“I came to Mytton Grange. It was obvious you’d left in a hurry.” He paused briefly. “I wanted to know if you and your aunt were well.”
She glanced at the crowd, meeting the shocked expression on numerous faces. Alexander Cole hated company. He had chained the gates to his estate to keep people out. Yet here he was in a packed ballroom, dressed in his finery, and all because he wanted to see if she was well.
“Why?” The word fell from her lips as she struggled to make sense of it all.
He lowered his head, and she was hit with his musky, masculine scent. “I do not trust Mr. Sutherby.”
She reeled from the answer, a rush of disappointment flooding her chest. What had she expected him to say? He was not the sort of man to make false protestations. She was not normally the sort who longed for a gentleman to drop to his knees and declare his affections.
“Then I was correct in my assessment,” she said a little coldly. “You are here to stalk the Sutherbys.”
He stared at her. His piercing blue eyes searched her face before his gaze drifted beyond her shoulder, and his mouth formed a scowl. “It appears your gentleman has come to claim you.”
Evelyn turned to see Mr. Sutherby approach, and she bit back an unladylike curse. “I had come to pay my respects to the Earl of Hale,” he said, “but I see he is otherwise engaged.”
Evelyn swung back around to see a pair of broad shoulders moving away through the crowd. Damn the man. She would have to speak to him about his annoying habit of walking off before finishing a conversation.
Lifting his chin and tilting his head, Mr. Sutherby continued, “I believe that screech is the call for the cotillion.”
Dancing was the last thing on her mind but what choice did she have? Besides, it would give her a moment to collect her thoughts.
When Mr. Sutherby took her hand, she felt nothing. She could have been holding a dead fish, as even wearing gloves it felt cold and limp. The swapping of partners brought a momentary reprieve. Thank the Lord she’d not agreed to a waltz.
“So what takes your fancy?” Mr. Sutherby asked as they came to meet in the middle of their group.
“My fancy?”
“Tomorrow. Would you rather a stroll in the park or perhaps you desire mental stimulation and would prefer a museum?”
“I … I.”
Mr. Sutherby offered a smile so wide it looked as though someone had sewn the apples of his cheeks to his earlobes and the thread had proved to be far too tight.
“I know. It is a difficult choice. We could always do both.”
They rejoined the circle, and Mr. Sutherby pranced away next to her, the shiny buckles on his shoes almost touching his knees.
“I think a stroll in the park,” she said, as there would be plenty of people wandering about. Tomorrow, she hoped her mind would be a little clearer. Mr. Sutherby deserved the truth and Evelyn knew she would spend a sleepless night contemplating the dilemma.
“Splendid. I shall call for you at two.” He offered his arm as the dance ended. “Come, I’ll escort you back to your aunt. Then I shall go and hunt down Charlotte as I’m sure she’s off causing mischief somewhere.”
Aunt Beatrice was engaged in an animated conversation with Mr. Hartwood whose compassionate nature gave her aunt the opportunity to regale a long-winded account of her dreadful accident.
Evelyn’s attention wandered, and she surveyed the crowd looking for Alexander Cole. It took a moment for her to locate him. Now that stories of his disfigurement had proved to be untrue, she expected to find him surround by eager guests desperate to know the truth behind the tale.
But he was alone.
Propped up against the wall near the terrace with his arms folded across his chest, he radiated hostility. But like the night she’d seen him sitting on the bench, her heart went out to him. Why she should care about the man, was a mystery to her. All she knew was that she wanted to talk to him, to try her damnedest to make him smile.
Perhaps if he told her his reasons for disliking Mr. Sutherby it might make it easier to reach a decision. Perhaps if she spent more time in his company it might help her to understand why his voice caused her body to glow, why his touch ignited a fire so deep inside.
With that thought in mind, she moved towards him.
Chapter 10
Alexander could not bear to spend another minute in the packed ballroom. The rank smell of sweat mingled with a trace of vinegar and perfume from those who still wore powder, invaded his nostrils. The stench was so potent he only drew shallow breaths.
Besides, he could not watch that fop Sutherby skipping and hopping about the floor again like a hare come breeding season. The fool disappeared through the crowd with Miss Bromwell on his arm, and Alexander clenched his jaw so hard he was in danger of cracking his teeth.