Ten Ways to Ruin

“Allow me,” he said in a low tone.

Emma sighed. “As you wish.”

“You must wonder what I was doing here,” he started slowly. “Would it surprise you to learn that I had been hoping to catch you visiting Miss Lancaster?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Bolton smiled. “I’ve missed you, Miss Drake.”

Feeling her anger rising, she said, “Then perhaps you should not have listened to your mother’s advice in the first place.”

“You may be correct.” Stopping in front of the Viscount Lancaster’s home, he gazed down at her and said, “I hope you will save me a dance tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow?”

“The Lancasters’ ball.”

“Of course.”

He smiled down at her.

Blast! She was tired of rote manners making her say things she did not wish to say.

Before she could retract her acceptance, Bolton said, “Excellent. I will see you for our dance tomorrow. Good day, Miss Drake.”

The front door opened, and a Lancaster footman welcomed her inside. A sigh fell from her lips when she realized Bolton was already too far to hear her. He wouldn’t have known she was acknowledging the ball, not the offer to dance with him.

“Was that Bolton?” Susan asked, descending the stairs with a frown.

“Yes.” Emma handed her cloak to the footman.

“Well, you must come to the parlor and tell me all about it. With the commotion of the ball preparations, we do not want to go anywhere near the first floor.” Susan led the way to the small parlor and promptly closed the door behind them. “Why did he escort you here?”

Emma sat on the floral damask chair with a sigh. She related the story of how Bolton came to her rescue with the umbrella. “I daresay I left him with the impression I would dance with him tomorrow night.”

Susan pursed her lips. “Dancing with him will get the gossipmongers started again.”

“I can’t reject him now. He believes I accepted.”

“Hmm, then perhaps you should dance with him. Maybe he is lamenting his decision to reject you.”

Emma fell silent as the footman brought in tea. If Bolton did regret the decision, which was most likely his mother’s decision, not his, should she allow him to court her again? Would she want him as a husband after such a horrid rejection?

“No,” Emma said with a shake of her head. “I will not allow him to embarrass me as he did a year ago. I will find a way to miss the set with him.”

Susan poured the tea and then handed a cup to Emma with a frown. “Do you think that is wise? It might be the perfect opportunity to restore your reputation.”

“You just said dancing with him will start the gossip again!” Emma sometimes felt like Susan’s mind worked like a whirligig spinning around a topic. She took the tea and an iced biscuit.

“Dancing with him may make people believe he is distressed by what happened with your engagement. These same people might also believe he intends to start courting you again. After all, his mother is ill, so her influence is lessened now. Everyone knows Lady Bolton is far too concerned over her status. She is not as high up as she thinks.”

“One set with Bolton might do all that?”

Susan shrugged. “I doubt it would hurt your name.”

Emma closed her eyes briefly as she enjoyed a bite of the delicious iced biscuit. Dancing with Bolton might be useful for her reputation, but she did not care any longer. If she led Bolton to believe he had a chance with her again, it would be a falsehood.

“Susan, I will take your advice under consideration, but I need to discuss what happened at Almack’s last night.”