Free Quick, Amanda by Ravished Page B

occasionally drove him to live up to the worst that was expected of him.
    Yet in his own way, he had been trying to warn her off, to protect her, although she probably did not
    comprehend that.
    Because he had wanted her. Very badly.
    He had probably been a fool to send her into full flight. He should have taken what she had to offer, and
    the hell with playing the gentleman. No one believed him to be one, so why, after all these years, was he
    still bothering to play the role in his own graceless fashion?
    Gideon could not answer that question to his satisfaction. He called himself a fool one more time and
    then he forced himself to turn to more important matters. He had a ring of thieves that needed to be
    apprehended. If he did not attend to the business soon, Harriet would probably try her hand at the job.
    At the very least, she would no doubt start nagging him to get on with the job.
    The following evening Harriet surveyed the crowd of local country gentry who had gathered for the
    weekly assembly ball. She and Aunt Effie had been faithfully attending the assemblies for several months
    now with Felicity in tow. Harriet found them unutterably boring, for the most part.
    It had been Aunt Effie's idea to give Felicity as much of a social polish as possible in the event the
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    long-hoped-for invitation to London came from Aunt Adelaide. The local assemblies were the only
    opportunity provided locally to practice such fine arts as the proper use of the fan. Felicity had a talent
    for such skills.
    Harriet always found her own fan to be a nuisance. It was always in the way.
    Tonight's affair was no different from previous such events. Harriet understood the reason Aunt Effie
    insisted on attending, but she privately was not convinced Felicity was going to pick up a great deal of
    social polish here in Upper Biddleton.
    There was no waltzing, for example. Everyone knew the waltz was now all the rage in London. But here
    in Upper Biddleton couples were still limited to dancing the cotillion and the quadrille and assorted
    country dances. The waltz was viewed as shocking by the local ladies of society.
    "Quite a good crowd tonight, don't you think?" Aunt Effie fanned herself while she cast an assessing eye
    around the room. "And Felicity is looking quite the best of them all. She will no doubt dance every dance,
    as usual."
    "No doubt," Harriet agreed. She was seated next to her aunt watching the dancers and she was already
    sneaking glances at the small watch pinned to her rather staid gown. She tried not to be obvious about it,
    however. Getting Felicity launched was an all-important task and she was as determined as Aunt Effie to
    be ready should Felicity's big chance arise.
    "I must remind her to exhibit a bit less enthusiasm on the dance floor," Aunt Effie continued with a tiny
    frown. "One does not show quite so much emotion in Town. It is not done."
    "You know how much Felicity enjoys dancing."
    "All the same," Aunt Effie said, "she must start practicing a more restrained expression."
    Harriet sighed inwardly and hoped the refreshments would be served soon. So far she had not danced
    once, which was not unusual, and she was looking forward to a break in the monotony. The tea and
    sandwiches served at the local assemblies were not particularly inspiring, but they did provide a small
    diversion.
    "Gracious, here comes Mr. Venable," Aunt Effie murmured. "Best prepare yourself, my dear."
    Harriet glanced up to see an elderly man in an old-fashioned plum-colored jacket and green waistcoat
    lumbering across the room in her direction. Her eyes narrowed. "He'll want to interrogate me on my
    recent finds, I suppose."
    "You need not chat with him, you know."
    "I might as well. If he does not manage to corner me tonight, I shall probably find him waiting for me
    after church on Sunday. You know how persistent he is." Harriet smiled grimly at Mr. Venable,