Blinded by Grace: Book Five of the Cotillion Ball series (Crimson Romance) (2 page)

“No, Mother, I won’t sit. I’m tired of sitting. I want to dance. I suggest you go find your husband and do the same.”

She took a deep breath, and began to walk toward Halwyn. It may be a presumptuous act on her part, but she had no more time to waste. She wove her way through the dancers and the onlookers, stopping to say hello when she passed an acquaintance so it wouldn’t seem as though she was making a mad dash in his direction. She’d just casually stroll around the room and run into him. Her plan was in place.

When Grace finally made it to the side of the ballroom where Halwyn had been, he was no longer there. She scanned the room quickly, to see where he had gone. Now he was over on the side where she had just come from! Blast and damn! Should she return to her lowly chair and to her mother, or wait where she was in hopes he’d return? She chewed her lower lip and toyed with the pearls around her neck as she pondered what move to make next. This was turning into a silly parlor game of musical chairs.

At that precise moment, they locked eyes across the room. She put the fingers of one hand to her stomach to stop its sudden fluttering. His smile flew across the room to her, evoking warmth and excitement in her at the same time. He gave her a small wave and began to walk with purpose toward her. She waited, quietly, admiring how his glasses made him even more handsome. Her eyes never left his face—so she was able to bear witness as his mother, Charlotte Fitzpatrick, came up to him with a blushing young lady in tow and grabbed Halwyn’s arm. They spoke for a few moments before Charlotte gently pushed the woman toward Halwyn, encouraging them to dance. He glanced across the room and found Grace again. However, all he could do was shrug his shoulders and smile once more before picking up the young lady’s hand and leading her in an awkward, uncomfortable dance.

The opportunity was lost. Blast and damn!

What to do? Grace could not go back and sit quietly beside her mother again. It would mean accepting defeat, and admitting her fate, and she couldn’t abide either. But she couldn’t continue to stand here at the edge of the dance floor. For one, the swirling bodies so close to her were making her dizzy. And people were beginning to send her odd glances, wondering what she was up to. Her behavior was not in keeping with the blushing debs strewn throughout the ballroom. She was starting to wonder herself what she was up to. No doubt about it, she had to make a move. Noticing the open doors leading to the balcony, she took the opportunity to melt away from the ballroom. If it came down to a choice between rejoining her mother and stepfather or risking her virtue, she’d fend for herself every time. Grace quietly glided out through the open doors. Apparently no one even noticed, since she wasn’t followed.

Tears were forming at the back of her eyes, and she scolded herself. You will not let them fall. Your mother is of no help to you now. You’ll just have to deal with this yourself. She moved to the shadows as couples emerged from the hot, cloistered ballroom, hoping to spend a few moments alone in the fresh air and possibly steal a kiss or two. Grace ran her hands down the tiers of her pale gown again. It was her favorite dress, but even she was weary of it now. Simon Huffman, her mother’s husband for the past year, had not consented to outfit her with new clothing for the season. And having an outdated wardrobe would shoo away any and all fortune hunters, if there were any to be found this year. As heiress to a substantial amount of money, she should be attracting poor reprobates left and right. But her wardrobe screamed that, if there had indeed been a fortune attached to her—as was rumored—it had long since been spent.

Simon was well aware of what it would take to attract a man in search of a quick fortune, since he married her mother for the very same reason. He had done his homework, and the language used in Grace’s father’s trust stated that she must have a husband in place by her twenty-first birthday, otherwise the trust money would fall to her mother, and consequently, to Simon. All he had to do was keep Grace from attracting a suitable husband until the designated birthday, in July of this year; Simon bided his time by verbally abusing both Grace and her mother, turning her mother into a shadow of her former, vibrant self. But Simon’s cutting remarks only made Grace stronger. She’d be damned if he ever got his hands on her father’s money.

So she had to take matters into her own hands tonight. She, her mother, and her stepfather were only at the ball for appearance’s sake, and they would soon leave the social spotlight. Simon was uncomfortable in the company of men who were superior to him, and he also wanted to limit her chances of finding a partner. Her opportunity for a match would be lost if nothing changed her life’s course this evening. She could not let that happen, for her sake as well as her mother’s.

