A Flirtatious Rendezvous: The Gentlemen Next Door #4 - Historical Regency Romance Novellas Read Online Free PDF Page B

Montcreif but this meant losing her place so she turned the wrong way and bumped into a poor, flustered man who discreetly gestured for her to spin to her left—she could have sworn she’d learned it the other way.
    As much as she didn’t want to marry anyone who wasn’t Hayden, she certainly didn’t want to be a humiliated ape-leader with no proposals, either.
    She glanced down at her dance card, which contained a half dozen more names. This was going to be a long evening.
     
    * * *
     
    Hayden cringed as he watched Hanna trample yet another unsuspecting fool’s toes. To the credit of her partners, not a one had begged off, despite seeing what was ahead for them. Brave souls.
    He couldn’t bring himself to dance even one dance with the most accomplished lady at this event, despite more than one hint that had been dropped. He didn’t see the point. Dancing was a courtship, and he courted no one.
    When his father returned, he could finally move into his bachelor’s residence and dedicate his life to the London Mathematical Society. While he understood marriage’s purpose for society and the propagation of the species, he knew he would be better suited to remaining single, no matter what his mother wanted.
    As if conjured from his thoughts, his mother rested a hand on his shoulder, the other at her heart, as she walked up next to him. “Doesn’t she look lovely?”
    “How she looks doesn’t appear to be the issue. Lady Rivington’s dance lessons are showing abysmal results.”
    “Well,” his mother said with a sigh, “you do know that learning new skills is not Hanna’s strong suit.”
    “For once I don’t believe Hanna is the one to blame. Her lack of concentration is more academic than related to motor skills. I have seen her ride, after all.” He studied the countess. “I see your intention now, Mother.”
    “What nonsense are you spewing now?”
    “Your matchmaking eye has never been subtle when it comes to me or my brothers. You’ve decided to sabotage Hanna’s chances at a proposal, thereby thinking to force my hand. It won’t work.”
    She slapped his shoulder. “I’m appalled you would think I’d jeopardize Hanna’s chances for future happiness and a family.”
    “Chance for happiness?” Hayden snorted. “You’ve turned Hanna into a mindless parrot. Her conversational skills seem mostly to consist of repeating whatever her partner says and complimenting him on his cleverness.”
    “Quite the hypocrite, aren’t we? I’m teaching Hanna to make her future husband feel intelligent and interesting—the same way she makes you feel.”
    “Hanna’s admiration of me is completely genuine,” he reasoned. “And not without its criticisms.”
    Hayden watched Hanna teeter. In a moment she would take a spill on the floor. He had taken half a step forward, fists clenched, when her partner righted her. Her partner was more quick-footed than he imagined. He looked familiar, actually—he was certain this was his second dance.
    He squinted—yes, it was Viscount Montcreif. He’d been the first to dance with Hanna and enough time had passed where a second dance would be both respectable and a declaration that he was interested…although Hayden couldn’t imagine why he would declare such intentions. Hanna had trampled on his feet and no doubt bored him to tears with her conversation lessons.
    “Worried you have competition for her affections?” his mother asked, oh-so-innocently.
    “I’m more concerned she will break her foot dancing. It won’t do much for our wager if she is in a cast for my week,” he said.
    “Fair point. Ah, see how she is so grateful and flustered? Viscount Montcreif’s is one proposal I am sure to have in hand. And to your point about admiration, rest assured she’ll grow to admire him, and until then, she’s giving him encouragement.”
    “But what of his admiration for her? He’ll be utterly oblivious to her true nature, which is far more interesting than