my friend Robert. Allow me to present him to you.’ She used her French accent this morning. ‘We need more gentlemen. Cyprian, you were to have brought your secretary.’
‘I did bring him, Penny.’
Her eyes narrowed.
Katy gave a dramatic sigh. ‘Lucy is pulling weeds with him, no doubt. I shall go after them again.’
But there was no need to do so, because Elliot and Lucy appeared.
‘Excellent!’ cried the madam. ‘We shall have nearly enough gentlemen to go around.’
‘I… I could sit out,’ murmured Mary.
Madame Bisou poo-pooed the idea. ‘Nonsense, my dear. We will take turns. One may learn by observing as well as by doing.’
Sloane watched as Madame Bisou more formally introduced her friend, Robert Duprey, to Morgana. Why the devil had she brought that fellow? Duprey was not only a very foolish dandy, he was also brother to the woman over whom Sloane lost his wagers at Bisou’s gaming house. He had always been a favourite of Penny’s, though it foxed Sloane why.
Madame Bisou raised her voice. ‘Now, you will think you already know how to do the dances, but you will be wrong, ladies. I will teach you that the dance involves not only the feet, but also the eyes and the hands. I will teach you what to do with each.’
As she went on, Sloane sauntered up to Robert Duprey.
‘G’day, Sloane.’ Duprey’s voice cracked. ‘Didn’t know you’d be here. Been an age. Not at Bisou’s these days?’
Duprey not only wore the dandy’s tight pantaloons, high collar points and elaborately tied neckcloth, but he also affected their irritating style of speech.
‘I am not pleased to see you here, Duprey,’ Sloane said fiercely.
The young man shifted from foot to foot.
Sloane glared at him. ‘If I discover you have said one word about this lady’s house and what happens here, I will personally come after you. You’ve heard rumours of how dangerous I can be, have you not?’
‘Eep!’ Duprey cried. ‘Won’t say a thing. Mum’s the word. Swear it.’
‘You had better swear it.’ For good measure he gave the terrified fellow another menacing look before walking back to Morgana’s side.
Miss Moore began to play, and Sloane was first paired with Katy. He could handle her. He knew her type, trying to act so self-assured, pushing herself forward lest she be forgotten entirely. He’d done likewise many a time.
Katy enthusiastically embraced Madame Bisou’s lessons, fluttering her lashes at him, touching him wherever she could reach. She even added a few moves not in the lecture, such as making sure he could look straight down her dress. It was a relief to next be partnered with the beautiful Rose, who was more subtle and easier on the eye.
They completed the drill on country dancing. Sloane glanced at Elliot, who stood next to Lucy, talking quietly to her. Duprey had finished dancing with Mary, whose complexion was flushed rather prettily. Duprey pulled at his collar. Morgana stood near her grandmother, looking almost as if she were recovered from his hurtful words.
‘Now what you have been waiting for. The waltz,’ Madame Bisou announced.
‘Gracious, I don’t know that one,’ cried Katy.
Lucy said quietly, ‘I don’t either.’
‘Not know the waltz?’ Madame Bisou trilled with laughter. ‘We shall teach you then.’ She pointed to Sloane. ‘Cyprian, you must demonstrate with Miss Hart.’
He had waltzed with Morgana on several occasions at Almack’s and other balls, but not in such a relaxed, friendly, seductive atmosphere.
He took her hand and led her out to the middle of the bare floor. He put his other hand to her waist and she put hers on his arm. Miss Moore began to play.
Their steps were awkward at first, perhaps from being observed, but soon the music caught hold.
‘Look at each other!’ commanded Madame Bisou.
Morgana lifted her eyes, like amber jewels, to his.
‘Make him hold you closer!’ Madame Bisou said, and Morgana moved towards him. He bent down, his face inches from hers, and gathered her to him. As they twirled around the room, he held her so close their bodies touched and their legs moved as one.
Too soon the music stopped. He forced himself to let go.
‘That was excellent, Cyprian.’ Penny’s voice broke in. They started to move away from each other. ‘Stay there,’ Penny ordered. ‘We are not done. Put your arms around each other again.’ She made her voice louder. ‘Everyone! Pretend the music has just stopped.’
Miss Moore replayed the final chord.
‘Now, Miss Hart,’ Penny instructed. ‘What you must do now is stand on tiptoe and kiss him.’
‘That’s the thing!’ cried Katy.
Morgana gave Bisou a startled look, but turned back to face Sloane. With her golden eyes wide, she rose on her toes while he lowered his head.
When her lips touched his, he felt his whole body flare with arousal and, all reserve gone, he put his arm around her, deepening the kiss, tasting her sweet, unschooled mouth at long last. His body craved more. Much more.
‘That’s enough,’ called Penny as the room burst into applause and giggles. ‘You did very well.’
He released Morgana, who looked as dazed as he felt.
Katy was his partner for the next waltz. She soon mastered the steps. At the end, her lips were more enthusiastic, more practised, and more frankly sexual, but it was Morgana’s kiss that lingered.
Morgana rested her hand on the back of her grandmother’s chair, pretending to watch the dancing. Instead she relived Sloane’s kiss, the feel of his lips against hers. She resisted the urge to touch her mouth with her fingers.
When she’d been younger, before she realised no man would want to marry her, she used to dream of her first kiss. How glad she was that it had been with Sloane.
She shook herself, regretting what she had said about his intention to marry. She’d given in to her envy of her cousin, who would be Sloane’s ornament and bed partner. That was not well done of her.
She glanced up and saw him smoothly guide Rose around the room. It was not Sloane who was out of step, but she. He was deftly making his place in society, with the same ease as he moved through the steps of the waltz. She was the one who did not fit.
After the dancing, they all went to the front drawing room for refreshment so that the footmen could return the library to its former state. Hungry and thirsty from the morning’s exertion, they eagerly consumed the lemonade and biscuits Cripps served, the butler revealing nothing of his thoughts of the morning’s activities. There was much laughter. Even Lucy laughed aloud at something
