Page 34 of Provoked

“Some gentlemen like ladies who are well educated and who have opinions of their own,” she said, and there was a hint of reproof in her voice, as though she thought he must reside in the other camp.

“Having had the privilege of conversing with Miss Chalmers on several occasions,” David said truthfully, “I have certainly found her opinions most stimulating. You and Miss Chalmers were educated together, were you not?”

“We were.” Miss Galbraith’s smile was minutely warmer now. “At Miss Stair’s Seminary.”

David steered Miss Galbraith round a group of gentlemen who noted her beauty with covert glances though their conversation continued without pause. Once past them, David pressed home his advantage.

“So, do I take it that you have met at leastonegentleman in London who is stimulated not only by beauty but also by intelligence?”

She actually blushed at that question, her eyelids lowering briefly to mask her gaze from him. Her proud expression seemed to soften a little.

“Perhaps,” she said, then added breezily, “They are not all dandies and rakes, at any rate.”

“No,” David dared. “Take Lord Murdo, for example.”

She glanced at him sharply, and he maintained his bland look with difficulty.

“I’m not sure what you seek to make Lord Murdo an example of, Mr. Lauriston,” she said. “Perhaps you could explain.”

“I just meant he seems an intelligent fellow,” David replied carefully, aware he’d somehow put her on her guard.

“Well, I can’t argue with that,” Miss Galbraith replied tartly. Her manner suggested she knew him well and that there was little love lost between them. On her side at least.

“Have you known him long?” David dared, adding, “He mentioned he knew you when I dined with the Chalmers earlier this week.”

“Oh, I’ve known Lord Murdo for years. He’s older than me, but our families are well acquainted. His aunt and my mother are particular friends.” She paused, then added, “I’ve seen him more often lately. It seems that everywhere I turn, there he is!” She gave a nervous laugh then, and it was perhaps the most betraying thing of all in their conversation.

He realised that she didn’t like Balfour one little bit.

David didn’t get any more out of Miss Galbraith. They finished their perambulation of the ballroom, and he delivered her back to her mother, who was in conversation with Balfour and Elizabeth Chalmers. They stopped talking as David and Miss Galbraith drew closer, and Balfour glanced at David, raising a brow. “Dancing again, Lauriston?”

David smiled politely. “Miss Galbraith did not care to dance. We took a stroll about the ballroom instead.”

“You don’t care to dance, Bella?” Balfour said. “What nonsense is this?”

“I wish you wouldn’t call me Bella,” she said curtly.

“Isabella.” Her mother said her name so blandly that it could almost not have been a reproof, but Miss Galbraith flushed.

Balfour frowned. “I’ve called you Bella since we were children.”

David saw her making an effort to be calm and ladylike. “Well, I’m not a child anymore,” she said quietly. “Isabella will do very well.”

“Very well. Have it your way. Isabella it shall be—in public.” He flicked a speck of lint from his immaculate black evening coat. “But you can’t stop me thinking of you as Bella.”

She scowled, and her mother laughed. “It’s refreshing to see you around my daughter, Lord Murdo. I grow tired of tripping over young men kissing the hem of her gown.”

Miss Galbraith’s jaw tightened, and Balfour smiled enigmatically. “Oh, it’s hardly surprising, ma’am,” he said. “Bella—sorry, Isabella—is so very beautiful. Hem-kissing is practically compulsory in such circumstances.”

Mrs. Galbraith laughed again, but her daughter looked irritable, and David felt something close to nausea twist in his guts.

“It’s too bad of you to tease her so, my lord,” Elizabeth Chalmers said, smiling in that calm way of hers. “I’m not surprised she prefers to be called Isabella. It’s a very noble name, I think.”

“Quite so,” Balfour said, smothering a smile. “And well said, Miss Chalmers.”

Two new gentlemen arrived then, to claim both young ladies for the next set. Isabella demurred, pleading the headache again, and her partner withdrew. David heard her mother chiding her as she drew her away to sit down.

“Please excuse me,” David said, smiling at Elizabeth and her partner and ignoring Balfour. “I must find my friend again. We have to be on our way soon.”