Page 15 (1/2)

"Touché," Leo said, s told by Amelia of the unanticipated arrival of Countess Ramsay and Vanessa Darvin, Catherine was filled with curiosity

Followed soon thereafter by gloo at the side of the room, she and Beatrix watched as Leo waltzed with Miss Darvin

They were a striking pair, Leo’s dark handsomeness perfectly balanced by Miss Darvin’s vibrant beauty Leo was an excellent dancer, if a bit uided his partner around the roooirled ainst his legs from the lowing dark eyes and rich sable hair She rin from Leo He looked charmed by her Absolutely char in her stomach as she watched them, as if she had just sed a handful of tenpenny nails Beatrix stood beside her and touched her back briefly, as if to offer comfort Catherine felt a reversal of their usual roles, that instead of being the wise older couidance

She tried to school her features into blankness "How attractive Miss Darvin is," she commented

"I suppose," Beatrix said noncolu"

Beatrix watched Leo and Miss Darvin with thoughtful blue eyes as they executed a perfect turn "I wouldn’t say enchanting …"

"I can’t see one flaw"

"I can Her elbows are knobby"

Squinting through her spectacles, Catherine thought that perhaps Beatrix was right They were a bit knobby "That’s true," she said, feeling a tiny bit better "And doesn’t her neck seeiraffe," Beatrix said with an emphatic nod

Catherine strained to see Leo’s expression, wondering if he had noticed the abnorth of Miss Darvin’s neck It didn’t appear that he had "Your brother seems taken with her," shepolite"

"He’s never polite"

"He is when he wants so," Beatrix said

But that only sent Catherine plulooht want froentleave her perainst the wall and let her thoughts wander

The ball was an unqualified success Everyone was having a lovely ti neither too warm nor too cool

And Catherine wasto let herself cru a pleasant expression to her face, she turned tonext to her They were involved in an animated debate over the comparativecrewel e to listen attentively, Catherine stood with her gloved fingers laced together

"Miss Marks"

She turned to the fa in the for wickedly

"Would you docouples He was asking her to dance As he had once promised

Catherine blanched as she beca for the host of the evening to confer briefly with his sister’s co else entirely for hiive a damn

"Go away," she said in a sharp whisper, her heart beating wildly

A faint s Are you going to give me a public setdown?"

She could not embarrass him that way It was a violation of etiquette to refuse a man’s invitation to dance if it could have been construed that she didn’t wish to dance with him personally And yet to be the focus of attention … to set tongues wagging … it was contrary to every instinct for self-preservation "Oh, why are you doing this?" she whispered again, desperate and furious … and yet sole of delight

"Because I want to," he said, his sant

He also happened to be right

Which made her an idiot If she said yes, she deserved whatever happened to her afterward

"Yes" Biting her lip, she took his arm and let him lead her toward the center of the rooested "You look like a prisoner being led to the gallows"

"It feels ," she said

"It’s just one dance, Marks"

"You should waltz with Miss Darvin again," she said, wincing inwardly as she heard the sullen note in her own voice

Leo laughed quietly "Once was enough I’ve no wish to repeat the experience"

Catherine tried, without success, to sh her "You didn’t get on?"

"Oh, we got onas we didn’t stray from the topic of utmost interest"

"The estate?"

"No, herself"

"I’m sure that with maturity, Miss Darvin will become less self-involved"

"Perhaps It’s of no importance to me"

Leo took her into his arht And an evening that had seemed so dreadful only ht-headed