But more captivating than all of that, as incomparable as it was, had to be the brilliant smile upon her perfectly full lips. She seemed to be constantly on the edge of a laugh, every step of the dance appearing lighter and fresher than he had ever seen. She was everything that any miss in Society would wish to be.
Graham could not look away.
He was transfixed by her, and it took him far too long to notice the unsteady beat of his pounding heart. As well as the dotty smile currently affixed to his lips.
He couldn’t help it; anyone witnessing such a sight would have to smile at it. The fact that he felt as though every inch of him smiled along with his lips was beside the point.
“Such a vision,” Miranda praised on a delighted sigh. “It’s been an age since I have seen her so full of joy. And that gown! Janet Sterling brought it for her, you know, along with three new gowns, all perfectly tailored, by way of apology.”
“What for?” Graham heard himself reply, his voice sounding rather distant.
Miranda tsked beside him. “Oh, she felt so horribly burdened with guilt for not being more present for Edith during her time of need. I did try to tell her that with Francis working towards the betterment of Edith’s position, Janet was beyond all blame, given that someone had to see to the baby, but alas…” Miranda lifted her fan to murmur to Graham. “She swears it did not cost her much at all, though I do not believe her one bit. Such exquisite gowns as that one would have cost a fortune.”
“Well worth the expense, I should think,” Graham said to himself without thinking.
There was a soft laugh from beside him that ought to have given him cause for worry. “Very true, my boy, and I do believe she looks even prettier up close. Perhaps you should join the dance.”
He flicked his gaze to Miranda, knowing precisely what she was doing, then back at the dance. “Hmm,” he rumbled with some thought. “Perhaps I should.”
“You’re agreeing with me?” came the shocked response. Then, in a much flatter tone, “Why?”
Graham smiled again. “I make a point of agreeing with anyone who makes suggestions that benefit me. Don’t take it personally.”
“Never do, Radcliffe,” Miranda laughed, sauntering away. “Believe me, I never do.”
Despite the obvious proposal, Graham did not dance the next. Or the one following. Or even the one after that.
He watched, however, with great interest.
Edith’s enthusiasm did not change with a new partner and did not alter with the variation in dance. Her liveliness and contagious spirit seemed to invigorate the other couples and even the other guests in the room. It really was remarkable. She hadn’t said much by way of conversation in any of the other activities they’d had at this party, and based on his previous encounters with her where dancing had occurred, she hadn’t seemed particularly elated by the thing.
As far as he could tell, she had enjoyed it well enough, but nothing beyond.
This, however, was unfettered joy.
Yet there was nothing silly about it. There were plenty of young ladies in Society that were giddy in the dance, whirling about and flirting shamelessly, taking too much to drink, and behaving without thought. This was far from such a tasteless display.
This surpassed any other joy Graham had seen before in his life, and he was suddenly envious of it. Envious of the joy. Envious of the lightness. Envious of the laughter.
Envious of every damned partner.
He exhaled very slowly, the admission sinking its way down his throat with the warmth and weight of brandy. He wanted to be the one making Edith smile, laugh, dance with such lack of inhibition. He wanted to be the reason she looked thus.
He wouldn’t have a chance of that standing here against the bloody wall, however.
Idiot.
“I do believe the wall will stay there now. You may step away.”
Graham looked at his aunt almost coldly. “I’ll have you know I was just thinking the same thing.”
“Were you?” Eloise made a soft, noncommittal sound as she watched the last movement of the dance at hand. “And did you also think it time to stop being so unnervingly observant of one person in particular? I nearly had the magistrate summoned for her protection.”
“I have yet to find amusement in your statements,” Graham grunted, downing the last of his drink.
“It’s staring you in the face, Gray,” she assured him. “Right before your nose.”
He shook his head slowly. “Are you going to your rooms, Aunt?”
“Of course not, why would you say so?”
Now Graham looked at her in surprise. “You haven’t been to a ball in years.”
Eloise raised a brow, her lips quirking. “You haven’t had one.”
“Matthew did.”
She waved her hand, scowling. “Matthew had too much fuss at his. This is much more sensible.”
“Sensible?” He gestured to the pilasters, the plants, the sheer volume of candles. “Sensible?”
Eloise lifted a shoulder, smiling fully now. “Very sensible, Gray. As always.” She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing. “Perhaps you ought to be a little less sensible. Just a thought.”
“Thank you for that wisdom,” Graham told her as the current dance finished. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to do the most sensible thing I’ve done all evening.”
He strode away, unsteady heart pummeling his ribs as he neared Edith, smiling and laughing with Amelia, who was a picture herself, smiling more than Graham had seen her in their entire acquaintance.
Was that Edith’s influence? Or simply the dance?
“Lady Edith, Miss Perry,” Graham intoned, wincing at the formal, almost stiff manner he had adopted.
Both ladies turned to him, smiles still in place. They curtseyed in time with each other, and he belatedly bowed in response.
“Lovely evening, Lord Radcliffe,” Amelia told him with an earnestness that made him smile. “Truly, this is beyond anything.”
“Well, it is not Almack’s, Miss Perry, but I’m pleased that you are enjoying yourself.”
Amelia made a face, giggling. “Almack’s gets so very hot and crowded. This is far more to my taste.” She glanced between Edith and Graham, and her smile deepened. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I have promised this dance to Mr. Demaris.” She curtseyed quickly and left with almost silent steps.
He was rather fond of Amelia Perry and made a mental note to thank her later.
Edith stared at him with wide eyes, a slight smile on her lips that distracted him from concise thought.
She bit down on her lip softly, and Graham felt his left knee give a little.
“Dance with me?” he asked with the bluntness of an eleven-year-old schoolboy.
Her smile deepened, sending his right knee quivering. “I would love to.”
The musicians began to play again, and the bright, almost brisk melody made Graham frown, shaking him out of his haze. “This… wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for.”
Edith covered her mouth on a laugh, her barely exposed shoulders shaking. “Nor I.”
Still, he had to smile, the corners of his mouth steadily spreading the more he stared at Edith. “This is unnecessarily complicated…”