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When he made it across the room, he could tell she was seething.

“But it’s apparent,” one of the men said, “that the fairer sex needs help in all matters.”

Tarley’s eyes widened, but her mouth remained shut, her usually plump lips pressed into a firm line.

“As I’ve always said, there isn’t a woman who knows her own mind. She needs a guiding, but firm, hand.”

Tarley tensed, her arms dropping to her sides and her mouth opening.

“Miss Fareview,” Lachlan interrupted.

All six faces of the men surrounding her swung toward him, each expressing varied states of irritation at Lachlan’s interruption.

Her face turned red. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them back up after taking a deep breath, she narrowed them on him.

Uh oh.

“May I have this dance?” he asked.

She bristled, and he thought she might decline, but then she seemed to consider the alternative and offered him a short nod, taking his outstretched hand.

Lachlan tucked her arm into his elbow and led her to the dance floor.

“Where have you been?” she snapped.

“Across the room.” He nodded to where he’d been standing.

“The whole time?”

“You were dancing when I got here, with some golden god.”

She turned her head to look at him, the shape of her eyes softening. “Were you jealous?” Her grip on his arm tightened.

“Exceedingly,” he admitted. When she looked down at the floor, he continued, “I was afraid I might make a scene of epic proportions—you know how spoiled I can be when I don’t get my way.”

“I do.” She looked up at him with a grin. A real one, and Lachlan’s heart constricted in his chest.

“So I just stood over against the wall and felt sorry for myself, because the most beautiful woman in the room wasn’t paying any attention to me.” Lachlan swept her into his arms, one hand on the small of her back, the other holding her hand.

“Were you pouting?”

“I was.”

“You poor thing,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

“Really.” He nodded and grinned. “Then I got scolded by Rose for failing to read the room properly. She isn’t sure I’ll make a very good king.”

Tarley’s hand on his shoulder tightened, then moved deeper over his shoulder blade. “You saved me, so I believe you’re on your way.”

“I think if I hadn’t, you might be under arrest for murder.”

She laughed then, bright and musical, and Lachlan knew he had finally done something properly when it came to Tarley. “You know me so well,” she said, but her smile faded, and she grew serious again. Quiet.

“You are an excellent dancer,” she said after they’d taken a turn about the room.

“One thing I’m good at it would seem. I’ve had extensive training and practice,” he teased.

But she remained pensive.