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him, for wasn’t she almost a betrothed woman? Not to mention the fact that she was hardly the sort of young lady who would attract such a man’s attention. Lucy Kirkman was much more his type.
    * * * *
    It was therefore no surprise when Lord Rainsborough, accompanied by his hostess, was introduced to Lucy and the cluster of young men and women around her. The young men included him in their discussion of the current derby favorites, but since Lord Rainsborough was but newly arrived in England, he could hardly contribute his opinion.
    Clare had never before been so awake to a man’s presence, even Giles. She could feel him with every cell in her body, and every cell seemed to be quivering like blancmange. When he turned toward the ladies, she found herself fussing with her bracelet, snapping and unsnapping the clasp. In a moment, he would ask Lucy to dance and she could relax.
    When she heard him address her instead, she was so flustered that she left her bracelet undone and it slipped off her wrist and fell right at the earl’s feet. Without thinking, Clare reached down to pick it up at the same time as Rainsborough and their hands met. His touch made all the hairs on her arm stand up.
    “Here is your bracelet, Lady Clare,” said the earl, smiling down at her.
    Clare was crimson with embarrassment. “Thank you, my lord.”
    “Here, let me fasten it for you,” he added as she fumbled with the clasp. Clare extended her arm and shivered as he gently closed it over her wrist.
    “This is a lovely piece. I see it matches your eyes perfectly.”
    It was a pretty compliment, though hardly original. But somehow, Lord Rainsborough’s tone made Clare feel that no one had ever really seen her eyes before. A thrill went through her, but she recovered enough presence of mind to thank him for his help.
    “I was wondering ... although I hardly think it would be likely ... would you have a dance free this evening?” Rainsborough asked.
    In fact, Clare did not have a dance free. But she couldn’t bear the thought of letting Rainsborough go, for he would never ask her again. She glanced over her card. Captain Barton was down for the next cotillion. Did she have the courage to lie? To insult a perfectly nice young man? She looked up and saw Lord Rainsborough’s pleading look and threw caution and courtesy to the winds.
    “Why, as a matter of fact, it seems like my next dance is free.”
    Clare was very grateful that the dance was struck almost immediately and that Captain Barton was across the room. She and the earl moved off before her promised partner could reach her.
    It was as thrilling to have Rainsborough lead her through the dance as she thought it would be. He never drew her too close, but just the feel of his hand around her waist as they came together in the figures of the dance was enough to make her feel as though she had no bones.
    They did not speak, but let themselves be lost in the music. It was surprising, but despite the differences in their heights and the fact that it was his first time partnering her, it felt to Clare that they had been dancing together for years, so easily did they move together.
    When Rainsborough returned her to her companions and bowed his thanks and walked away, she watched him go with her heart in her heels. That was that: the first and last time Clare Dysart would dance with the most handsome, charming man in London. But he had danced with her and not Lucy Kirkman or the Honorable Susan Maxwell, so that was something.
    Later in the evening, when Giles came to claim one of his dances and take her into supper, she was unusually quiet. Her body was still in the arms of Lord Rainsborough, however ridiculous the feeling. It was certainly not with Giles. She moved through the rest of the evening like a sleepwalker, hardly noticing Giles’s hand when it brushed hers at supper.
    And later, when Giles asked if she wished to step outside for some fresh air, she took his arm and allowed him to