The Persuasion of Miss Jane Brody Read Online Free PDF Page A

take his place in the gentleman’s line, admiring his well-cut black coat stretched across broad shoulders. The orchestra played the opening bars of a familiar melody. The dance began and Jane was soon performing the complicated movements in synchrony with her partner, his warm large hands grasping and releasing hers as they came together and separated with the steps.
    The ballroom glittered with the light of hundreds of candles which warmed the air and intensified the scent of the late blooming flowers. A chandelier lit the centre of the room, its light shining on the dancers below. The orchestra on its dais played two of Jane’s favourite tunes for their country dances. An audience arranged itself on the sofas and chairs at the sides of the ballroom, talking and waiting for the return of their protégés.
    The half hour passed quickly and Jane was soon watching a new set of dancers array themselves on the dance floor. Dr Logan returned a blushing Lady Elizabeth to her brother’s side and asked Jane for the next set. Lord Dalton didn’t appear to have noticed his sister’s heightened colour. The group changed partners, with Lord Dalton escorting his sister onto the floor. As she danced, Jane thought about Dr Logan and Lady Elizabeth. Curiosity and speculation warred with each other in her mind. Awake now to their interest in each other, she cautiously watched their behaviour. From time to time she saw each one’s glance towards the other when thought unobserved. She wondered how Lord Dalton and Lady Mulgrove would react to this mutual interest. She hoped it wouldn’t end in sadness for them both. Meanwhile, the opportunities for Jane and Lord Dalton to converse were cut short by the changing moves of the country dance, limiting their speech to small talk about the evening.
    A quick succession of partners made Jane’s evening fly past in an eddy of music, colour and laughter. Before she realised it the supper dance was next and Lord Dalton was asking her to accompany him. She placed her hand on his outstretched arm, feeling the warmth and firmness of his forearm beneath her palm.
    With the first bars of the waltz, Lord Dalton offered his left hand to her as he slid his right arm onto her waist. Her skin warmed at his touch and she glanced up into his dark eyes to find them gazing at her intently. Flustered, she looked down and found herself staring at his sapphire-studded cravat pin. With a brief pause to coordinate their start, Lord Dalton firmly whisked her into the dance. She gave herself up to his direction and felt her feet skim across the polished ballroom floor, lights and sounds whirling around her. She was conscious of his sandalwood scent at this close proximity.
    “Well Miss Brody, how are you enjoying the evening?” he asked.
    “So very much Lord Dalton. Balls are sufficiently infrequent in my life as to make them exciting.” She smiled up at him wondering whether such a gauche-sounding answer would make him disdain her. Too bad !
    Lord Dalton passed no comment, merely smiling in response and they lapsed into silence again. Jane felt relaxed and secure in his arms as he guided her around the ballroom. Swirling colours and candlelight danced around her partner as they circled the ballroom. She closed her eyes briefly to enjoy the feeling of movement. Before Jane realised what was happening Lord Dalton had danced her through the French doors leading onto the balcony. She felt a rougher, cooler surface beneath her thin slippers. Her eyes opened with a start to find she had been seamlessly swept through the double doors and was being waltzed along the balcony above the garden. The air felt cool on her arms. As they continued to dance she relaxed her wariness. When after a few minutes away from the ballroom Lord Dalton circled his right arm around her waist, drawing her closer and moulding his body to hers, she was caught off guard. Pinned in a compromising position, her steps faltered and Lord Dalton