Read A Christmas Dance for Free Online Page A

open, then curved up as she reached out to take his hand and pull it toward her for a closer look. “Good heavens. They’re the perfect impressions of little teeth, aren’t they?”
    Her fingers felt small and warm as they slid down to hold his palm. He had an image of what it would be like to have those small, warm fingers working to untie his cravat, sliding across his chest, his back, down his . . . He cleared his throat and shoved the image aside. They were on a public street for pity’s sake. “Ah, yes, unfortunately. There’s no lying about how I got them.”
    She straightened again, her rediscovered smile firmly in place. It wavered a little when she glanced down to see their hands still joined. He felt a spark of awareness pass between them before she blushed and dropped his hand. “Why. . .Why should you want to lie about them?”
    If they
hadn’t
been on a public street, and if he’d been the sort of man who acted on a whim, he might have recaptured her hand and pulled her in for a kiss. She was nearly irresistible with the hint of rose at her cheeks.
    He smiled at her instead. “It’s a bit embarrassing, if you must know. Ten years as a soldier, several of them fighting a very bloody war, and I managed to emerge without a lasting physical mark on me.” He scowled at his finger. “Five minutes alone with a toddler and I’m scarred for life.”
    A small laugh escaped her. “Yes, they’re quite disfiguring.”
    “They’re a bit new yet,” he reminded her, and began to replace his glove. “I’m told scars mellow some with age.”
    “I believe that’s wine.”
    “Probably,” he conceded. “The information did come from the brat’s mother.” He squinted at a curricle coming towards them at a clipped pace. “Isn’t that Miss Meldrin and Mr. Seager? I thought they’d only just left.”
    “They’ve been out no more than a half hour,” Patience affirmed as the curricle came to stop before them. “Is everything all right, Caroline?”
    “Oh, yes.” Caroline, looking a trifle over heated with a thick wool blanket wrapped about her knees. “I’m simply not feeling quite the thing, I’m afraid.”
    “I see,” Patience replied slowly. “That was very sudden.”
    “Yes, well.” She pushed at the blanket a bit. “You know how these headaches come on without warning.”
    “They do, indeed,” Patience agreed. “How fortune for you they resolve themselves just as quickly.”
    Carolina nudged a little more of the blanket off. “Well, not
always
--”
    “And you know there’s very little that seems to help so much as a bit of fresh air,” Patience continued. I imagine by the time Mr. Seager turns about and reaches Hyde Park, you’ll be feeling remarkably better.”
    Caroline’s face took on a stubborn cast as Mr. Seager reached over to replace the blanket. “I rather doubt it.”
    “Well, if you’re certain.” Patience waved her hand in the direction of the Meldrin House. “I’m sure your mother will fix a powder for you, and--”
    Caroline’s gaze snapped to the direction of her town house. “Mother’s returned?”
    “She has.”
    Mr. Seager smiled pleasantly. “That’s fortunate, isn’t it? I’m sure your mother will know what to do for you.”
    “She certainly will,” Patience said and gave Caroline a knowing smile. “Are you quite sure you won’t give the fresh air a try?”
    “Well. . .I. . .” Caroline’s gaze shifted from the direction of her home, to Mr. Seager, then back again. “Yes.Yes, perhaps I should. Mr. Seager, would it be too much trouble to turn about for a ride in the park?”
    He looked momentarily confused. “No trouble at all, if that’s what you want.”
    By Caroline’s pained expression, William thought it fairly clear she wanted nothing of the sort.
    “I find it the most agreeable option, at present,” she fairly grumbled. But by Mr. Seager’s elated expression, William assumed the man heard nothing beyond the word