She was within earshot, however, and Daniel was relieved to hear her tell the man that she wished to rest before accepting another dance. The man seemed perturbed, but he bowed stiffly and took his leave.
Lucas saw that he had once more lost his friend’s attention.
“Go,” he said, his voice light but encouraging. “Ask the lady to dance. I, myself, should like to find a dance partner.”
Daniel looked at his friend gratefully, and quickly excused himself. He plucked a white rose from a nearby bouquet and made his way to Rose.
Her eyes met his just as he reached her. She smiled wryly at him, but her eyes conveyed happiness.
“I am not sure if you noticed,” she said as he bowed to her. “But it is just a bit past the first dance of the evening.”
Daniel gave her a brilliant smile.
“Please, forgive me, Lady Rose,” he said, holding out the rose to her. “A previous engagement kept me much longer than I had hoped.”
To his relief, Rose accepted the flower without hesitation and smiled.
“Would you like the next dance, then, Lord Elbrook?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Or do you have a meeting between now and then?”
Daniel laughed heartily.
“I can reschedule it for after our dance,” he said.
Rose hid a giggle behind her hand.
“In that case,” she said, holding up the white rose. “Whatever shall I do with this gorgeous flower while we dance?”
Daniel looked at her, once more seeing how lovely she looked. He gently took the rose from her outstretched hand and tucked it into the swirl on top of her head. His heart skipped as he noted how perfectly it contrasted with her beautiful, fiery hair.
“Now, it is the most magnificent flower in all of London,” he said.
Rose blushed and let him lead her onto the dance floor.
The next song started promptly, and they began the dance.
To his pleasant surprise, Rose was a wonderful dancer. She moved as gracefully on the dance floor as her fingers had as they caressed the keys on the pianoforte, and Daniel found himself as transfixed by her dancing as he had been by her music. It was she who at last broke the silence.
“I am glad that you came,” she said shyly.
Daniel chuckled.
“I am glad that you are not angry with me for missing the first dance,” he said.
Rose smiled.
“Well, I admit that, at first, I thought that you had forgotten about me,” she teased. “But it would be terribly hypocritical of me to be upset with you. The theater has made me late for many social events, myself.”
Daniel kept his smile, but he felt a tug at his heart. He wanted to tell her his secret, or, at the very least, that he shared her love for the theater. However, he knew that, for the time being, he could not.
“You look absolutely beautiful tonight,” he said. His words were true, but he also desperately hoped to change the subject.
Rose blushed.
“You should be careful,” she said, her eyes glittering again. “Or else, you will make your little flower friend in my hair quite jealous.”
Daniel laughed.
“It will be our little secret,” he whispered with a wink.
Chapter 14
Rose moved effortlessly as Daniel’s arms swept her across the dance floor.
She was amazed at the passion with which he danced, unlike many of the other men with whom she had danced, who seemed only to be repeating the steps they had been taught out of an obligation to procure a bride.
She allowed him to lead her in the dance in silence for a moment, but even the lack of conversation was comfortable between them. She did not realize that she had been staring at him until he gave her a bright smile.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Rose blushed.
“I was just marveling at how well you dance,” she said.
Daniel laughed.
“A man is only as good as his dance partner,” he said.
She could feel her cheeks burning hotter, but she could not tear her gaze away from his bottomless blue eyes. In that moment, her worries about the theater and her father were far from her mind, and there was no place she would rather be than there with Daniel.
The dance ended, much too soon for Rose’s liking. Daniel seemed as disappointed as Rose as he reluctantly led her off the dance floor.
As the magic of the music and the dance they had shared faded, her troubles returned. Now that she had kept her promises, both to her father and to Daniel, she wondered if she could reasonably leave the ball and go to the theater.
Her father might be a little upset with her, but she had only told him that she would attend the dance, not that she would stay the entire evening. Perhaps, however, there was something more she could do to help solve the mystery while she was at the ball.
“Lady Rose,” Daniel spoke, interrupting Rose’s concentration. “Are you alright?”
Rose hesitated before she answered. They had just shared such a wonderful moment, but she still was unsure whether she should tell Daniel what was on her mind.
“Yes,” she said. “I was just thinking about Father.”
Daniel nodded slowly, seeming to understand what Rose meant without her having to clarify.
“My offer still stands,” he said, his eyes kinder than she had ever seen them. “I will do anything I can to help both you and him.”
Rose gave him a small smile. She wanted so much to trust him, and she was certainly finding it harder to deny her growing feelings for him.
However, she was tethered to the Specter now, at least until the mystery was solved. She did not feel that she could give her heart, or her trust, to Daniel fully until this was no longer the case. She looked up at him, fully prepared to thank him kindly and then change the subject.
But, when she looked once more into his eyes and saw their blue warmth and concern, she bit her lip. She would likely need his help if she hoped to investigate this competitor of her father’s.
After all, it wasn’t likely that the Specter would have any sort of connection that could get her close to the man. She felt guilty for having such a thought, but there was little chance that a man of wealth and social status would have cause to befriend or make deals with an actor.
Rose took a deep breath and steeled herself.
“In that case, I wish to take you up on that offer,” she said.
Daniel’s eyes widened and he smiled.
“I am glad to hear it,” he said, leading Rose toward the back of the ballroom and away from any potential eavesdroppers. When they were far enough away for comfort, Daniel put a hand gently on her shoulder. “What is it that I can do?”