Pretending she had not heard, Selina went to Aunt Ursula and kissed her cheek. “Auntie, I am glad to see you up, but are you really well enough?”
“Enough of that!” Aunt Ursula exclaimed. “I will grow old before my time if I am confined to my bed all day! Isobel, play a waltz for Lady Aldershot. It would be a shame to waste these two handsome gentlemen.”
“A waltz!” Lady Aldershot fanned herself with her hand. “In my day, we never dreamed of dancing the waltz!”
As Isobel obliged at the piano, Malcolm stepped forwards and made Lady Aldershot a low bow. “If you can bear the scandal, my lady,” he said, in a roguish murmur. Lady Aldershot giggled like one of her own granddaughters. She looked from one side to the other, as though checking for approval, and took Malcolm’s outstretched hand. Isobel slowed the music considerately as Malcolm led Lady Aldershot through the first steps of a waltz, holding her at a respectful distance.
“Come, Selina!” said Anthea, rushing forward and catching her hand. “You must not leave me with nobody to dance with but my own husband!”
Selina laughed, shaking her head as Anthea led her to the centre of the room. “Poor George will have no partner of his own!”
“Poor George is very happy to sit and watch until Lady Ursula is ready to dance with me,” George chimed in, pulling up a chair beside Aunt Ursula’s sofa. She rewarded his wink with a rap on the knuckles.
“Careful now, young man. I am not as susceptible to flattery as my poor niece.”
Anthea took Selina’s hand and brought it firmly down to her own waist, then placed her left hand on Selina’s shoulder so that they were ready to waltz, with Selina in the man’s position. “You were always better than our dancing master,” she declared, as Selina gave in and began to lead her in the dance. “I am sure that if you ever did dance with a gentleman, he would have no choice but to fall in love with you.”
“Which is precisely why she turns them all down,” said Isobel, speaking just loud enough for her sisters to hear as they swirled past the piano. She began to increase the pace of the music, little by little, until Selina and Anthea were whirling about the room and Lady Aldershot had come to a complete halt.
“Oh, Your Grace!” she cried, leaning on Malcolm’s arm. “I am all left feet and elbows!” She pressed a hand to her chest and beamed. “But what a thrill! Such a pity that waltzing was not permitted when we were young, Ursula.”
Ursula shook her head disapprovingly. “We had enough scandals of our own without that sort of thing, in my opinion.”
Selina had noticed the way George’s adoring eyes followed Anthea’s every move. She steered her sister towards him, turning with the music, and let her go as George rose to his feet behind her. “Have some pity on the poor man, Anthea. He will die of jealousy if he has to sit and watch any longer.”
Anthea rolled her eyes and let George whirl her away. A familiar pride warmed Selina’s chest as she watched them together. Anyone could see why they were the toast of London – two newlyweds with easy manners, ample fortunes, and the soft light of love beautifying their faces.
She was so enraptured that she did not notice Malcolm standing at her side until he gently cleared his throat and extended his hand.
“My lady?”
He was asking her to dance. Again.
The music dimmed in Selina’s ears. She stared at Malcolm’s hand as if it might somehow be a trap. “You know better than to ask me to dance, Caversham. Think of your wounded pride.”
“And yet,” he said, with a rueful smile, “I am asking you once more.”
No. It would be so easy to say. She had said it a hundred times before. A thousand.
Her lips moved around the word. But, instead of saying it, she put her hand in his.
Malcolm’s lips parted, too, as though he were about to ask her whether she was certain. She stopped his words with her wide, frightened eyes. Instead of speaking, he took her hand and placed it on his shoulder, the mirror of Anthea’s gesture moments earlier. He placed his own hand on her waist. Their free hands found each other without the need of eyes to guide them, and clasped.
Malcolm smiled in a way Selina had never seen before. It was not the self-satisfied smirk that was familiar to all the ton. Nor was it the flirtatious grin that he never used if not to his own advantage.
She realised that she had never before seen Malcolm look happy. Amused, yes. Triumphant, most certainly. But neither of those were half as pure, as simple, as honest, as happiness.
And there was no mistaking that he was happy now. His face was like the sun on a clear July morning.
They took a step forward, both together, and stumbled. Selina gasped.
“I – I only know the man’s part!” She stared at him in consternation. “I have only ever waltzed with my sisters.”
He shook his head, still smiling. “I should have guessed. Here. You must learn to let someone else lead, for once.” He guided her to step backwards with a gentle pressure on her waist. Selina understood how Lady Aldershot had felt. All of her limbs, too, had turned to left feet and elbows.
Apparently, that was simply the effect Malcolm had on sensible women.
“I’ll make a fool of myself,” she hissed, but he was not deterred.
“And if you do? Better here than a crowded ballroom. This won’t be the last time I dance with you.” They stumbled again, but he was prepared this time, and he righted her quickly. “You almost have it.”
“I don’t.”
“Well, you will have it once you stop trying to lead.”
She glared. “Following is not in my nature.”
Malcolm chuckled, soft and low, and kept up his gentle pressure on her waist, guiding her backwards,