Page 8 of The Missing Book (Bluestocking Book Club #3)

F ury burned through Leopold’s chest as he took Anna away from the bluestockings. His anger was not directed at Anna, though he was frustrated with her, but more towards Lady Amelia who had spoken to him in such a teasing manner – one that was most improper for any young lady!

“He did not need to take me away from the bluestockings,” he heard Anna say to Lady Gwendoline. “My brother is always much too concerned about such things whereas I think it good to have all manner of acquaintances!”

“Let us discuss something else. I heard you were on the arm of Lord Jedburgh recently,” Lady Gwendoline said, as Leopold gritted his teeth. “He is an excellent gentleman, is he not?”

Leopold did not let himself listen to the answer his sister gave.

He was already furious with her for what she had done and how she had spoken to him in front of the other ladies and certainly did not need to be reminded of her previous foolishness!

Lord Jedburgh might be an excellent gentleman but that did not mean that she ought to have gone off on his arm with him as she had done!

Though reminding Anna of that would not produce any sort of favorable results, Leopold knew.

“Good evening, Lord Broughton! I have just come looking for your sister, since it is time for our dance.”

“Take her,” Leopold muttered, throwing out one hand behind him to where she stood. “And be quick about it before I forbid her from any further dancing this evening and return her to the carriage!”

Lord Cumbernauld’s smile disappeared in an instant.

He nodded and then made his way hastily towards Anna, though Leopold followed him with his eyes to make sure that Anna would not either refuse him or do something else equally foolish.

To his relief, he saw her accept Lord Cumbernauld’s arm, leaving Lady Gwendoline to stand alone.

He frowned.

“Lady Gwendoline, do you not have a chaperone?” he asked, coming closer to her. “I was sure that your brother was nearby.”

“He is dancing with Lady Petunia,” came the reply, a slightly shy smile on the lady’s lips. “Though I am quite contented to stand here and watch. That way, he will know precisely where I am, for he has seen me already.”

“I see.” Leopold cleared his throat, feeling a twinge of awkwardness growing between them.

Any good gentleman would offer to stand up with the lady given that she did not have someone to stand up with already but he did not want to dance!

He was much too overwhelmed, much too frustrated to be able to concentrate on the steps and yet, at the very same time, a niggling voice in the back of his mind told him that it was expected of him to do such a thing.

It was proper, was it not? It was genteel and considerate and he did not, in truth, have much of a choice.

“Lady Gwendoline, would you like to dance?”

She looked at him. “Dance?”

“Yes, this dance. I assume you have no gentleman coming to find you for it?” He gestured to the couples in front of him.

“Come now, I cannot have you standing here alone. I – ” The words dried on his lips as he saw Lady Amelia being led out the dance floor by a tall, fair-haired gentleman.

He scowled, knowing that, at some point, she would have to be his partner given the nature of the dance.

It would only be for a brief moment but he did not want to be in her company for even a second or two!

“Lord Broughton?”

He cleared his throat, looking back to Lady Gwendoline. “Yes?”

“Shall we?”

It took him a moment to realize what it was she had said. She was accepting his offer to dance, he realized, even though now, he did not want to step out with her.

But I have no choice.

With a grimace tugging at his lips, he offered his arm and then strode out to the dance floor, making his way directly across the room and away from Lady Ameila.

Mayhap he might be fortunate enough not to have to stand up with her.

Mayhap there would be enough gentlemen and ladies on the floor for him to avoid her completely!

“Lord Broughton?” Lady Gwendoline said again, as he pulled his gaze away from Lady Amelia. “Are you quite ready?”

“Yes, I am. Of course I am,” he snapped, a little too late in realizing that he had spoken harshly. “Yes,” he said again, as Lady Gwendoline’s eyes rounded. “Yes, I am ready.”

She blinked but said nothing, sinking down into a curtsy as Leopold bowed hastily.

Reaching for her, he took her hand and the dance began, though Leopold fought to remember the steps clearly.

He was much too distracted by Lady Amelia’s presence, fearful now that he would have to stand up with her for a few moments.

“You are to say nothing to me, Lord Broughton?”

Growing irritated by Lady Gwendoline’s almost constant remarks, Leopold looked down at her. “What is it you wish for me to say?”

Her eyes grew a little bigger, and a flush rose in her cheeks. “It is only that most gentlemen have something to say to the lady they are dancing with, that is all.”

Leopold’s lips flattened but he said nothing.

The lady was quite right, it was usual for gentlemen to make conversation with the lady he danced with when it allowed but thus far, he had said nothing.

His attention was being constantly pulled towards Lady Amelia.

He saw her laugh at something her companion – the Marquess of Hazelton – said, her hazel eyes alight and that, in turn, made him scowl.

A bluestocking, indeed! It is a surprise to me that she has found so prestigious a gentleman to dance with.

“Lord Broughton, if you please, I – ”

Leopold looked back to Lady Gwendoline, only to realize too late that he had stepped well out of line and was now careening into another gentleman and lady.

His attention had been so pulled towards Lady Amelia, that he had not even thought about where he was dancing!

Lady Gwendoline stumbled, an exclamation breaking from her lips as Leopold fought to hold his balance.

She was clinging to him, then, grasping his arm instead of his shoulder.

Leopold, losing his balance, fell to the floor with Lady Gwendoline falling with him.

Somehow, she was saved from collapsing on top of him by another gentleman and a lady, making her gasp her thanks while Leopold, mortified, scrambled back up from the floor.

He did not know what to do. He, who prided himself on always being the very best of fellows, the most proper, the most refined and correct, had not only shamed himself by not paying attention to the lady he was dancing with as well as the dance himself, but he had now drawn the sharp eye of near everyone in the ton as he had fallen to the floor.

The fault was his and his alone – he certainly could not blame Lady Gwendoline for this!

The music had ceased, the other couples on the dance floor all turning to look and, as though fate wanted to add yet more to his shame, Leopold looked straight into the eyes of Lady Amelia.

There was no smile on her face, no twinkle in her eye. Instead, there was only a look of concern and, in fact, she began to make her way towards him.

No , Leopold thought to himself, turning bodily away from her. The last thing I want is to be in company with the bluestocking!

Without so much as a word to Lady Gwendoline, Leopold made his way through the crowd, aware of just how his face burned.

Keeping his gaze low, he walked directly through the ballroom and out into the hallway, not quite sure of where he was going but sure that he did not – could not – be in company any longer.

Walking blindly, he found another room and opening the door, stepped inside it.

There was no one there, no light save for a single candle on the mantlepiece. Letting out a slow breath, Leopold closed his eyes and leaned back against the door, hating how every single breath in his chest burned like fire.

He had mortified himself by his own foolishness; he had allowed himself to become distracted by a bluestocking when he ought to have been focused solely upon Lady Gwendoline. He had brought all of this upon himself, he knew, darkness closing in around him as he let out a low groan.

What was he going to do now?