Page 118

F iona’s question made Tobias stop, but only for the barest second because the music was starting. He swept her into his arms just as the waltz began.

It was heavenly. The sparkling candlelight reflected by the glass chandeliers and the mirrors. The blur of color as they swirled around the dancefloor. The lush notes of the music rising in the air and propelling the dancers.

“We’ve never had music before,” she said, her eyes locked with his. He looked splendid this evening in a black coat and silver-threaded waistcoat. When she’d imagined her guardian on her journey from Shropshire, she’d never envisioned a handsome man who made her pulse race.

“Not true. I hummed the first time.” The corner of his mouth ticked up. “On second thought, I believe we determined that didn’t qualify as music.”

She very much appreciated his ability to laugh at himself. “Perhaps with practice, you will gain the skill as I did with curtseying. After the queen’s drawing room debacle.”

“I doubt that,” he said wryly. “But I’m willing to try, and you can tell me if I’m successful. Now, why did you mention my grandmother? And tell me about your interview with her.”

“It was…enlightening,” Fiona borrowed the dowager’s word. “I see where your father might have inherited his autocratic tendencies.”

“Oh dear, what did she say?”

“She went on quite a bit about matchmaking and the importance of it. She’s considering becoming my sponsor in place of Lady Pickering.”

Tobias wrinkled his nose. “That will not go well. The only woman who is perhaps more formidable than my grandmother, at least in my experience, is Lady Pickering.”

“I have a hard time imagining that. Lady Pickering is so pleasant.” Fiona liked her very much. “Not to say your grandmother is not,” she hastily added.

Tobias laughed softly, a dark, throaty sound that never failed to make her want to smile in return. “I don’t mind admitting she can be rather intimidating on occasion. I was shocked when she arrived earlier today. I was not expecting her.”

“That’s the impression I had from Carrin.”

Tobias pressed his palm more firmly against her back, and it was hard not to recall his touch upon her the night before. She tried not to shiver and failed. His pupils darkened, and she knew he’d felt it. “Tell me why you think my grandmother provoked me to dance with you.”

“It wasn’t about you. She was not in favor of Lord Gregory’s courtship.

I wondered if she asked you to prevent me from spending time with him.

It seemed a logical conclusion since you’ve never asked me to dance before.

” He had though. “At least not in public.” She ought to look away from him because the intensity of his gaze was making it hard for her to focus on the waltz.

She did not.

“What is her quarrel with Lord Gregory?” Tobias seemed to hold his breath a moment.

“She never actually said, only that I could do better. She did, however, say quite plainly that she was not in favor of the match. I still don’t understand.” Fiona frowned. “Lord Gregory comes from an excellent family, and he’s a very kind and interesting person.”

“To you, he’s a good match.” Tobias broke eye contact, and she suddenly felt off-kilter. She clasped his hand and shoulder more tightly. “If you think you’d be happy with him, you should marry him.” Tobias sounded strained, as if he struggled to force the words out. Was he upset?

Why shouldn’t he be? He’d proposed marriage to her last night, and she’d refused him. Just as Lady Bentley had done two years before. Even worse, now he was also facing the loss of something he deeply cherished.

Her chest squeezed as she thought of how he must be feeling. Yet here he was at this assembly, and in what seemed to be a good mood. She wondered if there was a reason for it. “I saw Miss Goodfellow a short while ago. I’m surprised you didn’t waltz with her.”

His gaze found hers once more, and there was a warmth to the pewter depths that made her heart beat a little faster.

“I have no intention of dancing with Miss Goodfellow or anyone else this evening. I came tonight to see you enjoy this ball that you’ve been so looking forward to, and to tell you I’m not getting married before the twelfth. Horethorne will be yours.”

She missed her step, but he held her fast, keeping them from faltering as he continued to steer them behind the couple in front of them. Had she heard him right? She can’t have. “You’re giving up?”

“Not at all. I’m choosing not to allow my father’s control to guide me. I was approaching marriage the way he wanted me to—as a business arrangement—instead of the way I wanted to.”

Her breath tangled in her throat. “And what way is that?”

“With love and hope for a happy union. With the woman of my dreams.”

