Page 40 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

Cassandra looked as if she might pass out, but Jethro shot her a smile as he took her hand. “What a splendid suggestion, Mrs Frampton. I would love to dance with my wife.”

He led her into the centre of the room where a space had been cleared. The alarm on her face had not faded, and she raised her eyebrows at him slightly, so only he could see.

What was she asking him? Whatever the question, they needed to dance.

He stared into her eyes and gave her a reassuring nod. Her shoulders relaxed as the panic dissolved. It occurred to him that Mrs Frampton was not the only person who doubted his ability to dance. His mouth twitched with amusement. Did his wife really think he was such a peasant he had never learned?

They glided through the paces, and whenever the dance brought them together, Jethro revelled in her touch. She was as light on her feet as he could have wished for in a partner, and it gave him a mite of satisfaction to see Mrs Frampton stumbling in her steps as she tried to watch them, as if hoping he would make a mistake.

When the music drew to a close, they were supplied with tea and coffee, and took seats at the edge of the room to view the others taking their turn on the dancefloor. To his dismay, Mr Frampton and his irritating wife came and sat with them.

“Tell me, Mr Hunt. How did you court my dear friend, with none of us being the wiser?” Mrs Frampton asked, gazing up at him with a look of innocence in her expression that didn’t fool him for a minute. “I was shocked when I heard of the wedding. It was most unexpected.”

Cassandra’s hand rested on his knee, and he felt her grip tighten. He was tempted to tell the woman to mind her own business, but his wife’s touch restrained him.

“Does a man have to announce his courtship with a fanfare of trumpets? My wife was in mourning. It was not appropriate for her to appear in society.”

Mrs Frampton would not let the subject drop. “But what was all the rush?”

“Must a man explain his eagerness to wed his bride?” Jethro asked, fixing her with such a knowing look that she turned red under his scrutiny.

“Exactly so. I’m sure your husband was as eager to marry you, Mrs Frampton. I did not want to wait any longer than necessary.”

“Rightly said, Hunt. There’s nothing like having a wife waiting for you at home to prise you away from your business.”

“Just so. And now, if you’ll excuse us, I wish to take my wife home.”

Mr Frampton chortled to himself as if it was a good joke and clapped him on the back for the second time that evening.

Jethro hoped they had done enough to suppress the gossip. Mr Frampton was no fool and would not stand any nonsense from his wife, particularly if he thought it might have ramifications for his business.

Jethro shook hands with him and, remembering the despairing look Cassandra had shot him earlier, he gave a respectful bow to Mrs Frampton. It was as well to keep the enemy happy. The woman dipped a curtsey in reply and smiled, implying they had reached a temporary truce.

He hoped he could protect Cassandra from any further unpleasantness—and unpleasantness there was likely to be.

For if Frampton was vying with him for Mr Wade’s investment money, then the enmity would not end with the gossip.

Seated in the carriage, Jethro took Cassandra’s hand and kept it in his.

It was a small thing, but it was significant to him. For the first time, they had acted like a team—and it felt good.

Chapter 21

Cassandra glanced at Jethro, who sat beside her in the carriage, and glowed with pleasure. The evening had gone much better than she could have imagined.

“When I came back into the drawing room, your face was a picture,” Jethro said. “It wasn’t until the colour returned to your cheeks when I said yes that it dawned on me you feared I couldn’t dance.”

“How was I to guess you were so proficient? I thought you never attended social events.”

“Very few, but why did that make you think I couldn’t dance? And you weren’t alone. Mrs Frampton must have believed the same.”

“I’m sorry. It shows how little I know about you. I wasn’t sure whether your schooling included such things.”

“Of course it did. We were all taught to dance, so we could enter society.”

“But you didn’t?”

“No. My education was comprehensive, but nothing could change the fact my mother came from humble beginnings.”