replaced by white. She hissed something to her partner, stepped away from him, and made to sit down.
But Harry watched as Tremaine caught her hand easily in his and pulled her back into the dance, giving another slight bow before putting his arms about her.
She still hesitated for a moment, and then looked down at the floor and coloured again, as though she would be anywhere in the world but where she was. But as the dancing began she relaxed. Her small body settled into the circle of his arms like a sparrow seeking warmth in the winter.
For his part, Tremaine stood close enough to her that she could not see his face. He gazed over her head and past her, into the room. And wherever he was it was not in the present. His eyes were looking somewhere very far away, some place that gave him both great happiness and great pain, for there was more sincere emotion in his eyes than Harry had ever seen. The man was in torment, and yet there was a faint smile on his lips.
For a moment Harry sympathised.
As the couple danced it was not with the easy, perfectly matched grace of Tremaine and Elise, but as one person. Their steps were not flawless, but their mistakes matched their successes, and the false notes in the music did nothing to hinder them.
And then the dancing was over, and Rosalind pulled away from him and rushed from the room.
After a moment’s hesitation Tremaine went after her, his urbane lope failing to disguise the speed of his response.
Harry sighed. That answered that. It would be even more complicated than he had hoped. But it was just as he had always feared, and he could not pretend surprise.
Chapter Fourteen
Elise watched the couple on the dance floor too, trying to disguise her ill ease. They were an unusual pair, for Nicholas was a head too tall to dance easily with Rosalind. But they were attractively matched in colouring. And of a similar temperament. If circumstance had been different, and Elise had been hostess at Harry’s side, she would have seated the two together at meals just to see what became of it. It was disturbing that the idea held such appeal. For it showed her how easy it would be to forget the man who had stood by her side for so long, and had so graciously escorted her back to this house, although he must have known what it might mean.
She watched the dancers take another turn, and saw the expression upon Nick’s face. The most incorrigible rogue in London looked the picture of restraint-and none too happy about it. For a moment Elise flattered herself that it was for her benefit, to show his loyalty. But only for a moment. She knew the man too well for that. He must want the girl in his arms most desperately to make such a great effort not to want her.
And as he turned again she could see Rosalind. It was as though the girl were dancing to her favourite tune on the edge of a cliff-for she was clearly struggling not to enjoy the waltz, nor her contact with the man who danced with her.
So that was the way it was to be. It pained Elise to think that she had not matched the two long ago, for Rosalind needed a way to escape from her father, and Nick needed a steady hand to hold his. She shook her head at her own folly. Rather than help him she had stood in his way, making it more difficult for him to leave her. How great a fool she was, to realise it now that things had grown so complicated.
But perhaps it would be easier if Tremaine wished a parting as much as she did. At least she would not be obliged to break his heart before returning to Harry. For, after their conversation of the afternoon, she was sure she meant to return-if he would still have her.
She frowned. Had she gained anything by her two months away? She suspected that once she was back in his house, Harry would cease his complaints about her loyalty and drop easily back into the role of affectionate but distant husband. She must learn to tolerate his silences without complaint now he had shown her the reason for them. And she would not trouble him any more with Nicholas, or any other foolish flirtations.
Although Harry had not run to fetch her from London, he had at least admitted, aloud, that he wanted her back. And she knew she wanted to be with him, perhaps even more than she had before. If he was willing to overlook their barren union, then she should count her blessings. Most men would not have bothered to disguise their dissatisfaction with her, or to mask their disappointment in false smiles and silence. Perhaps she should learn to view Harry’s self-restraint as a gift.
She saw Nicholas whisper something to his partner, and the girl started like a frightened fawn. Then she broke from him and left the room.
For a moment Elise thought to go after her, but she saw Nick glance once around the room to see if the other guests had noticed. Then he followed in the girl’s wake.
‘I wonder what has got into Rosalind?’ Harry had come to stand by her side.
‘She is probably overcome with the burden you have forced on her with this party. It was most unfair of you to saddle her with it at so little notice.’ Elise gave him a mildly disapproving look, and then smiled to prove it a joke.
He smiled and answered back, ‘Perhaps it is unfair to my sister to say so, but you would not have had the trouble she has. I have seen you rise to greater challenges than this without faltering. Should we go and see to her, do you think.’ He paused dramatically. ‘But wait. I saw Tremaine go after her. So I needn’t worry. He is very good at taking care of women in distress, is he not?’ His expression was supremely innocent, but he was obviously trying to make her jealous.
‘I have always found him so,’ she answered with an equally blase look, ignoring the bait. If he did not wish to question her directly about what he had witnessed in the hall, then did she really need to explain it? And then she remembered how he had been in the afternoon. And she responded in kind, ‘Sometimes things are not as they appear.’
He glanced at her, as though surprised at her acknowledgement. And then he gave a small sigh, of fatigue or relief, and said, ‘So I assumed.’
The girl at the piano began another waltz, and he bowed to her, holding out a hand. ‘Will you favour me with a dance?’
When she hesitated, he added, ‘You need not read too much into it. It is only a waltz. I trust Tremaine will not mind if I borrow you for a few moments?’
He was working very hard to appear neutral, but she could see the challenge in his eyes.
So she answered it. ‘It does not matter to me what Nicholas thinks.’ And she took his hand and let him lead her onto the floor.
It felt so good to be back in his arms again that she had to struggle for a moment to keep herself from saying it aloud. Would it be too much, too soon, to admit tonight that she wished to come home? Though a truce had been declared for Christmas Day, she was not sure it would last. And it would serve her right if he wished to toy with her a bit, as punishment for leaving, before accepting her apology.
Her hopes rose when he said, in a carefully polite tone, ‘It is good to dance with you again. Yet another of the many things I’ve missed since you have gone.’
He was willing to make the first move, to make things easier for her. She leaned back to get a better look into his face, surprised at his choice of words. ‘Oh, Harry. You loathed dancing.’
He laughed and shook his head. ‘Not true. I made a great show of loathing it. Because I so liked the things you were willing to do to coax me into it.’
She blushed at the memory of long nights spent in his arms after various balls, and he laughed again.
‘But now I must take what pleasures you will allow, with no more foolish dissembling to gain ground.’ He squeezed her hand, and tightened his fingers on her waist as he spun her around the floor.
She relaxed and let him lead her, enjoying the feel of his strength. Tonight she would do as Nicholas had suggested and open the connecting door between their rooms. And everything would return to the way it was.
‘I shall know better,’ he said, ‘when next I seek a wife.’
She stumbled against him. He was teasing her again. Or did he mean it? She tried to match his tone as she responded, ‘Do you have plans of that nature?’
‘It all depends on what the future holds for us. I shall know if Tremaine is serious about keeping you by his
