She chanced to see a half a dozen ladies, none of them older than she was, coming straight at Jason in the form of a wedge, the lead girl a lovely blonde, no more than eighteen, with an impressive chest that was on prominent display. Jason was trading jests with a man he appeared to have known since he was born, unaware of the approaching armada. She smiled up at Lord Renfrew. “I am sorry, my lord, but I have already agreed to dance with Mr. Sherbrooke. I will need my hand. Would you please escort Mrs. Tewksbury over to Lady Lydia?”
The wedge was nearly on him. She heard one gentleman say, his voice near a squeak, “I remember this all too well. The devil take it. Why, I—”
Hallie grabbed Jason’s arm. “I’m saving him, sir. Jason, come along quickly or you will be swept away.”
Jason knew female determination when he saw it, grabbed Hallie’s arm, and laughed as he let her pull him through the crowd to the dance floor. The musicians had just started up a rousing waltz.
“I’ve seen your prowess on the dance floor, sir; I am ready to be impressed.”
Jason smiled down at her, clasped her firmly, and whirled her around in wide circles for nearly five minutes. Hallie was panting when he finally slowed. “That was quite wonderful, Jason.”
“My father taught James and me that a lady always forgave a gentleman for even the most stupid remark if he danced well.”
He whirled her about, deftly avoiding other dancers until she was laughing.
CHAPTER 25
When Hallie caught her breath, she said, “Your father must be right. I haven’t wanted to call you a moron once since our feet started moving. Oh dear, I do believe the ladies are surrounding James as well. Will the two of you never be safe?”
“James said he truly appreciated being married to Corrie. He said she protected him, like grandmother told you.”
“I wonder if Corrie ever fears being shot? Oh dear, I don’t believe Lord Renfrew is glad you’re here, Jason. He wanted to dance with me, you know. He’s giving you a remarkably nasty look. Ah, good, he’s asked that black-haired girl to waltz. That’s a relief.”
“She’s fluttering her eyelashes at him,” Jason said. “She’s not doing it well, but she’s young yet. She’ll learn.”
“I think she’s doing very nicely. Ah, you’re very graceful. That would make sense if a gentleman wanted to be successful with the ladies. However, you could dance like a clod and it wouldn’t make any difference.”
“I was thinking the same about you, Miss Carrick.” He gave her a white-toothed smile and whirled her about until she would swear under oath that she was flying two inches off the floor.
When they slowed a bit again, he said, “I can’t imagine why Lord Grimsby—he’s the elderly gentleman standing next to the lady with the huge ostrich feather—would give a ball especially for Lord Renfrew.”
“It makes no sense to me. I did meet Lord and Lady Grimsby; you simply weren’t aware of it. They told me how Lord Renfrew could speak only of my grace and loveliness. Nausea nearly flooded me. You, unfortunately, weren’t available to deter them. You were surrounded by too many well-wishers. It appears everyone missed you, Jason.”
“It’s good to see old friends.”
“You know, Lord Grimsby was giving me the eye—not a flirtatious eye, mind you, but an assessing eye—perhaps to evaluate if I’d do or not.”
Jason said slowly, “I wonder if your Lord Renfrew has some sort of hold on Lord Grimsby. I shall have to ask my father. He knows everything, which is odd, since he refuses to listen to gossip, but still, information finds its way into his ear.”
Hallie could only marvel at him. “I will tell you, Jason, I am used to being drowned in compliments, but not to the extent the ladies try to corner you. It is, naturally, the same with my father. Perhaps more so.”
“You haven’t noticed all the gentlemen salivating, Hallie. That’s why I tried to keep you close, to protect you.”
She laughed, couldn’t help herself. He whirled her around and around. When the waltz finally came to an end, once she could suck in enough air, she said, “Another dance, please, sir. You do it very well.”
“All right, but not a third waltz until much later, Hallie. I don’t want your reputation to suffer.”
She didn’t care, but acquiesced. After the second waltz, Jason left her at Angela’s side. He turned to his grandmother, bowed formally. “My lady, would you condescend to waltz with a grandson who, upon three different occasions, stole your nutty buns?”
The old lady rapped his arm with her fan, gave him a huge grin. “Ah, I knew, I always knew. Take me to the floor, my boy.”
Alex Sherbrooke couldn’t believe her eyes. She clutched at her husband’s sleeve. “Douglas, goodness, I didn’t think the old bat could move so spryly.”
“A potted palm would move spryly if dancing with one of my sons,” Douglas said. Actually, Lady Lydia was swaying in place, Jason smiling down at her, holding her as gently as he would one of his nephews, telling her that particular shade of pale yellow was perfect with her complexion. The old lady preened.
“She always loved Jason best.” Alex sighed. “As many times as I still want to kick her, she looks lovely, and so very happy. Why can’t she be happy all the time? Why can’t she ever smile at me like that?”
“Give it up, my dear,” Douglas said, and drew her to the dance floor. “I doubt not that when she finally croaks in the next century, she will still insult you to your toes, be it Heaven or Hell. All six remaining teeth on full view. Do you think we’ll still have some teeth when we’re her age?”