Page 29 of A Cinderella to Redeem the Earl

She smiled. ‘Not tonight. It would not be seemly.’ Actually she had no idea of the rules, but she didn’t want to give the poor young man any false ideas.

The next gentleman waiting to dance with her was Lord James, the young man who had jumped to her defence when it had looked as if one of her players might accuse her of cheating after losing badly. She had been horrified by the accusation. If there had been any cheating going on, she would have refused to take part. But she had also been a little scared by the young man’s outburst, though she had tried not to show it.

She smiled at Lord James as he led her out on to the floor. The music began and they danced in silence for a while, each getting used to the other as they moved through the opening steps. So far every dance had been a waltz and the patrons seemed to be enjoying themselves.

‘I must thank you for your kind assistance earlier, with Mr Smythe.’

‘Smythe was making a cake of himself,’ he said. ‘And not for the first time. Everyone knows Dart’s parties are the one place one can be assured the die are not weighted and the cards are not marked. He’s a gentleman, for heaven’s sake.’

‘Nevertheless, I appreciate your intervention.’

‘I haven’t seen you here before. You are not like the other girls.’

He was the second man to make this observation. ‘In what way?’

He looked thoughtful as he twirled her around. ‘You are more refined, and...nicer, somehow.’

‘Nicer.’ She chuckled. ‘A milk-and-water miss, am I?’

He grinned. ‘No. I didn’t mean it that way. Perhaps I should have said kinder.’

‘Have the other ladies been unkind to you?’

‘They are not unkind. They are just not kind. For them it’s all about the chips on the table. You seem to take an interest in a chap. And Betsy would have slapped Smythe down instantly, whereas you tried not to hurt his feelings.’

‘Which did not work very well, until you spoke up.’

‘But you see, if Betsy had been there, we might have egged him on a bit, enjoyed the argument, but tonight everyone at the table was on your side. So he left.’

‘Well, I am glad for his sake he left, because he had lost a lot of money, I think.’

‘And that’s what makes you different. You care.’

‘Now you are making me sound like some sort of saint. And I can assure you I am not.’

His laugh was infectious. ‘That is the last thing I would say you are.’

Good heavens, what did he mean? Better not to ask.

On the way back to Monsieur Phillippe, Pamela was surprised to see him approached by a couple who looked—well, they looked mischievous and perhaps a little excited. Monsieur Phillip smiled at the pair and pulled something from his inside breast pocket, which he handed to the man, with what she could only describe as a knowing grin.

The pair left the ballroom at speed.

‘Where are they going?’ she asked Monsieur Phillippe once Lord James had delivered her safely.

‘Who?’

He knew very well whom she meant. ‘The couple that were with you right before I returned.’

He waved a vague arm. ‘I am sure I have no idea what you mean.’

He’s lying.

But there was no time to question him further, her next dance partner was already eagerly reaching for her hand. Besides, what business of hers was it when they had looked so pleased?

‘Who is the new girl?’

Damian didn’t have to follow the direction of Lord Hill’s gaze to know he was referring to Mrs Lamb. The dancing had finished a half-hour before and the croupiers were back at their tables.