Read into My Heart

Chapter Eleven

Miranda had never danced so much in all of her seasons. She knew her reputation had risen in the past few weeks, but she never dreamt that attending a simple ball would result in such attention. It felt like that the moment she had stepped into the room, people were vying for introductions and placing their name on her dance card. She barely had time between sets to rest her feet.

Such an array of gentlemen asked her to dance that Miranda could hardly remember all of their names. Most seemed polite, offering small chatter while they danced. Others however were not as well-mannered, and had no qualms about raking their eyes up and down her figure. There had been a few times where she had to suppress a shudder at their ogling.

But even though some of the men she danced with were handsome and charming, none of them made her blush or got her heart to skip a beat. Only a certain Earl held that accomplishment. And so Miranda found herself constantly scanning the ballroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lord Carlisle among the fringes of the crowd. She chastised herself for her negligence, for she was supposed to be finding a husband, not pining over one man who was decidedly not in the market for a wife.

As her last dance partner escorted her off the floor, Miranda opted to go find some lemonade before anyone could seize her for another set. Navigating through the crowd, she was able to reach the refreshment table without any hindrance. Taking a glass while trying to politely gulp it down to quench her parched throat, Miranda almost moaned in relief.

"I don't believe I've ever seen a lady down a drink so fast."

Spinning around with a gasp, some of Miranda's drink spilt on to her silk gloves. Lord Carlisle stood with his hands clasped behind his back, an amused expression on his face. Recovering, Miranda hastily dabbed at her glove before a stain could set in. "And I don't believe I've ever been snuck up on as many times, Lord Carlisle."

He chuckled at her response and warmth pooled in her belly at having made him laugh. She noticed that he wore the same evening attire from the Sheffield ball. Yet it had the same effect on her as it did that night. He looked so achingly handsome that she was sure every woman's eye in the room was following him.

Lord Carlisle smirked at her. "You appear to have been sufficiently occupied all evening, I wasn't sure I was going to get a moment to speak with you."

Miranda sighed. "I don't believe I have ever danced so much in my life. At this rate I fear I won't be able to walk home."

"Well I was hoping your feet had enough stamina left to save me a dance."

Her stomach did a tiny flip at the offer, but when she looked down at her dance card, her face fell. "It appears my card has gotten rather full."

Plucking it from her hand, Alex perused the card. Taking out his pencil, he started scratching off names.

Miranda gasped. "You can't do that! What do I say to the gentleman who comes looking for a dance?"

Lord Carlisle only tsked at her. "You have a lot to learn about being the belle of a ball. And," he said with a smirk, "Since I am an Earl, no one would dare try to reclaim his dance from me."

He handed her back the card. "Until then," he said with a bow, then walked away back in the crowd.

Miranda's heart felt like it was galloping inside her chest. When she finally looked down at her card to see what dance he claimed, she couldn't help but beam that he had jotted his name down for the waltz.

When the next gentleman came to claim his dance, Miranda tried to school her features, yet she was sure she smiled too widely or danced a little too eagerly. But she simply could not stop the jitters that seemed to have permeated every part of her body.