Shades of Milk and Honey Read Online Free PDF Page B

FitzCameron at Banbree Manor. He retained the same arch of the brow and flashing eyes, but the soft roundness of youth was gone from his cheeks, leaving more rugged features in their place.
    Mr. Ellsworth took Jane by the other arm. “Perhaps you would like to dance with him next, Jane.”
    “If he asks me to dance, Papa, I shall be happy to oblige, but I am otherwise content to watch.”
    “If he asks, you would be a fool girl not to be pleased,” Mrs. Ellsworth said, rapping Jane’s hand with her fan. “Any man that would have you should be encouraged.”
    Jane set her jaw and did not respond to her mother’s provocation. Seeing this, Mr. Ellsworth patted her hand and drew her a little away from her mother. “Do not fret, dear. She is ill-tempered because she wishes that Captain Livingston would ask
her
to dance.”
    Laughing, Jane said, “Then you should dance with her, Papa.”
    “Ah. I am not so nimble as I was.”
    The song ended and the dancers left the floor, milling about to seek new partners while the musicians began the next set. Mr. Dunkirk appeared rather suddenly in front of her. “How did you find the rest of the glamural, Miss Ellsworth?”
    “Very well, Mr. Dunkirk. Although the mysterious Mr. Vincent once again put in an appearance and vanished before I could pay my respects. I begin to think that my attention offends him.”
    “I am certain you mistake him. It is more likely, is it not, that he did not wish to disrupt your enjoyment of his work?”
    “No. For I had met his gaze and clearly started toward him with the intention of speaking. He turned and left quite abruptly.”
    “Odd,” said Mr. Dunkirk. “I’ve run across him once ortwice out on the grounds, and he has always seemed most amiable. I shall introduce you at the next opportunity. I venture a guess that like many artists he is shy about his work”—he glanced at her—“and, as this piece is yet undone, perhaps he does not wish to hear compliments of it.”
    “Ah. I think you have the right of it. I had not thought of how it must be for him to have people tramping through and looking at his half-finished glamural.”
    The musicians finished the next dance, and again the guests began shifting about, exchanging partners. Jane noticed that Melody was still partnered with Captain Livingston. Both their faces were bright with merriment.
    Beside them, Miss Dunkirk now danced with a young man closer to her age. Jane smiled to see her so happy.
    Mr. Dunkirk turned to follow her gaze. “Would you care to join me on the dance floor, Miss Ellsworth?”
    Jane looked again at Melody, laughing with Captain Livingston. “Yes, thank you. I would be delighted.”
    Though it was not her custom to dance, as it made her limbs appear more gangly and awkward than graceful, Jane enjoyed the dance with Mr. Dunkirk. He was attentive and graceful as a partner. She felt her own steps gradually flowing with more ease as the dance progressed. When it ended and he excused himself to dance with his sister, Jane was prepared to retreat to her father’s side, only to find her hand requested by Mr. McIntosh. The old gentleman was so jolly that she could find no excuse for putting him off, and so joined in the dance with a will to enjoy it. The only burr inher enjoyment was that Melody was still dancing with Captain Livingston. Jane was certain that her mother was pleased at his solitary attention to Melody, but for propriety’s sake, it would be best if he asked another young woman to dance. It was true that Melody far outshone every other woman at the ball—with that perfect composition of form, grace, and youthful spirits—but a true gentleman would not be so presumptuous as to hold a partner through so many sets.
    Once the dance began, Jane had little time for reflection before Mr. McIntosh whirled her about as if she were a bundle of hay. She was quite as breathless at the end of the dance as if she had tried to unfurl a house-sized fold. As soon