"Lord Cavanaugh," she said, smiling when he shifted to face her. A dapper widower in his mid-fifties with a patrician nose and silver hair, he was ideal for Lady Stafford. "Are you enjoying the evening?"
He grinned down at her, looking surprised to have a lady so much younger engage him in conversation. "Very much, Lady Juliana. And you?"
"Very much as well." She started edging toward James's mother. "Have you been dancing much tonight?"
"Not yet," he said, interpreting her question as an invitation, just as she'd intended. "But I'd be honored to—"
"Excellent," she said, walking him right up to Lady Stafford. "Good evening, Lady Stafford."
James's mother turned, the smile still on her face. "Good evening, Lady Juliana."
"Your dress is beautiful. Is it new?"
Her warm brown eyes, so like her son's, sparkled much more than Amanda's. She reached to touch Juliana's arm. "Why, thank you, and yes, it is."
"I believe you know Lord Cavanaugh?" Juliana smiled in the man's direction. "He would love to dance with you. I hope you enjoy yourselves," she added and sailed off.
Corinna stepped into her path. "Very smooth, Juliana."
Since she was so happy with the way everything was going, she ignored her sister's sarcastic tone. "Thank you."
"Has it ever occurred to you that some people might not appreciate your meddling?"
"I'm not meddling. I'm helping." She gestured toward the dance floor, where Lady Stafford was performing a quadrille with Lord Cavanaugh. "They're both smiling."
"They're being polite."
"They're happy. He's a wealthy widower; she's a lonely widow. Why shouldn't they be happy to dance together?"
"Maybe because you pushed them into it?"
"Some people need a little pushing." She eyed her sister, thinking she looked a bit lonely. "Shall I find a dance partner for you?"
"Holy Hannah," Corinna said and walked off.
Juliana looked back to the dance floor. No matter what her sister said, it was obvious Lord Cavanaugh and James's mother were thoroughly enjoying their dance. And Lord Malmsey and Aunt Frances were dancing again, their eyes locked on each other in a way that made Juliana sigh with envy. If only the duke would look at her like that. Well, maybe he would now, having eaten the macaroons.
She was looking around for him when Amanda walked up. "I talked to Lord Malmsey."
"About what?" Juliana gasped, picturing her giving him a piece of her mind about dancing with Frances.
But Amanda surprised her. "About our betrothal. You were right—I had no call to disapprove of him showing interest in another woman. I told him that I understand his change of heart, and feel the same, and I'm going to find a way out of the marriage that will leave him with his honor intact."
Juliana slumped in relief. "You've decided to marry Lord Stafford, then."
Amanda shook her head. "I'm still not struck by love."
Impossible. "Did Lord Stafford touch you?" Juliana asked.
"Touch me? He touched my hand, of course, during the dance when we progressed."
"But nothing else? Nothing more…amorous?"
"Amorous?" Amanda's eyes widened. "I should hope not! It's not as though we're engaged."
They'd never get engaged if she didn't let him touch her. "The plan was to find someone willing to compromise you," Juliana reminded her. "And some touching, after all, will be necessary in order to convince your father that you're compromised. Perhaps a little experimentation would be wise."
Amanda appeared to quail at the very idea. "It's too soon. I've yet to decide if Lord Stafford is the man I wish to have compromise me."
"Well, your wedding is only three weeks off. You'd best make your decision quickly, or it will be Lord Malmsey touching you instead of someone of your own choosing."
The poor girl's face went white, and Juliana's heart went out to her. How a woman as reserved as Amanda would get through her wedding night was something she didn't even want to contemplate.
"We'll find someone," she promised, reaching to pat Amanda's hand. "I'm just not sure it's realistic to expect to be struck by love in so little time."
Amanda bit her lip, looking more reserved than ever. "Perhaps you're right."
"If you'd allow Lord Stafford to touch you, that might help."
"He hasn't tried," Amanda said.
Surely the effect of the macaroons hadn't worn off that quickly. "Perhaps if you were a bit more receptive."
"I'll try." Amanda fiddled with her fan. "Do you enjoy it when the duke touches you?"
"Very much," Juliana assured her, wishing the duke had actually touched her so she wouldn't have to fib. "Listen. The musicians are starting a waltz. That's an excellent dance for touching."
She took Amanda's arm and marched her to where James was talking to his mother. "Lady Amanda would love to waltz," she said.
When he didn't move, Lady Stafford nudged him. "Go on, James. We can finish this discussion at home."
"Very well," he said stiffly, offering Amanda his arm. "Shall we dance again?"
As the young couple walked off, Lady Stafford gave a happy sigh and smiled at Juliana, looking as though she had something to say to her. Something nice. But just then, Lord Cavanaugh came up and smartly bowed before the older woman.
"Shall we dance again?" he asked.
Shooting Juliana an even wider smile over her shoulder, Lady Stafford went off with him.
Juliana looked around and spotted the Duke of Castleton walking out of the card room. Aiming her best, practiced smile at him, she went up and tapped him on the arm. "Shall we dance again?"
That line had worked well for everyone else, but the duke looked startled. Juliana supposed it wasn't proper for a lady to do the asking, but she was dying to see how well the macaroons had worked, so she started toward the dance floor, knowing he would follow.
And he did follow, of course. But when they started to waltz, his arms were rigid, and he held her just as far away as ever.
"Who is that dancing with Stafford?" he asked. "Do you know her?"
"That's Lady
