Free Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice by Heidi Ashworth

itself in his and before she had a chance to demure, he had escorted her out onto the dance floor.
    To her great relief, the musicians struck the chords of a contra-danse and her time in conversation, not to mention his arms, would be limited. She found, then, that she could smile and enjoy the dancing with no self-recrimination. She could not compare it to time spent similarly with Duncan as his lack of vision did not allow them the opportunity, but she found it far superior to dancing with the young officers who failed to vanquish the desire that flared in their eyes when they gazed at her.
    Too soon the music came to a halt. Elizabeth expected to be immediately led back to the auspices of her mother, but it seemed that Mr. Lloyd-Jones had the opposite intention.
    “Would you object to another dance with me; the next waltz, perhaps? I find it much more conducive to conversation and I find myself keen to learn from you of India. You must have had a fascinating childhood.”
    Elizabeth looked down at her hands. “If any of the soldiers with whom I have danced had suggested anything as beyond the pale as a second dance of an evening I would, of course, be forced todecline. However, as I am betrothed to another, I trust there will be no misapprehension between us. I find that I should like, very much, to tell you about my home, but only if you tell me about yours. I am more than a little captivated with the land of my ancestors.”
    He did not immediately respond as the music had once again been sent aloft and, as it was indeed a waltz, he took her hand and placed one of his at her waist. “Shall we begin?”
    She rested her left arm along his shoulder and took a deep breath; the waltz had not been long performed in Bengal and she had no wish to mortify Mr. Lloyd-Jones. She had not long to contemplate her thoughts, however, for soon they were whirling about the room together and she could think of naught but keeping up with him. He was an exceedingly skilled dancer, or so she supposed though she had few but the young officers stationed in India with whom to compare.
    “Well, then, Miss Armistead,” Mr. Lloyd-Jones said as he looked down into her eyes, “this seems a most opportune time to divulge to me the fascinations of India.”
    “But where shall I begin?” she asked whilst silently observing that, in order to converse, she was forced to crane her neck at an awkward angle. However, if she did not, her forehead grazed against his chin in a too-familiar fashion she was powerless to prevent. Indeed, he swept her about the room with such authority, it seemed as if she need only submit and he would execute the dancing for the both of them.
    “Perhaps you might start by telling me about your family. Your mother I have met and your friend, Miss Hale, but have you no sisters? Brothers? Have they enjoyed growing up in India as much as have you?”
    “I am possessed of two younger brothers who, I am persuaded, are every bit as irascible as they should have proved to be had they grown up in England. My mother has resisted sending them to be schooled abroad, but I expect it is a disagreement my father shall presently win. Mr. Cruikshank and I shall look forward to hosting them for the course of their holidays as well as the heaving of a sigh when we see the backs of them, I suppose.”
    “I should have liked a brother or two,” Mr. Lloyd-Jones remarked, “though I often feel as if I have enough to do in looking after my sister. She is not in the least wayward and yet she seems to find herself in more than her share of scrapes.”
    “Miss Lloyd-Jones? Never say so!” Elizabeth insisted as she realized that the pain in her neck was due to the fact that he held her entirely too close for proper conversation. “She seems the epitome of pleasing comportment,” she added a bit faintly.
    “Oh, entirely! I haven’t the slightest qualms when it comes to her behavior. And still, the most appalling commotion seems to rise up