Read A Christmas Dance for Free Online Page B

“agreeable.”
    “Excellent. Excellent.” Mr. Seager picked up the reins again. “Perhaps we’ll see you at the park, then, Lord Casslebury. Miss Byerly.”
    William waited until Mr. Seager had driven out of earshot before saying, “She doesn’t have the headache, I take it?”
    Patience did a very poor job of hiding a smile as she watched the curricle roll away. “I’m sure I don’t take your meaning.”
    “I’m surprised Mr. Seager didn’t recognize your meaning, or Miss Meldrin’s.” He shook his head before resuming their leisurely stroll toward the park. “He’s not the cleverest of men, is he?”
    Patience shrugged. “They say love blinds.”
    “Is he in love with her, then?”
    “I don’t know. He’s certainly very taken with her.”
    “The admiration isn’t returned,” he guessed.
    She pushed her spectacles up with her finger. “She’s not yet given him a chance.”
    “It would seem she doesn’t care to,” he pointed out. “Will she be angry with you for coercing her into spending time with a gentleman who doesn’t interest her?”
    “It’s no more than what Mrs. Meldrin would’ve done, should Caroline have returned home. Less, really, as I’m not quite so inclined to lecture.”
    * * *
    Patience slid a sideways glance at Lord Casslebury and wondered if there was anything behind all his questions about Caroline. It was possible he was simply making idle conversation. It was also possible that her original instincts were correct and he was spending time with her in an effort to better know her friend.
    Though she preferred to think he wasn’t the sort to be so disingenuous as to bring her flowers when it was Caroline he sought, in truth, she didn’t know him well enough to say for certain.
    It shouldn’t matter. Hadn’t she told herself only last night that it didn’t matter?
    But that had been before he’d brought her flowers and asked her for a stroll in a park she’d yearned to visit, but only seenfrom a passing carriage. . That had been before he’d told her of his family, and she’d admitted to him she’d never played Bob-Apple, or had wassail, or celebrated Christmas with her father. That was before she knew he looked even more handsome in the sun than he did by candlelight and that the mere feel of his hand in hers could send her blood racing.
    It had been before the tiny flicker of hope had been lit. It was a rash, premature, and very likely futile light of hope, but she hadn’t the heart to put it out. Neither did she have the confidence to fan it higher—not without knowing for certain.
    “Are you pursuing me in an effort to gain my friend’s attention?”
    She wanted to snatch the question back almost before it left her tongue. She hadn’t meant to ask so bluntly—she wasn’t sure if she’d wanted to ask at all--but then, she never
meant
to be awkward or ill-mannered; it simply happened.
    To her immense relief, Lord Casslebury didn’t appear to find fault with her inquiry. He simply smiled good naturedly and said, “I assure you, Patience, if I were interested in gaining Miss Meldrin’s attention, I could manage the feat on my own.”
    “Then why--?” This time, she literally bit the end of her tongue to silence herself.
    “Why am I taking a stroll with you?” he guessed. “For the pleasure of your company, of course.”
    Her heart skipped a beat, even as she rolled her eyes. “I don’t know that anyone has ever described my company as an avenue for joy before.”
    “I doubt anyone else has witnessed your unique way of eating cake before.”
    She pulled a face. “I do wish you’d forget that.”
    “I might consider it. If you could see your way to telling me why you did it.”
    They turned the corner that signaled the final block before the park. “I did it for Caroline.”
    “I surmised as much.”
    “It’s always gratifying to have one’s suspicions confirmed,” she said smartly. “Now, if we could move on to topics