Free Miss Charity's Case by Jo Ann Ferguson

pretend to be indifferent to his brazen words. Taking a sip of the wine, she hoped it would cool her face and give her the chance to think of a suitable answer. The beginning of the next dance warned her she had no time to demur … even if she had wished to.
    When he held out his arm, she let him draw her hand within it. The strength of his firm muscles was beguiling, and she easily matched her steps to his as he led her away from the center of the room. He paused by the open doors, not walking out onto the balcony over the garden. For that, she was grateful. Enough tongues would wag simply because she was speaking with the earl. She did not need to add to the gossip-mongers’ tales by standing with him in the cool moonlight.
    â€œA very successful soirée ,” Lord Blackburn said as he put his empty glass on a table that was topped with a blue Chinese vase. “Lady Eloise may not always be able to come to the ton , so it must, therefore, attend her.”
    â€œShe has anticipated this with as much enthusiasm as Joyce.”
    â€œAnd you?”
    Charity smiled. “I would be an ungrateful wench if I did not appreciate all Lady Eloise has done for me.”
    â€œBut you don’t like it.”
    â€œDoes it show so much?”
    â€œI doubt if anyone else would take note.” His smile broadened. “No one else could conceive of you not being thrilled to be here to enjoy this evening. I fear it takes a kindred soul to see that.”
    Her brow threaded with bafflement. “If you do not wish to be here, my lord, why did you come?”
    â€œPartly to irritate your great-aunt.”
    She laughed, unable to halt herself. “I believe you have succeeded. Her greeting was not warm.”
    â€œI also came tonight,” he said, his smile disappearing, “to see how you fare. I recall your uneasiness when we first met.”
    â€œI was worried about Joyce that evening.”
    â€œAnd when we met in the Park, you were apprehensive as well.”
    Biting her lip to keep from revealing the truth, she tried to force a laugh. It was a mistake. His eyes narrowed into cobalt slits, and she hurried to say, “I own to being unsettled by the grandeur of the Park.”
    â€œWas that all?”
    â€œIt was enough.”
    He did not answer immediately. As his gaze roved along her face, she took a step backward. She needed an excuse to put an end to this discussion. Any excuse. She would tell him …
    Her thoughts vanished when his hand curved around her arm, drawing her back toward him. Slowly his fingers slid along her skin, leaving a tantalizing trail that tingled down into her fingertips.
    As he cupped her hand in his, he said, “Forgive me for asking questions about what was clearly none of my bread and butter.”
    â€œThen let us speak of other things, my lord.”
    â€œWhat do you wish to speak of?”
    â€œTell me about your last voyage.”
    His eyes widened. “Miss Stuart, you amaze me. Why would you wish to know of something so mundane?”
    â€œThere is nothing mundane about the sea. It moves to an endless dance where no step is ever repeated.” Her voice softened. “I so loved to walk beside the waves and listen to the birds overhead. How much more wondrous it must be to ride upon the waves!”
    â€œYou never went out on the sea?”
    She shook her head. “Papa was an inveterate landsman. He never set foot on a ship, not even a small boat, and he forbade Joyce and me from doing so.”
    â€œAnd you heeded him?”
    â€œMayhap it would be more accurate to say that I never had the opportunity to go beyond the harbor.”
    Lord Blackburn laughed, his eyes again bright. “I was correct. There is more to you than just a lovely miss.”
    The music slowed to a stop, giving her the excuse she needed. “My lord, if you would pardon me, I—”
    His hand closed over hers. She stared up at him, unsure what to