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anything to remove herself from this awkward situation, but the words left her mouth before her brain had time to process his request. Wonderful! The next set would last at least half an hour. She just placed herself in the company of the one man she should avoid.
     
    She set her hand on his arm. Waves of tiny sparks moved across her skin. A heavy achiness spread to her most intimate regions. Her knee buckled slightly causing her to grasp his arm tighter. He turned and raised an eyebrow in question, but he did not say anything about her near misstep. She tried desperately to compose herself as they moved onto the dance floor, and stood across from each other until the music began. He was so handsome in his formal attire consisting of a dark blue coat, white shirt, and striped blue and gold knee breeches. He almost looked like a London dandy, but no, the way he carried himself and the lack of ornament made him seem more masculine somehow.
     
    Mr. Parker was a dandy, perfectly groomed and dressed and sometimes ornamented to the point of being obnoxious and she loved it. She secretly thought his wardrobe hysterical. The bright colors suited his sanguine personality. He was always laughing and joking, and making everyone around him laugh. Mr. Parker made laugh, and oh, how she needed laughter in her life. Her staid and stoic existence bored her beyond belief.
     
    The set began. They moved together and apart, at first quiet, but the contact of their hands caused the gooseflesh on her skin to rise. She pursed her lips in an attempt to mask the feelings bubbling from the surface.
     
    "Miss Chambers, you must accept my apology for the...um...events that occurred recently." His voice startled her out of her own contemplations.
     
    "I need no reminders Lord William of my one indiscretion in life. I prefer to sweep it away and forget about it. Please do not speak of it again." She watched his eyes lift in question. She surprised him with the coolness of her answer. Good. She had no choice.
     
    "Of course," said Lord William.
     
    They continued with the dance for a few more minutes before he spoke again. "It was not an indiscretion."
     
    "What?" She nearly stopped in the middle of the dance floor upon his odd declaration.
     
    "There is something between us, something we would be bound to explore if it were not for your betrothal. However, we cannot change our circumstances, so it is pointless to carry on."
     
    She hissed between her teeth, "We are not carrying on. And you are right, my lord, I am betrothed. I love Mr. Parker." She raised her chin. She could be as haughty as any aristocrat if need be.
     
    "I see." A shadow passed over his face and his jovial features were replaced with a face of cool stone. He tensed. And when their hands connected she noticed he withdrew his contact just enough to continue the dance, but not enough to touch her as if he held her.
     
    It appeared she put an end to whatever stirred between them, except she felt a pain, a great pain of loss. How could she feel loss for something she never had? Not really. A small glimpse is all. One that created turmoil in her mind and heart. How could she possibly regret the loss of something that exhilarated and tormented her at the same time?
     
    "Anne tells me you have joined her committee for raising funds for a local home for orphans." At least he changed the topic to something safe.
     
    "Yes, I have already noticed a number of homeless street urchins running around the area, unchaperoned, or cared for, begging for food or scraps of cloth for clothing. It is shameful any child should be left on their own devices."
     
    "It is a shame. I am in full support of the endeavor. I promised Anne to escort the committee on their search next week for a suitable location for a home." His eyes crinkled in the corners when he smiled and his straight white teeth gleamed in the candlelight.
     
    Cassie might have sighed, except for the panic rising up within her. She