The Reluctant Debutante Read Online Free PDF Page A

arrested frequently,” Ginger said with a smile.
    Ginger settled into the dance, allowing Joseph to set the pace and the steps. After a few moments, her heart stopped galloping and she risked glancing at him. He was staring straight ahead and didn’t catch her gaze. She lowered her eyes again. What was it about this man that set her heart racing so wildly? Why could she not even steal a glance at him without her legs turning to jelly, making her trip foolishly all over herself? Why could she not think of one thing to say to him, whereas she could take to a soapbox in support of the rights of women and talk to anyone who happened to be willing to listen?
    She’d overheard her sisters giggling to each other about how watching gentlemen made them feel, but men just didn’t affect her in the same manner. She cleared her throat as her mother’s rules of etiquette floated through her mind, screaming at her to say something to him, anything.
    “This is quite elaborate attire you are wearing tonight.”
    Joseph smiled slightly. “Basil told me to pack my good suit, because we were going dancing.”
    “How did you and my brother meet?”
    “We met in a bar on his first day in St. Louis. I will let him tell you the full story.”
    He gazed into her eyes, and her throat suddenly went dry. She ran her tongue lightly over her lips and watched as Joseph’s eyes followed her tongue’s movement. His observation rattled her even more, as she attempted conversation again.
    “Did you tell Basil about our previous meeting?”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “I assumed you were involved in something you were not supposed to be doing, and telling your brother about it would have tipped your hand. It will remain our secret.”
    “Oh.” She fell quiet as she digested this information. Now they were sharing not only a dance, but a secret! She shivered in delight. “I appreciate your concern for my privacy. And, I apologize for nearly fainting when I saw you earlier. You can imagine the scenario that raced through my head. I thought for certain my involvement in the rally was about to be exposed. But, I’m puzzled at my reaction. I’ve never in my life fainted.”
    “It is a big night for you, so it is understandable.” His steps were sure as he moved her around the floor.
    “Are the horses I saw you with yesterday some of the ones you’ve brought to sell? I’d like to look at them more closely.”
    Joseph raised one of his magnificent eyebrows at her. “What do you know of horseflesh?”
    “I know how to ride. I’ve been doing so my entire life.”
    “And that makes you a qualified expert in the field?”
    “I didn’t say I was an expert, for heaven’s sake,” she replied in exasperation. “I was merely making polite conversation.”
    “You know, as I was watching you on the dance floor before with your partner, I began to compare you to horseflesh myself.”
    Ginger bristled. “How dare you!” She tried to pull her hand away from his, but he held her tightly in place.
    “Yes, I thought you were like a thoroughbred, finely boned and high-spirited, and he was a plough horse holding you back.”
    “Oh.” Ginger inhaled sharply at his words. She was still struggling for breath as the last strains of the song ended, and he led her back to her family. When Joseph released her hand at the edge of the dance floor, her body deflated like a balloon that had suddenly lost all of its air.
    The night continued with Basil and now Joseph, taking to the dance floor as a crowd of eager young ladies circled around them, all with dance cards that suddenly had empty spaces on them. Ginger performed her duty of dancing with each and every man who had claimed a place on her card. She tried to keep track of whom Joseph danced with, but even though he towered over most everyone else in the room, she still lost sight of him in the crowd frequently. She felt dizzy from all the swirling about.
    • • •
    Several hours later, Joseph watched