He had not done this because he cared about her or her prospects.
‘Most definitely not one of my conquests. Nor ever likely to be.’ The light in his eyes flared gold. ‘And, Sophie, when we are together, I will not look at any other woman. I promise. It is not the way I was made or brought up.’
‘It can happen.’
‘And it causes tremendous heartache for other people.’ He stared down at her. ‘I have witnessed the consequences firsthand. Many times. And I have never knowingly caused a woman to break her vows, but it has always been a matter for her, rather than for me.’
Sophie swallowed hard. She could hardly confess she had asked her stepmother about the scandals he had been involved in. ‘But you do know the women.’
‘After a fashion.’ His brows knitted. ‘I had not expected them to be here tonight. It changes nothing. Until our association ends, I am yours.’
‘Once the first waltz starts, you can come and find me if you wish to speak to them now,’ Sophie said brightly, forcing her mind away from the way her heart wanted to believe his words. Underneath he would be the same as any other rake—selfish and solely concerned with his own pleasure. ‘There is no need to introduce me. There are a number of other people I need to speak to.’
Sophie silently prayed the waltz would be soon. Otherwise it was going to be torture waiting to speak to him and hoping that they had their story correct. But staying close to him was another sort of torture, undermining her resolve to keep aloof from his seductive technique.
A smile transformed his features. ‘Our luck appears to be holding. I believe I can hear the first strains now. There is no need to greet distant acquaintances.’
She allowed him to lead her into the middle of the dance floor. While some of the other rooms had gas lighting, the main ballroom still had its magnificent chandelier lighting system.
He placed his hand on her waist, holding her a bit more tightly than strictly necessary. She pointedly twisted her waist to gain a little space.
‘I have been civilised, Miss Ravel. You will come to no harm.’
‘Everyone is watching us.’ She swallowed hard and attempted to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
‘Everyone will have read the papers. They want to see what happens. Abject devotion.’
‘From you or me?’ Sophie gave a pointed smile. She was on firmer ground here. ‘Abject devotion fails to agree with me, Lord Bingfield. Never has done and I have no plans to start. Remember, I am redoubtable.’
‘I never believe anything I read in the press.’
‘You should believe that. I have spent years ensuring I do not have pointless flirtations.’
‘What a pity.’ He clasped his hand over hers. ‘I shall take comfort in the fact that you are far from indifferent to me. Your body must remember what happened the last time I held you in my arms.’
Sophie ground her teeth. ‘A gentleman would refrain from mentioning that kiss.’
‘It was utterly delightful.’ He gave an unrepentant smile. ‘That is better. Your cheeks have colour. Far better for giving the impression of being besotted.’
Besotted indeed! The one thing this engagement was not going to become was a way for him to seduce her. She knew the boundaries. The kiss would not be repeated. She refused to slip slowly but inexorably along that path again towards an illicit room in a rundown inn.
She cleared her throat. ‘The dance has begun.’
He began to move and she discovered that he was an expert dancer. She had danced with some very good dancers before, but Richard moved differently. It was more like floating on a cloud or having her body move as one with his. It would be easy to forget everything and simply enjoy the sensation of being in his arms.
‘We need to come up with a story,’ she said and ignored how his hand had moved to fit her waist far more snugly. ‘Something to test Sir Vincent.’
‘I doubt that will be necessary.’
‘We need to prove that he is our mutual enemy.’
‘Proving is nothing. What we need to do is ensure that he will not continue with his scheme. And he needs to learn that he should not try that sort of behaviour with anyone else.’
‘I take it you have a plan.’
‘I promised to protect you.’ His hand moved around to her back. ‘Trust me to do so and not abandon you to the winds of fate. You are far from alone, Miss Ravel. Relax and enjoy the dance. Look me in the eyes as if you never want to look anywhere else.’
‘And if someone asks how we met? I can hardly tell them the truth.’
He missed his step, but recovered. ‘I had not considered it. Have you been away from Newcastle recently?’
‘Carlisle,’ Sophie answered with a faint smile. ‘I trust you know where that is.’
He cleared his throat. ‘I meant somewhere in the south.’
‘We went to Liverpool in late March as a new design of tea clipper was being launched and I wanted to see the hull. I know everyone says that steam will replace the sail, but there is something so glorious about the way the sails fill.’
‘I shall take your word for it. I had never considered the design of a hull before. All I want to know is that a ship will get me from one port to another, safely, if I am forced to take it.’
‘Much of my fortune comes from shipbuilding, Lord Bingfield.’ Sophie breathed easier. Speaking of shipbuilding kept her mind from the way he moved or the shape of his lips. Feigning being besotted was one thing, actually being so was another problem altogether. ‘I was brought up to have a keen interest. The board of directors may run the day-to-day business, but it is the lifeblood which brings all the good things in my life. It is important not to take such things for granted, but to understand and to be able to question.’
His smile became genuine. ‘I knew you were more than a pretty face.’
‘Do you like ships?’ Sophie asked quickly.
‘I am invariably seasick. It doesn’t matter if it is a rowing boat or a tea clipper—once I am on the water, my stomach heaves. Always has done. I suspect it always will.’
‘You do get used to the sea in time. Lots of people get over it and are never troubled again. A long sea voyage would do the trick. It did with me when I was seven. We went to the West Indies and I was so sick to begin with, but then I recovered. My father told me even Admiral Lord Nelson was seasick on occasion. Somehow it made it easier to bear.’
‘I shall take your word for it since you argue so passionately. Some day maybe I will test your theory.’ His eyes crinkled at the corners. A bubbly sense of excitement filled her. ‘But for now Liverpool with its shipbuilding will have to do. The timing is reasonable and plausible. I do hope you did attend some sort of gala or a ball while you were there and your trip wasn’t entirely business.’
‘Do for what?’ Sophie
