Page 14 of The Governess Who Stole My Heart

Chapter 3

The party wasin full swing as the Duke returned. There was exuberant dancing and equally exuberant drinking. While the party was boisterous, the crowd was well behaved with only a minimal amount of bawdy jokes about the wedding night. These were country folk, after all, and not the high society ofLondon.

Susan was clustered with a group of old friends. She saw the Duke go over to the bride and groom to congratulate them. He then went to speak with the two sets of parents. When he was finished, he went to the bar and ordered an ale, then stood back against the bar to observe theparty.

Susan returned to her conversation with Katherine and several of their childhood friends that they’d not seen for a long while. It was fun catching up andreminiscing.

Daniel came over after chatting with hisparents.

“Miss Susan, might I engage you for a dance? There’s little dancing aboard a frigate, and I have a yearning to stretch my legs abit.”

“Captain, it would be mypleasure.”

Country dancing was much less refined than in the halls of London. There were no dainty Varsoviennes. No Zingirellas. No waltzes. Just hearty and robust county, polka dancers beating out strong rhythms across the dancefloor.

Captain Daniel took Susan’s hand and led her into the dancing maelstrom alreadyunderway.

“Captain, what’s the name of your ship?” Susanasked.

“TheResolute.”

“Not heard of her. Is she a newly mintedvessel?”

“Indeed she is. As I am a newly minted Captain. She’s my first ship and I’m her firstcaptain.”

“Congratulations. You rose rapidly in the ranks it seems. And you started outas…?

“A lieutenant in His Majesty’s RoyalFleet.”

“And one day Admiral, Iassume.”

Daniel smiled. “That is as it may be. It’s not for me to say. I could take a bullet in battle or go down in a broiling sea. A sailor learns not to plan too farahead.”

“That sounds mostwise.”

Daniel led her from the dance floor as their danceended.

“Might I offer you some refreshment?” heasked.

“I think some punch would berefreshing.”

“And nothing to eat? The wedding feast seems mostlavish.”

“We spared nothing for our guests. And we were particularly pleased that the Duke of Lennox agreed to be one of our guests. My parents were most impressed and wanted equally to impress theDuke.”

“I see. Then may I temptyou?”

“I think not. For me, a punch would suffice fornow.”

“Then a punch it shall be. If you wait here, I shallreturn.”

Daniel left and Susan found a quiet spot where she could recover her breath after the vigorousdancing.

She was patting her brow with a handkerchief when she heard, “Might I have a dance, MissSusan?”

She looked up to see John standing before her with his handoutstretched.

“Oh… Yes, of course.” She’d been taken bysurprise.