Page 9 of An Impulsive Kiss (Captivating Kisses #2)

J udson had deliberately gone counterclockwise around the ballroom when he had arrived, wanting to avoid Lady Lucy for as long as possible. He feared if he greeted her and her family too early, she would still have empty spaces on her dance card.

And he was not going to dance with her.

He arrived long after the crush did and took his time, actually speaking to a few others, stopping to sign the programmes of two young ladies making their come-outs. One was a stunning beauty. The other was plain of face, but her figure—and reportedly large dowry—would ensure that she secured a husband by Season’s end. Judson found he wasn’t interested in either of them. In fact, no lady seemed to draw his attention, as he’d continued around the ballroom, finally reaching Lord and Lady Marley.

He was relieved when Lady Marley informed him that her daughter had no available dances. It was what he had hoped for Lady Lucy. She was a pretty thing, with a sweet nature and a bosom that would appeal to any man. Judson had bid them good evening and left to claim the beauty for the opening set. As he danced with her, though, she lost her appeal. For a young lady making her come-out, she seemed far from innocent. He yearned for Lady Lucy’s chaste sweetness.

Dancing the second set, he kept his eye on Lady Lucy more than his own partner. She danced in a group next to them, and Judson finally chastised himself, directing his focus back to his own dance steps, which he had muddled some. He returned his partner to her mother and left the ballroom to play cards. His idea of finding a bride suddenly didn’t appeal to him in the least.

Judson played at one table and then moved to another. As usual, his luck held, and he won more than he lost. He left play for a while, stretching his legs and slipping into the ballroom again for a few minutes. When he located Lady Lucy on the floor, he saw she danced with both grace and exuberance, her cheeks flushed, her smile wide. Something stung inside him, and he forced himself to return to the card room.

Spying an empty seat, he moved toward the table, seeing two of its occupants engaged in conversation. The third accepted a new deck of cards from a footman and was unsealing them.

“Is this seat taken?” he asked, sliding into it.

“It is now,” the man with the cards said, shuffling them.

Then he heard Lady Lucy’s name come from another gentleman at the table.

“I will be dancing the supper dance with Marley’s daughter,” the man said. “Lady Lucy. She’s quite pretty—and looks as if she has never been kissed.”

The other man laughed. “Then she is like most of the young ladies in this come-out class. What of her dowry?”

“I know nothing of it.” He paused, a smile growing on his face. “Yet.”

Rage filled Judson. He knew how young debutantes were gossiped about. Their looks. Their wardrobes. Their families. Their dowries. But this was Lady Lucy.

He glared at the man who was to dance with her. “Are we going to play cards or not?”

The man, sensing Judson’s mood, quickly said, “Of course, my lord.”

They played for half an hour, and he took a good amount from the cad, giving him some satisfaction. Then the butler announced that the supper dance would start soon, followed by supper itself. Most of the card room’s occupants began wrapping up their games. His table did the same.

As the men at his table stood, Judson said, “Wait a moment, Perth. I wish to speak to you.” He had learned the man’s name through conversation.

From his tone, the other two card players knew to make themselves scarce and quickly left the area.

“You mentioned you are dancing the supper dance with Lady Lucy Alington if I heard you correctly.”

“Yes, I am,” Perth said, a bit defiantly.

His defiance began to fade as Judson continued to stare hard at him. “I believe you are going to give that dance to me instead.”

“Why would I—” Perth’s voice faded as Judson cracked his knuckles. Suddenly, he changed his tune.

“I suppose I can accommodate your request, my lord.”

“You must not let Lady Lucy see you. During the supper dance or at supper itself.”

Perth started to speak and then closed his mouth. He merely nodded.

“You may appear after supper. After you have taken care of the business which detained you from enjoying the ball for a while. Do you understand?”

“I do, my lord.”

Rising, Judson said, “I would not call on Lady Lucy if I were you. Tomorrow—or any other afternoon.”

