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.He s not thetype of man who could love a girl likeyou.He d bed you then leave you, justlike your father did to me. Of course not, Mother.He s a means to an end.That s all. Her mother kept rambling on in herear, but she wasn t having it.Shewouldn t discuss Rhys.Not with her, notwith anyone.Her feelings were her own.And if they just happened to be a bitmuddled at the moment, no one had toknow that either.Two hours later, after a quiet tea inher room, Corina met Rhys down in thefoyer.As she carefully walked down thesteps, her gloved hand trailing therailing, she spied the top of his blackhat.He was facing the doorway, rubbinghis thumb over the lid of his pocketwatch as she descended.When shereached the last step, he turned.His eyes widened at the sight of her. Her heart fluttered a little in her chestand she gave him a real smile.Hereturned it and, taking off his hat, hebowed to her.This time her belly tookup the fluttering. You look. he licked his lips as ifstruggling for a word, .stunning. She curtsied. Thank you. She pattedat her upsweep of hair, making sureeverything was still in place.She dwrapped her braid around her head,pinned it in place and pulled twotendrils out to curl in front of her ears.She d seen the look once at a county fairand thought to duplicate it.She d alsoheard that Queen Victoria often wore herhair this way. He settled his hat back on his headand offered her his arm. Shall we? It was moments like these that shealmost found Rhys charming.She knewit was just his good breeding andmanners that propelled him to act in achivalrous manner when he obviouslyhad a penchant toward rudeness.Shereveled in it anyway, certain bytomorrow he would be back to his usualdistant, coldhearted self.Tonight shewould pretend he was actually anacquaintance she liked.It would makeher job easier.She took his arm and he led heroutside to the waiting steam carriage, acontraption she still was having trouble acclimating to.She understood themechanics of it, but it still seemed a bitunnatural to have a carriage moveseemingly on its own without a horse topull it.When they arrived at Lord Effington shome, it was to a long line of carriages,people and footmen shepherdingpartygoers through the large double frontdoors.The carriage stopped at the stepsand a doorman opened the door.Rhysslid out first, then offered his hand toher.Once out, they were ushered up thesteps to the front doors.She could hearthe revelry already in full swing inside.Music and voices and laughing.Shesmiled despite herself.Rhys handed his invitation to the man just inside thedoors.Rhys leaned in to the man andwhispered something to him.The manturned to the crowd. Mr.Rhys Davenport and MissCorina Stratton. Some of the guests stopped andlooked as they entered the hall but mostcontinued on with their merriment.Corina felt very self-conscious as twoladies eyed her up and down withnarrowed eyes and pinched mouths.They were both wearing dark browndresses with brass buttons and fasteners.One wore a tall top hat with feathers andribbons.In fact most of the ladies andgentlemen were dressed in dark somber colors and carried walking sticks andparasols, even indoors.One finegentleman had a shiny metal parrot onhis shoulder much like the one she dseen earlier on the street.It was an oddthing for people to have animalcompanions made out of brass andburnished metal.What was wrong withhaving a real animal?She glanced down at her dress tomake sure she wasn t askew or hadsomething staining the material, as sheseemed quite out of place.The bluedress she wore made her stick out like alighthouse beacon.She was startledwhen Rhys set his hand on hers andopened his mouth to say something.Buthe didn t get a chance to speak before Lord Effington had descended uponthem, all smiles and handshakes and patson the backs.The lord s cheeks wereflushed.Obviously, he d alreadypartaken in a few libations. Oh, my dear, you are positivelydivine. He pressed his lips to the backof her gloved hand. Thank you, Lord Effington. He waved his hand. Call me Percy.Only people I dislike call me LordEffington. One of the ladies who d regarded herunkindly approached. What a grand ballthis is, Lord Effington. See what I mean? Percy winked atCorina. She couldn t contain her laugh butquickly hid it behind her hand.Shelooked up to see Rhys also stifling asmile.The woman moved on, clearly upsetby Percy s dismissal.She gave Corina ahard look, then disappeared among thecrowd. I ve always despised that woman, Percy said. She has no manners tospeak of. I noticed, Corina agreed before shecould stop herself.Percy guffawed and slapped Rhys onthe shoulder. Dance with this girlbefore there s a long line of suitorsmilling about, making moon eyes at her. Rhys sniffed. I doubt that. Corina was taken aback.To hersurprise the jibe hurt worse than thehate-filled looks she was getting. Manners seem to be lackingeverywhere. She went to move awayfrom him but he grabbed her arm. That came out wrong.I wasn treferring to the line of suitors, that sobvious by the looks you re getting fromsome men. She didn t like the sound of that eitherand simply lifted an eyebrow, waitingfor him to explain himself. Er, I meant to say that it was doubtfulI would dance with you. What s wrong with dancing with me? Am I that horrid? No, of course not. He cleared histhroat. It s just that.I m not a verygood dancer and will likely embarrassmyself. She shook her head. You re not verygood with words either, are you? It would seem not. He gave her asmall smile. You don t have to dance with me ifyou don t want to
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