Free Gayle Buck by Hearts Betrayed

demeanor. He did not address her again, for which she was thankful. When the set was ended, Michele was claimed by her original partner and walked away from Lord Randol with only a polite nod.
    Though several times afterward she became aware of Lord Randol’s scrutiny, he apparently did not intend to approach her for the remainder of the evening. What she did not know was that he started toward her once, before stopping abruptly, his fists clenching and unclenching. He had then turned on his heel and swung away, his visage cold and forbidding.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Michele was not surprised when Sir Lionel Corbett made an appearance at the ball. After receiving the flowers and his note, she had prepared herself to treat him with nothing more than cool friendliness. She gave her hand to him. “Sir Lionel, this is well-met indeed,” she said.
    He raised her hand to his lips and ardently kissed the tips of her fingers. “You have no notion what thoughts ran through my head when I first caught sight of you in the park,” he said in a lowered voice.
    Michele gently drew her hand from his warm clasp. She kept her tone light. “I know that I was startled on my first outing to discover a personage known to me. However, I suppose that it is only to be expected. I have greeted a few others who were once acquaintances, among them the Countess of Kenmare. Her daughter was one of my dearest friends. Surely you will recall her. Miss Abigail Spence.”
    “Yes, of course. I believe I heard that she married some Scotsman or other,” Sir Lionel said. He glanced at the flowers pinned to her gown. When he saw that they were not his offering, his lips tightened. But almost instantly his expression altered to one of pleasantness. “I hope that you will save me a turn about the floor, mademoiselle. As I recall, we were paired rather well, in dance as well as in other ways.”
    Michele smiled to hide her irritation at his rather obvious attempt to reestablish a familiarity that she was plainly unwilling to allow. “Perhaps a country set, Sir Lionel.”
    He realized that he had erred.He raised her hand once more, this time merely brushing his lips across the back. “I shall look forward to the moment, Mademoiselle du Bois,” he said formally. There was a quirky set to his lips, however, that let Michele know that he had deliberately taken his cue from her own sudden formality. She shook her head, reluctantly laughing, as Sir Lionel sauntered away.
    Michele’s next partner claimed her then, and she forgot Sir Lionel in the pleasant business of dancing and amiable conversation. Some minutes later, when she chanced to meet her cousin during a lull in the dancing, she was amused by the high excitement in Lydia’s eyes. “Why, Lydia, one would think to look at you that you were thoroughly enjoying yourself,” Michele said teasingly.
    Lydia giggled. “I am, so very much! I never knew how much I would enjoy a ball. Everyone has been vastly kind to me. And what do you think? I have danced twice with Bernard, and nary a word from Aunt Beatrice or Papa.”
    “Have you also danced with Lord Randol?”
    Lydia made a face. “Yes, I have executed my duty most conscientiously and given him two sets as well. I have also danced with a score of others, so that no one may point a finger at how I have favored any particular gentleman over another.’’
    “That was well-thought-of,” Michele said, amused.
    “I thought so too,” Lydia said, nodding. “I am not nearly so flighty as Papa and Aunt Beatrice like to think me. I shall have Bernard. And with you to support my spirits, I shall never lag for lack of confidence.’’
    Michele laughed and shook her head. “You are such a positive soul, Lydia. I almost fear for your Captain Hughes. He will need the strength of a saint to see you safely through the hardships of life.”
    “You need not fear for Bernard. I may always rely upon him.” Lydia had glanced about as she spoke, and suddenly she