Swallowing, Perth said, “I will not be doing so. There are far too many fish in the sea. I will catch one of them instead, my lord.”

He nodded. “A wise decision.”

Quitting the card room, Judson returned to the ballroom and located Lady Lucy. He knew he was doing exactly what he had told himself he would not do, but he couldn’t leave her in the hands of Lord Perth, who was terrible at cards and most likely, a fortune hunter.

Before he could change his mind, knowing if he did it would leave her stranded and without a companion for supper, Judson headed directly to her and bowed when he reached her.

“I am sorry to inform you that Lord Perth had to step out to attend to a pressing matter, my lady. He will be unable to dance the supper dance with you.”

He watched her reaction, feeling the disappointment that washed over her. Not wishing to leave her in limbo, he quickly added, “I, on the other hand, was not engaged for this dance, Lady Lucy.”

Their eyes met, and he became lost in her amethyst ones for a moment, as if hypnotized.

“What are you saying, my lord?” she asked.

Knowing he played with fire, Judson smiled at her, a true smile. He could not recall the last time his heart felt so light and he wanted to smile, much less at a woman.

“I would be happy to take Lord Perth’s place if you are amenable.”

Then an irrational fear seized him. What if she turned him down? Made up some excuse not to be seen with him?

Before his worst fears could come to fruition, he took her hand and placed it on his sleeve, guiding her to the dance floor. They arrived and completed a group just as the musicians picked up their instruments and began playing a lively tune. For the first time in his life, Judson enjoyed dancing. Prior to this moment, it had been a social obligation he had fulfilled. But one look at Lady Lucy’s face, and all her joy in the act poured into him.

This woman was a balm to his soul.

The dance ended, everyone winded by the strenuous activity. He heard their host announce that supper was now being served, and the mass of people began heading from the ballroom to where the buffet was laid out. Not wanting his partner to become separated from him, he slipped his hand around hers.

A perfect fit . . .

Slowly, Judson guided Lady Lucy to the edge of the crowd, allowing most of those in attendance to pass them. Only as the majority had left did he tuck her hand into the crook of his arm. Glancing down at her, he saw her face flushed from exertion and realized she wasn’t just pretty.

Lucy Alington was beautiful.

“How are you enjoying your first ball, my lady?” he asked, steering her toward the exit.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “It has been the best night of my life,” she declared.

He liked that about her. Most any other lady in this ballroom would have said it was a lovely time or something else which conveyed nothing. Not Lady Lucy. She was enjoying herself and was not ashamed or embarrassed to let anyone know it.

The din in the corridor leading to the supper room was so loud that he did not attempt any further conversation. He was aware of the warmth of her hand. The heat of her body. The faint smell of lavender coming off her skin.

As they entered the supper room, it was a sea of others, along with long tables laden with appetizing foods.

“Oh! Ariadne is waving to us. Should we go and sit with her and Julian, my lord?”

Judson was faced with a quandary. Already, he knew the gossips would be taking note of who accompanied whom to the supper room. To sit with Lady Lucy was one thing. To sit with her and her family was quite another. It would indicate to others he was truly interested in her. But the tables had filled quickly, and he didn’t spy another place for them to sit with anyone he knew.

“The devil take all,” he murmured under his breath, and then he added so she might hear, “Yes. We shall go to them.”

As they reached the Marquess and Marchioness of Aldridge, he saw a look pass between them. Not certain of what it was, he merely seated Lady Lucy and took the chair beside her.

“I did not know you were dancing with my cousin this evening,” Lady Aldridge said.

“Her partner had some brief business to attend to, so I agreed to step in for him. Lady Lucy was gracious enough to accept me as a substitute,” he said glibly, which amused him because he had never been glib before.

“We will provide the sustenance for this evening,” Aldridge said. “Come along, Huntsberry. We have plates to fill.”

Before he left her side, Judson asked, “Is there anything in particular you do not like to eat? Or something you favor?”

She worried her lip a moment, causing a rush of desire to pour through him.

