lowering her eyelashes.

He looked taken aback by her reaction, a flush climbing up his cheeks, and then he coughed into his hands, shaking his head.

“The dances are starting, and I see your first partner waiting for you,” he said with a smile. “I shall be patiently waiting my turn.”

She handed him her glass and turned to see Lord Bourne waiting to lead her to the dance floor. She accepted his arm, nodding her thanks, and took her place as the first strains of the galliard started.

The dance was a mid-paced one, which she followed with precision, remembering to smile and look up at her partner, who smiled in return. When they stepped closer, he kept a proper distance.

“You dance beautifully, Lady Selina,” he praised as the dance came to a close.

“You dance even better than me, Lord Bourne.”

“Lady Selina, shall we?” Lord Westbrook asked, interrupting.

Was she not going to have even a moment of respite?

She nodded, placing her hand in his, and by the time the dance came to an end, she was tired. Her next partner came, and soon she was silently begging for the freedom she had enjoyed before.

She quickly stepped off the dance floor as the next dance started, dodging the eyes of Lord Fein as he looked through the crush for her.

She pressed a hand to her chest and darted towards the balcony, where she hid behind a velvet curtain like a coward, in an alcove that was too small and uncomfortably hot. But she weatheredthe storm, preferring it to the one she would face if she stepped out of her hiding place.

She heaved a deep sigh of relief as she heard the first strains of the next dance.

“I take it you’re fed up with tonight’s festivities,” a voice said from above her.

She looked up quickly in surprise, then relaxed when she saw that it was Peter.

“You’ve caught me in one too many improper places, Peter.” She smiled, shaking her head as she stepped back into the ballroom.

She didn’t want to be in such a confined space with him, where anyone could walk in on them and catch them alone.

“I won’t tell if you don’t.” He winked.

She nodded. “Still,” she insisted, “I feel I must fix my reputation. It is really unflattering to be seen in such a light.”

“I assure you, dear, that your reputation has suffered no blows on my part,” he said. “You’re much the same in my eyes—charming with a wicked sense of humor.”

“Wicked sense of humor?” she gasped.

“Indeed. You can’t deny the opinion fits.”

“Unique is the word I would have used.”

“If you say so,” he relented.

The dance came to an end, and he held out a hand to her with a comical flourish that had her smiling.

“I am your partner for the next dance, My Lady.”

“You won’t spare my aching feet the pleasure?” she asked, hoping he would.

“I promise not to step on your feet.”