Free Mr. Malcolm's List by Suzanne Allain Page B

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town to shame.   The assembly rooms in Bath were very beautiful, but it was not Mrs. Ossory’s habit to attend so Selina had
only been once.   Julia told Selina that
there was a ball every night in London during the season, and it was the custom to take in two or three entertainments
in one evening, so Julia found the current entertainments paltry in
comparison.   But Selina was unused to
such a pleasure-seeking lifestyle, and was glad she hadn’t arrived at the
height of the season.   She could look
forward to each ball with excitement, rather than ennui.
    She was
definitely looking forward to tonight’s ball.   But she had to admit that if Mr. Malcolm was not attending she would not
be feeling such anticipation.
    Their
party was greeted by Lady Cynthia and her parents, and Selina wondered why the
lady was so desperate to make a match when she was so very beautiful.   But the lady’s beauty was marred to some
extent by her haughty expression, and Selina thought it was perhaps her
character that ruined her chances.   The
only person in the group Lady Cynthia smiled at was Cassie, who blushed and
ducked his head.   Selina realized Julia
had spoken no more than the truth:   None
but the most desperate of women would smile at Cassie so seductively.
    Selina
had just entered the ball room when she was approached by Mr. Malcolm.   She realized he had been waiting for her to
arrive, and she was thrilled by the evidence of his regard.   She felt more and more like she could let
down the careful guard she had placed over her heart and give it into his
keeping.   It certainly appeared as if he
genuinely liked her.   Particularly when
he looked at her as he did now.
    “Good
evening, Miss Dalton,” he said, bowing low over her hand.
    “Mr.
Malcolm,” she replied, dropping a curtsey.
    “May I
have this dance?”
    “I would
be delighted.”
    Selina
was not as delighted when she realized it was a Quadrille that was being
formed; she had been hoping for a waltz.   Still, she enjoyed dancing, particularly with Mr. Malcolm, and greeted
Julia and Cassie with a smile when they joined their set.   Another couple joined whom Selina was not
familiar with, and then Lady Cynthia arrived with a rather unkempt, middle-aged
gentleman.   Selina was a little dismayed
that she would be forced to clasp hands with him.
    But when
the music started, she forgot all about Lady Cynthia and her partner.   She found this Quadrille different from any
she’d ever danced.   Malcolm followed the
steps of the dance perfectly, but it was clear that his attention was primarily
for Selina.   It suddenly seemed an
elaborate game of cat-and-mouse, being whisked away from Malcolm only to be
returned to him again, the grip of his hand warm and steady, his gaze only
leaving hers when the steps of the dance separated them.   Selina found herself smiling with pure
joy.   She failed to notice Lady Cynthia’s
darkening countenance.
    When the
dance ended Malcolm led her from the floor.   He said very little, merely promenading with her around the perimeter of
the ball room.   He finally led her to a
chair that was half-hidden by a pillar.   “Please wait here,” he said.   “I
am going to get you something to drink.   I should probably return you to Mrs. Thistlewaite, but I think I am
going to act selfishly and keep you all to myself for a little while.”
    “I must
be selfish as well, because I can find no fault with your plan,” Selina
said.   Malcolm smiled, raised her hand to
his lips, and left.
    Selina
stared dreamily into space, letting the sounds of music and conversation waft
over her, until the mention of Malcolm’s name and then her own made her sit up
in startled attention.
    “What
think you of Mr. Malcolm’s attentions to Miss Dalton?” a man’s voice asked,
although Selina missed the first part of his question.   She did not miss the very haughty “harrumph”
from the person so addressed.
    “You must
be joking.