“Anything sweet, Lord Huntsberry. I have always had a sweet tooth.”

He nodded and joined the marquess, heading to one of the buffet tables. They chatted a bit about the ball and the food. Judson had the feeling Aldridge wanted to ask him something, but their conversation never veered from being polite.

Returning to the table with a plate for each of them, Judson put one in front of Lady Lucy. Her eyes grew wide.

“Oh, this is so much, my lord. I cannot eat half of what you brought to me.”

“Then start with the sweets you love. If you have any room left over, eat something of the rest,” he advised.

She giggled, causing his heart to melt. “Mama would be appalled.”

He briefly touched her chin, turning her to face him. “Your mama is not here. Do as you please.” Smiling, he added, “After all, a perfect night should start with dessert.”

She regarded him solemnly a moment—and then burst out laughing.

“This cake has whispered to me that I must take a bite of it,” she said facetiously.

Immediately he took a bite of the cake, savoring it. “The cake does not lie,” he said straight-faced, causing her to laugh again.

Judson rarely stayed for a midnight buffet, preferring to leave a ball early and go home to his bed, or upon rare occasions, that of his mistress. He found himself enjoying his conversation with Lady Lucy and her relatives. Still, he knew this was all pretend. He could not afford to pursue her or continue to lead her on. Many years of unresolved anger churned within him. He already knew the kind of husband she sought, and Judson possessed none of those qualities.

Tonight’s dance and supper with Lady Lucy had been a fantasy, one which he had indulged in briefly. He sought a marriage of convenience. One where he would give his name to a woman, who would then provide him with an heir. They would live separate lives. He had nothing to give to any wife, much less one such as innocent and playful as Lady Lucy.

The Aldridges excused themselves, saying they were going home for the night.

“You are already leaving the ball?” Lady Lucy asked, appearing baffled by their early departure.

“We must be at Oakbrooke Orphanage tomorrow morning at ten,” the marchioness said. “Besides, we have already introduced you to a good number of gentlemen this evening, Lucy. We are ready to go home.”

“And do a little more dancing,” the marquess said quietly to his wife.

Judson did not think Lady Lucy heard the comment, but he certainly had—and knew exactly what kind of dancing the couple would be doing.

“If Aunt Charlotte will have us, we will come for tea tomorrow,” Lady Aldridge said. “That way, we can hear all about your night.”

“I will tell Mama you are coming and that I invited you,” Lady Lucy told her cousin.

Lady Aldridge kissed her cousin’s cheek and then said, “Goodnight, Lord Huntsberry. It was good to see you and Lucy dancing together.”

That was exactly the kind of thing he didn’t want to hear, much less have Lady Lucy hear. He needed to set things straight between them now.

“I hope you do not mind that I stepped in for Lord Perth,” he began after the other couple had left.

“Oh, I did not mind at all,” she said, looking at him dreamily.

“My lady, I did it as a favor. What I said before stands. We would not suit. I will not be dancing with you again. I will not be amongst your many suitors. I simply wished to help you this evening so that you would not be left alone during supper.”

Tears sprang to her eyes, and Judson hated hurting her.

“I see,” she said softly, glancing down at her hands, which were folded in her lap. “I must thank you for being so thoughtful, my lord.” Clearing her throat, she said, “If you will excuse me now, I need to go to the retiring room.”

He rose quickly and helped her to her feet. Blinking back the tears, she said, “Thank you again for being a part of a wonderful night.”

Judson admired her because she didn’t rush away. Lady Lucy left the ballroom, her head held high, without a backward glance at him.

“Bloody hell,” he said under his breath, repeating it again.

He had been a fool to push Lord Perth aside. Judson should never have asked her to dance, much less shared supper with her. It angered him that he had hurt her and tarnished her evening.

Strengthening his resolve, he left the supper room and the townhouse, striding toward his carriage. He would never attempt to spend any time with Lady Lucy Alington ever again.