Not with finding a husband. His gaze locked on those preening peacocks clustered together and a rumbling of dissent clogged his throat. He’d not help her attract one of those buffoons. But he could aid her in discovering the sort of woman she had the potential to be. A true rare beauty who had looks as well as heart.
His chest swelled at the very idea of the woman she could become. He was so lost in his thoughts that he nearly passed by Miss Charlotte and her mother.
“Major,” the matron called, interrupting his musings and halting his feet. “There you are, Major Mayfield. We’ve been looking for you all evening.”
He quickly disguised his grimace and tried his best to give a genuine smile. “Apologies. I was delayed in my arrival.” Now he sounded more like Abigail. The truth was, he’d been sitting in his room, attempting to sift through his thoughts and convince himself he was on the right path.
In his mind, he’d tried to return to that lake and remember why he’d so desperately needed serenity. Why he’d promised himself a life of sedate pleasure.
Because at some point over the last several months, he’d stopped craving that vision quite so much, he just hadn’t realized it. Or perhaps he hadn’t wanted to admit it.
Was he forgetting or healing?
He wasn’t the fickle sort, but it was becoming abundantly clear that he’d been clinging to the wrong dream.
“We’re glad you’re here now. I had hoped we’d dance before tonight, but we never had the opportunity.” Charlotte gave him a coquettish smile, the look in her eyes assessing. She flicked her dance card, a clear indication that she expected him to ask her to dance.
But what she’d said didn’t ring true. There had been plenty of chances for them to dance together. To become acquainted and to get to know one another. But she’d never shown the slightest interest. Not until Abigail had shown mock interest.
He didn’t respond immediately, and she repeated the gesture, her finger tapping the card.
How had he missed those subtle gestures before tonight? Her chin tipped down, hiding the calculating expression on her face.
Her quiet nature supplemented with manipulative moves.
His frown deepened as he looked at the card. He didn’t like this sort of behavior at all. Man or woman, he didn’t appreciate a person who was disingenuous. And if Charlotte had wished to dance with him before tonight, she’d had every opportunity. She had been the one who’d been difficult to catch.
Despite what everyone thought of Abigail, she’d been perfectly honest with him from the start. And while he may not have liked all of her motives, at least he knew them for what they were because she was forthright with her thoughts and feelings.
“Had you hoped we’d dance? I’m surprised, Miss Charlotte. We seemed to miss each other at every gathering.” Had that been intentional? Abigail had been right. Charlotte’s sudden interest coincided too perfectly with Abigail’s attentions. And it made him wonder if perhaps Abigail had been correct in her assessment of Miss Charlotte all along.
Her nose wrinkled. “Had we?” Then she gave him another sickly sweet smile. “Well, regardless, we’re here now.” And she flicked the card again.
He sighed, holding out his hand. He’d come here to do this very thing—dance with Miss Charlotte Ainsworth. He may as well complete his mission. “Miss Charlotte, would you do me the honor of allowing me to claim a dance?”
With a look of satisfaction, she held out the card to him. And though he had a silver case of pencils in his pocket should the need arise, he used the pencil hanging from the dance card by a ribbon to write in his name on the line provided for the next dance.
Which meant he’d only need to stand here for a few more minutes before he could claim his dance and then be done with Charlotte for the evening.
He supposed this party had been fruitful in one regard. He’d realized that he’d been pursuing the wrong woman. What he’d taken to be quiet kindness in Charlotte was actually far less attractive.
But he’d not snub her now. It was neither gentlemanly nor personable and he believed in good manners. “Tell me, how are you enjoying the party thus far?”
“It’s wonderful,” Charlotte gushed. “Most of my friends are here and, thanks to Lady Abigail, we’re delightfully entertained.”
His brows rose even as his lips pressed together. This time there was no mistaking that she was making fun at Abigail’s expense.
Irritation bristled along his skin. Abigail had not done a thing to Charlotte that he could see. In fact, in her own way, Abigail had attempted to help Charlotte, or at least help him gain Charlotte’s attention. A chastisement rose to his lips. “I don’t see—”
“Oh,” her mother interrupted, clearly attempting to deflect the situation. “I’ve just had the most marvelous idea. Charlotte and I wish to take a walk about the estate tomorrow. Perhaps you could escort us, Major.”
“The grounds?” Charlotte huffed.
Alex closed his eyes for the briefest second. Did he wish to spend a few hours in their company tomorrow? Certainly not. Was there a way he could politely refuse the invitation? Not likely. Besides, he’d made his intentions toward Charlotte known to Max and Marigold. It was likely better to spend enough time with Charlotte to make absolutely certain how he felt about her.
Perhaps his dance with Abigail had simply clouded his judgment and Charlotte was actually a lovely girl. He doubted it, but he may as well give her every chance to prove him wrong. “I’d be delighted.”
“Excellent,” her mother answered. Then she clapped. “The dance is ending. You two should start onto the floor so you get a good spot.”
He did as Lady Ainsworth asked and offered his elbow to Charlotte, who slipped her gloved fingers into his arm.
They did, in fact, find a lovely spot on the center of the floor but that was about the highlight of their dance together.
As they began to