The ache in her chest grew more pronounced. “Oh, Tobias. That’s lovely.”

His nostrils flared and his lips parted.

“You shouldn’t call me that in the middle of the ballroom, particularly after you declined my marriage proposal.

” Though his body tensed, he said the words with a light humor that she suddenly realized was as much a part of what drew her to him as anything else—his generosity, his care, and so much more.

“Furthermore, I don’t deserve such familiarity from you when I seem to keep behaving like an ass. On that note, I’ve had a temporary bedchamber set up on the first floor in the antechamber off the drawing room for Mrs. Tucket. Now she will only need to bother with one set of stairs.”

“That’s incredibly thoughtful of you. Thank you.”

“I should have thought of it immediately.” He pressed his lips together and appeared disappointed—in himself. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”

Fiona moved her hand toward his neck, wishing she could wipe the lines in his features away. “It only matters that you did.” And he was also giving her his mother’s house. She knew that wasn’t precisely the case, but his actions, or inaction, made it seem like a gift.

They danced without speaking then, and Fiona was only aware of the way they moved together and the touch of his hands upon her.

He smelled of sandalwood and…maps. Probably because she associated them with him now.

He’d increased the quantity of them in his library so that she had yet to peruse them all.

“Are you going to take my grandmother’s advice?” he asked, startling her slightly but not breaking the spell between them.

“To be honest, I’m still trying to decide what to do. I have made one decision though.”

The music drew to a close, and the dance ended.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I need to settle Mrs. Tucket somewhere—either in Shropshire or at Horethorne. I plan to discuss it with her tomorrow.” She realized they were still standing on the dancefloor, their hands clasped, as if they would continue dancing if only the music would begin again.

Tobias seemed to recognize this too, for he released her, only to tuck her hand around his arm and lead her from the floor. “Has she expressed a desire to leave London?”

“Yes. The incident at the ball last Saturday was rather embarrassing for her.”

“I am sorry for that. Please let me know what I can do to help. Although, I am not sure your cousin would allow her to live on his estate. He was quite relieved that your invitation to London included your maid.”

Fiona had thought of that. It was another reason she was glad to have Horethorne. “Yes, that is a concern. Is there someplace she could retire on the estate? Just a small cottage would be acceptable.”

“I’m not certain, but Mr. Davies is the steward, and he can help you. He’s incredibly kind and knowledgeable.”

“You know him well?”

“My whole life.”

She couldn’t discount the sensation that this wasn’t right, that Horethorne should be his. They were heading toward the garden, she realized. The doors were open, and the air in the ballroom was quite warm. “Are we going outside?”

He slowed. “Do you want to?”

Her eyes met his, and instead of answering, she continued through the open doorway out onto the terrace. Lanterns lit the walkways, and an oval pool in the center reflected the light. She’d somehow missed that aspect of the garden when she’d rushed inside with Mrs. Renshaw the week before.

“If there’s nowhere suitable for Mrs. Tucket at Horethorne, I will find a place for her at Deane Hall.”

Fiona paused near the pool. “You would do that?”

“Of course.”

“Your father’s support of me is such a mystery, and now you are continuing it. I will be forever grateful. And indebted.”

He shook his head and guided her along the pool, then veered away from it toward the wall that divided this half of the garden from that of the men’s. It was less illuminated here and more secluded.

“It is no longer a mystery.” He stopped and turned to face her. “My grandmother explained why our fathers were so close.”

Fiona withdrew her hand from his arm. She could just make out his features in the shadows. “Why?”

“They were lovers. Since Oxford.”

Sucking in a breath, Fiona felt as though she’d found a long-missing piece of a puzzle.

“That explains why my parents’ relationship always seemed so aloof.

” It also explained why certain pages of that book Fiona had found in her father’s library seemed more worn than others—specifically the ones with drawings of only men engaged in sexual acts. “Did they love each other?”

“They must have. Look at the lengths to which my father went to provide for your future.” He smiled. “I admit I was glad to learn my father had known love. I was also jealous, since he wasn’t ever able to bestow any upon me.”

Fiona reached up and cupped his jaw. “I’m sure things were very difficult for him.”