“Missus?” He cocked his head, confused until he heard a giggle that sounded like Ada’s, though she shouldn’t be so close. To be honest, he wasn’t sure the shipper would consider the trip if he knew the true meaning of transporting a runaway Confederate.” I might have need to return home and it’d be dangerous to take her, considering.”
“Indeed, indeed. I’m sure something can be attempted,” Amherst answered.
“Great!” Then his thoughts stopped. How could he arrange this, since he stayed with her? He remembered Dr. Leonard had whispered opportunities, making him wonder if this was what he was referring to. Another giggle distracted him. This time, he turned and found Ada in another man’s arms as they danced, swinging in and out with the other couples on the dance floor. He shouldn’t care, but a flair of jealousy snaked down his spine with anger in hot pursuit. She looked like she was having way too much fun with this varmint, with a dreamy look in her eyes that he could see from here.
“If you’ll excuse me. I need to return back to my Ada. I will be in touch soon.” And on that note, he took off across the room, vaguely hearing his host warning him to not be too long. But seeing her dance partner’s hand swept a bit lower than acceptable, Francois’s temper exploded. Who the hell was this man? And why did she look at him like that?
His shoulders locked, his spine steeled and any pain in his foot vanished as he stormed forward, determined, the demand forming for this interloper to go to hell!
Ada’s thoughts whirled, just like her heart and her reasoning. During the next spin, her love was holding her hands, his infectious smile and warm brown eyes melted her heart, pulling her closer to the man who had left her to help in the War. He’d arrived, swooped her off her feet as it were with the surprise visit and whispered how happy he was to see her.
And she, thrilled to death to see him, hugged him in return before she playfully snapped back, “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”
His reply, as they separated, was a wink. At times, he was so irritating but she could never be mad at him. He was here, with her now, and she’d take every second she could. The lead couple took hands and walked down the line between them, with the split lines of ladies and gentlemen following suit. After ducking under the couple’s raised arm-bridge, they all separated just as the music faded and they bowed on queue.
Ada was thrilled, especially as he offered her his arm and she gladly accepted it when she got a glimpse of a slim, dark-headed bull storming her way. Now what was that man doing?
By the time Francois reached them, the ensemble of dancers were bowing to their partners as the dance had finished. She placed her hand on Richard’s arm when Francois appeared, not looking like a huffing bull any longer, but more like a gentleman with a whisper of a smile on his lips and mischief in his eyes, making her wonder again, what was he up to?
“Miss Lorrance,” he greeted warmly. “Sir,” he nodded coolly to Richard. “I believe you accepted my invitation for the next dance.”
She stared at him speechless. She’d never granted that, however, to deny him was bad protocol as well. Aggravated, because she wanted more time with Richard, she slowly acquiesced by withdrawing her hand from his arm and gave it to Francois’s proffered hand.“I do not recall this,” she halfway snarled as they turned on the dance floor while she watched Richard retreat to the sideline and out of the corner of her eye.
“You can’t have all your dances consumed with one man,” he contradicted. “It’d raise too much awareness.”
“And more than one with you is acceptable?”
He chuckled. “We’ve not been together but one dance all night. I think we’ll be not be led to the altar over two.”
Her eyes narrowed even though the strings began to sound and the dance partners bowed and curtsied to each other. “You can’t expect me to believe you interrupted my dance for my wellbeing.”
They stepped forward together for the first steps of the dance.
“No, more for my own wellbeing.”
“How so, might I ask?”
They spun. “Who was that man?”
“Why?”
He shrugged slightly, before they returned to the first form of the dance. She bit her inner lip. He almost acted as if he was jealous, though considering how they’d been acting in bed, she shouldn’t be surprised. Her stomach flipped. That was something that ate at her, though, now that Richard was finally back…
“He is a surgeon. Colonel Richard Peregoy,” she replied at the next meeting.
She caught a flare in his eyes, which quickly vanished. He’d heard of Richard? How?
“Union quack, I see,” he muttered.
“He’s a well-qualified surgeon, sir.”
The dancers turned and it was on that turn, as he opened his mouth to speak, he faltered, crumbling on the injured foot, stopping the dance sharply.
“Too much tonight, you think?”
He nodded.
Grinding her teeth, she stood and, looked for Richard, who was absent, but she found Will. He came over and suggested they move off the floor. Once to the side, the musicians started again and everyone returned to the dance, regardless of the missing dancers.
Will knelt before Francois and took a brief glance at the ankle, hardly straying his eyes off him. “Perhaps you need to refrain from dancing.”
Francois nodded but hissed, “I can’t just sit. People will be talking and, in the end, my true self will be exposed.”
Ada glared at him. “Precisely why we shouldn’t have come!” She turned her attack on Will. “You knew he’d be here, so again, you’ll do anything to keep me away.”
“Ada,” Will started but she’d hear no more. If they were to leave, and to be honest with herself, she knew they’d have to since even she could
