She did not sound pleased. Not in the least.
Interesting, indeed. What an odd young lady. “I take it you do not relish musicales either?”
“Not as such.” She hesitated and then added in a rueful tone, “And I’m sorry to say dancing is not my forte.”
He found himself swallowing down a laugh. Yes, she was very odd indeed. So unlike the young ladies who were currently residing in his home.
She seemed to gather herself and summoned a small polite smile. “Tell me, Lieutenant—”
“Sebastian, please,” he interrupted.
She blinked at the intimacy of it and he could only give her a little shrug of chagrin. Since leaving the army he’d come to despise the title. It no longer fit. But then the honorary Lord Sebastian didn’t feel quite right either. What’s in a name? Shakespeare had written.
Quite a lot, in Sebastian’s humble opinion.
She tipped her chin down and wariness hovered in her eyes. “I’m afraid I don’t know you well enough—”
“Ah, but we have met before today,” he informed her.
She blinked at him. “Have we?”
His lips curved up in a rakish grin that made women everywhere swoon. Miss Sally did not swoon. She frowned, in fact. “I don’t recall,” she murmured.
“Well, perhaps it was not a proper introduction.” He rocked back on his heels and stuck his hands into his pockets. “As you were in the midst of tending to an absurdly large brute with a knife in his leg, I shall not take offense that you do not recall my presence at your family’s ball.”
Her eyes widened slightly and he caught a flicker of amusement that seemed to lighten her dark brown eyes with a glow that was irresistible. “How very good of you,” she said. Her lips twitched at the corners as she fought and won against a smile.
Oh, how he wished to see that smile.
The sound of high-pitched excited voices coming from behind a door behind them had her flinching and him suppressing a laugh. It was clear that Rebecca, at least, was enthusiastic in the extreme.
After a long moment in which they both studiously pretended to ignore the high-pitched shrieking, he turned to her with a bland expression. “Tell me, does this door often creak so?”
Her lips twitched but her answer was equally bland. “It’s the salt air, you see.” Her lips quivered in her effort to stifle a laugh as another shriek hit their ears. “It’s terrible for the hinges.”
They maintained eye contact for one moment longer and then another piercing shriek came from the other room and he burst out in a laugh.
And then...there. At long last. She gave up the fight and her lips curved up in a gorgeous grin that stole his breath. So very worth the wait.
It was over too quickly, though. She was once more staid and determined looking, as though her time here chatting with him was some chore she had to fight her way through.
He didn’t care for that. Not one bit. He wanted to see that smile again, and he wanted to see it often. In fact…
He straightened. A sense of purpose the likes of which he hadn’t known in ages had him straightening, his chest swelling as it did anytime he’d been faced with a new adventure. A new mission.
Oh yes. He finally had a new mission.
And it was to see this lady’s smile.
Chapter 2
What an odd man. Sally eyed the gentleman and his knowing grin. Definitely odd, she decided.
Amusing, but odd.
Sally clasped her hands together to keep from fidgeting. Or striking him. Something about him just begged to be smacked.
Or kissed.
She blinked hard to rid herself of that ridiculous notion. Of course she did not wish to kiss him. There was no denying he was handsome enough, if one liked such men. Ones who smiled like they held a secret. Ones whose gazes held a laughter that made her uncertain whether she wished to laugh along with him or...well, striking him still sounded rather appealing.
It certainly would not do to strike a man she hardly knew just because he was looking at her like… Well, like that. As though she were some new, diverting form of entertainment. His grin was decidedly wolfish as he leaned in toward her. “I promise you shall enjoy yourself at Hampton Manor, Miss Sally.”
“I am not certain how you could make such a promise, but I appreciate the thought.” She’d added the last part out of sheer civility, and she knew without a doubt that he was wrong. The idea of going to an earl’s country estate sounded as unpleasant a fate as she could imagine. Though there was no doubt Rebecca would enjoy herself.
Even as she thought it, they both heard Rebecca’s high-pitched voice filled with excitement. She was informing Hattie of this latest turn of events. Their youngest sister was undoubtedly smiling and laughing, and all around encouraging Rebecca’s giddy antics.
Minerva and Abigail would be thrilled for her too. For Sally, not so much. As much as Rebecca dreamed of balls and soirees, Sally avoided them at all costs. But she wouldn’t be going there to dance or be entertained.
She eyed the earl who was speaking solemnly to her father. Not once had he glanced in her direction, which seemed a bit odd as he was here to see her.
Had she truly agreed to this? She bit her lip to keep from calling her words back. Her stomach was already churning with the thought of what was to come. Gowns. Dancing.
Musicales.
Her stomach tightened with anxiety. Heaven help her. This would be a nightmare. But...her gaze fell on the old earl again. She would be there for a patient, and that was what mattered.
True she was no real physician, nor was she likely to ever become one. But this was an opportunity to practice what she’d learned. So…there was that.
But even the promise of taking care of a patient of her own was not enough to dispel the tight knot of anxiety that rose up every time she tried