Grace held her breath as a familiar gentleman walked out of the ballroom and lit a cheroot. Halwyn Fitzpatrick was a mere ten feet away from her! She caught the pleasant scent of his tobacco as she stared, transfixed. She was thirteen all over again. He took off his glasses and then ran a hand through his thick blond hair. He inhaled deeply and Grace noticed his shoulders fall slightly as he relaxed. He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and began to clean his spectacles. She must have uttered a sound, because he turned and took a few steps in her direction, stumbling blindly into her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, ma’am.” He held her elbows for a moment to make certain she had regained her balance.

Now’s not the time to turn into a stuttering fool, Grace.
“Hello, Mr. Fitzpatrick,” she replied, taking a deep breath before she continued. “I was hoping to run into you this evening, but I didn’t mean it literally.”

He placed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose and smiled at her. “Hello, Grace. Or should I say Miss Wagner now? My goodness, how long has it been since we’ve seen each other? Six or seven years, hasn’t it been? Please join me.” He held out a hand to her, and, as if in a dream, she floated from the shadows to stand beside him.

“It’s so nice to see you again,” he continued. “Is this your first ball?”

She stared at him, baffled. “No, Mr. Fitzpatrick, it is not. I was introduced into society the same year your sisters, Heather and Jasmine, were.”

He smiled at her again, making her insides jump. “A lot happened that night, what with Jasmine’s broken ankle and Heather and David coming together, so forgive me for not remembering. It was fairly chaotic, even for my family. And please, call me Halwyn. But surely you didn’t participate last year, or I would have seen you.”

She sighed. “We were still mourning my father’s death for the first part of the season, but I sat along the wall for the latter portion, with my mother.”

“Ah, yes, I’m so sorry about your father’s untimely passing. He was a good man. You must miss him.”

“Every day,” she replied in a small voice, almost a whisper.

“I must confess, until a week ago when I got fitted for my glasses, I couldn’t see ten feet in front of me. So I regret I missed you last year.”

Grace sighed softly. “It’s all right. Everyone else did, too.”

“And why are you out here, on this dark balcony, by yourself this evening?”

“I couldn’t take another minute inside. ‘
Society is now one polished horde
.’”

Halwyn grinned at her. “‘
Formed of two mighty tribes, the Bores and the Bored
.’ Yes, Lord Byron did have it right, didn’t he?”

“He’s my favorite. But I had no idea you appreciated him, too. It’s nice to find a man who can quote poetry.”

She glanced up at Halwyn, an idea suddenly forming in her mind.

“Since we are old family friends, may I impose upon you for a favor?”

“Yes, of course, Grace. What is it that you need?”

“I need a gentleman to break the ice for me tonight, and ask me for a dance. Would you be so kind as to partner with me?”

“Well, certainly. In fact, I hear the orchestra starting up the next waltz right now. If you aren’t already obligated for this dance, shall we go inside and join the others on the dance floor?”

“My dance card is, unfortunately, void of any participants at this point. Thank you, Halwyn. I’d love to dance with you.” She smiled up at him and placed her hand on his arm as he led her from the balcony to the dance floor. The hem of her skirt whispered along the floor as she walked with him. He positioned one hand on her waist, holding the other aloft. As if they’d been dancing together for years, they fell into the steps of the waltz seamlessly. She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping to burn into her memory this one night, this one dance. She could even rearrange the facts in her mind somewhat and pretend that Halwyn had asked for the pleasure of her company, having been overcome by her beauty, instead of the other way around. The song died out much too soon. She nearly whimpered as the last strains of the violin wafted through the air.

Halwyn bowed low over her hand as the dance ended. “You dance beautifully. Much better than my previous partner of this evening. Thank you, Grace, for the most enjoyable time I’ve had all evening. Mother has been finding ladies for me all night, but this was one occasion when I got to choose. I’m glad it was you.”

She hoped her mother caught a glimpse of the two of them, together on the dance floor. Or maybe it would be better if she didn’t.

• • •

Halwyn thought nothing of leading Grace back to the side of the room where her mother was sitting, talking to some of the other ladies. After all, it was the accepted practice to return a partner to her parents when the dance ended. But the closer they got to her mother, the slower Grace’s footsteps became. Halwyn stole a glance at her and discovered her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Sensing something was amiss, he stopped his forward approach and put a protective hand over hers.

