Page 91 of The Viscount Who Vexed Me

“I certainly will,” she said, and put down her glass.

Mr. Donovan led her onto the dance floor. They stepped into the music—he was very smooth, an excellent dancer. He asked after her, about her life and her work. He said she looked quite pretty, and the dark green suited her. She answered all his questions and responded to his compliments, but at the same time, she was surreptitiously looking for Teo.

“You esteem him,” Mr. Donovan said. “Perhaps even more than esteem him.”

Startled she was so terribly obvious, Hattie looked at him. “Pardon?”

His smile was a bit lopsided. “Lord Abbott, love. You esteem him.”

“Well, of course. In a manner of speaking, I suppose. We are friends.”

“Ah,friends,” he said with a knowing smile. “Your secret is safe with me. In fact I will boast and tell youallsecrets are safe with me.”

Hattie blushed. “There is no secret,” she said and tried to laugh. “I’m his scribe. I shouldn’t even be here! He only invited me because he felt obliged.”

Mr. Donovan clucked his tongue. “Obliged! Do you honestly think that Lord Abbott feels obliged to anyone? On my word, he does not.”

Hattie frowned. That was probably true to a certain extent.

“Do you know what’s wonderful about dancing?” Donovan asked.

She shook her head.

“When we step onto the floor, everyone is the same. We are either good or bad, but no one is above the other. There are no awards or titles or people too poor to dance.”

Hattie smiled sheepishly.

“If I may offer some advice?”

“About dancing?”

“Not about dancing. Miss Woodchurch—Hattie, if I may—no one is above the other. No matter what the doyennes of society would have you believe, we are all the same. We all have hearts, we all have wants and a desire to be loved. The only thing that matters is that we remain true to ourselves.”

He was confusing her. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

“Don’t you? My advice is to pursue what you want from this life and don’t let anyone convince you that you shouldn’t.”

Hattie blinked. His point was well-taken. “How did we go from dancing to this?”

He laughed. “I had a pressing need to share. I was once like you in that I tried to fit inside the box that society said I ought to be in. And then one day, I realized I couldn’t do it and live with myself. So I made my own box.”

The music was coming to an end. “I’m not sure I understand,” she said.

“I know.” He smiled. “Just know that it’s possible to chart your own course. I did. And so can you.”

The music ended, and he stepped back and bowed. “The pleasure was mine.” He held out his arm and led her from the dance floor.

Mystified, she watched him walk away, but his point was slowly sinking in. She turned, and almost slammed into Teo and Flora.

Flora was glowing.“Haaaattie,”she cried, her arms going around Hattie’s shoulders. “His lordship and I mean to take some air. It’s such a warm night, isn’t it? Or maybe it’s perfectly fine, but I’ve been dancing all evening.” She fanned her face with her fingers. “I’m so warm.” She turned to Teo, beaming.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Hattie agreed. She could feel Teo’s eyes on her, but she kept her eyes fixed firmly on Flora. She wouldn’t let him see how much she cared. She wouldn’t let him know how her heart was breaking. What was the point? “If you will excuse me?” And then she walked away before she burst into tears.

She’d had enough of this night and went in search of her brother. She’d worn her fancy dress and had danced exactly three times and no matter what Mr. Donovan said, she would never, ever, have that Santiavan duke.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

LILAHADTOdrag herself out of bed the next day for her call with Lord Abbott. She’d had a grand time at the ball, particularly after he’d exited the ballroom. When she was no longer required to make introductions or listen to Elizabeth complain, she’d danced. And drank. And ate. And availed herself of all the lovely things to do at the Abbott ball.