“Would you prefer it if I leave you here, Grace? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

She blinked, forcing the tears away. He could read the worry on her face, and how she visibly relaxed at his question. He was correct, then. Something was truly wrong.

“Thank you, Halwyn, for understanding. Yes, perhaps it would be best.” Her voice was so low it was almost a whisper. He leaned in closer so he wouldn’t miss her words and caught a whiff of her fragrance. Lilac water. His favorite. He plucked her hand from his arm, and delivered a quick squeeze to her gloved fingers.

“The pleasure is all mine, Grace. Good evening.”

He backed away, out of sight of her mother, but near enough to keep an eye on things. Something was going on with Grace and her mother, and he was curious to know what it was. Her father’s death, a few years ago, had hit her fairly hard. Or so he’d been told by Jasmine and Heather, as they kept him informed on their friend’s life. He was aware of the fact her mother had remarried the following year, to a hard-nosed man Halwyn did not care for. In fact, he refused to have any dealings with him. Instead, whenever Simon Huffman had business with the bank, Halwyn’s father handled it. And each time, Halwyn gave thanks that his father had not yet stepped down from his position as head of the bank, which he was threatening to do more and more each year. Halwyn would be willing to wager his yearly income on the idea that Simon was behind whatever was happening between Grace and her mother.

Grace returned to her seat beside her mother, who barely nodded in her direction before she went back to her gossip with the other ladies. Thankfully, Simon was nowhere around, so Halwyn didn’t need to feign a conversation with him. Grace sat with her hands folded and her head up, waiting for the next gentleman, should there be one, to ask for a dance. Halwyn hoped he had done her a service by dancing with her. What would happen if he were to ask for a second dance right away? Would other men wonder why Halwyn found Grace so appealing and rush to dance with her so they could discover her allure for themselves? The idea did have merit. And she was an old family friend. His heart went out to her plight, whatever it might be.

She glanced up and caught his eye, smiling her thanks to him for the dance. Her mother, Sophie Huffman, suddenly turned sharply and spoke to her daughter. Halwyn caught the sudden shift in Grace’s demeanor. She stared at the floor, her hands in her lap, as her mother continued her tirade. Grace was sinking in her chair. Yes, it was time to take action.

He strode forward and stopped in front of her, bowing low once again. Grace raised her eyes and issued a little squeak of surprise. Her mother glanced up at him as well.

“Mrs. Huffman, good evening. I would be honored if I could have this dance with your lovely daughter. Would you mind?”

He caught Grace’s startled glance, as she shook her head slightly from side to side. Halwyn disagreed. It was not a bad idea. Sophie Huffman’s eyes ricocheted back and forth from Halwyn to Grace and back again, as if she couldn’t comprehend the question. So Halwyn took the control of the situation. He reached for Grace’s hand, and gently pulled her to a standing position as a new waltz began. They moved the few necessary feet to the dance floor, where he once again put his hand to her waist and lifted the other into the air, waiting for her.

“You didn’t have to do this, Halwyn,” she whispered as they glided across the floor.

“You are quite wrong, Grace. One dance with you was not enough. I had to do this.” He smiled across the room at her dumbfounded mother before he rested his eyes on Grace. Another line from the immortal Lord Byron ran through his head as the light from the candles played with Grace’s features:
Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face
. He leaned in again for another whiff of lilac water. Good Lord, here he was, his mind spouting lines of poetry about a lady! And the lady who was inspiring the poet in him was none other than his sisters’ playmate, Grace Wagner. But the playmate had grown to be a lovely, intelligent woman who was a superb dancer. Perhaps this season wouldn’t be so hard to get through after all.

Grace, sweet, gentle, Grace, had been in Halwyn’s thoughts since he arrived home from the ball. What was going on between Grace and her mother? He had done what he could, by dancing with her. After he led her around the room not once, but twice, he noticed several other men decided to follow his lead, and Grace spent the last half of the ball on the dance floor, suddenly enormously popular, and seemingly happy. At least she didn’t have to listen to her mother harping at her. Halwyn had gauged her mother and stepfather’s expressions while Grace was dancing and was surprised they did not appear at all pleased that their daughter was enjoying some popularity.