believe St Justin is headed this way." Venable drew himself up and straightened his shoulders. "Have no fear, my dear."
"I don't." Harriet glanced across the room again and saw that Gideon was, indeed, making his way through the crowd to where she stood with Mr Venable.
The musicians hurriedly struck up another tune, effectively covering up the shocked murmurs of the crowd. Several young couples, including Felicity and a farmer's son, took to the floor.
Harriet smiled eagerly at Gideon as he made his way toward her. She could not wait to hear how he had dealt with his steward and to find out if he had contacted the Bow Street Runners yet. It was time they discussed plans for apprehending the thieves.
Gideon's dark brows rose at the sight of her cheerful smile. He came to a halt in front of her and inclined his head politely. His eyes gleamed in the light.
"Good evening, Miss Pomeroy. You are looking in very fine form tonight."
"Thank you, sir. It is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you are enjoying your stay in the neighborhood."
"As much as can be expected." Gideon glanced at Venable. "Hello, Venable. It's been a long time."
Venable frowned and edged closer to Harriet. "Evening, my lord. I had not realized you were acquainted with Miss Pomeroy."
"We've met," Gideon murmured. He turned his attention back to Harriet. "I wonder if I might have the pleasure of the next dance, Miss Pomeroy."
Harriet's eyes widened. "I am not an accomplished dancer, my lord."
"Neither am I. I have had very little practice in the past few years."
Harriet relaxed. "Oh, well, then, in that case, I should be delighted. Please excuse me, Mr Venable." She handed him her cup and saucer.
"Now, see here," Venable sputtered as he automatically accepted the dishes. "I am not at all certain your aunt would want you dancing without her permission, Miss Pomeroy."
"Nonsense." Harriet snapped her fan closed and put her fingertips on Gideon's sleeve. "My aunt will be positively thrilled to know that I managed to secure at least one dance this evening." She looked up at Gideon through her lashes. "Shall we, sir?"
"By all means, Miss Pomeroy." Gideon led her away from Venable.
"Where are we going?" Harriet demanded when she saw that he was drawing her toward the corner where the musicians were ensconced.
"To make a request." Gideon halted and leaned over to speak to the man who was wielding a violin. The musician nodded violently.
"At once, my lord. Immediately."
"Excellent. I know I may depend upon you." Gideon straightened and took Harriet's arm.
"Now what?" Harriet asked as he walked onto the floor.
"Now we dance, of course."
At that moment the country dance that the musicians had been playing came to an abrupt halt. The dancers stopped in their places and gazed at each other in bemusement.
A few seconds later the violin sounded a few experimental notes and then plunged into a full-blooded waltz. The rest of the small group of instruments followed.
The young people on the floor sent up a cheer and leaped into action before anyone could countermand St. Justin's orders. Couples swung eagerly into the previously forbidden dance. Their elders frowned sternly. All eyes went once more to Gideon.
Gideon's gaze was on Harriet, awaiting her reaction.
Uncertainty made Harriet's stomach tighten, but a throbbing excitement was pouring through her. She took a deep breath and stepped into Gideon's arms. He smiled with satisfaction and whirled her across the floor.
"I did not think you would back away from a challenge, Miss Pomeroy," Gideon said softly.
"Never, my lord." Harriet laughed. "I vow, you have created quite a stir tonight. Our poor country assemblies will never be the same after this. You have single-handedly brought the waltz to Upper Biddleton."
"I sense that in the minds of some of the good folk here tonight that is equivalent to having brought the plague to the village."
"They'll all survive the arrival of the waltz. And as for me,
"I don't." Harriet glanced across the room again and saw that Gideon was, indeed, making his way through the crowd to where she stood with Mr Venable.
The musicians hurriedly struck up another tune, effectively covering up the shocked murmurs of the crowd. Several young couples, including Felicity and a farmer's son, took to the floor.
Harriet smiled eagerly at Gideon as he made his way toward her. She could not wait to hear how he had dealt with his steward and to find out if he had contacted the Bow Street Runners yet. It was time they discussed plans for apprehending the thieves.
Gideon's dark brows rose at the sight of her cheerful smile. He came to a halt in front of her and inclined his head politely. His eyes gleamed in the light.
"Good evening, Miss Pomeroy. You are looking in very fine form tonight."
"Thank you, sir. It is a pleasure to see you again. I hope you are enjoying your stay in the neighborhood."
"As much as can be expected." Gideon glanced at Venable. "Hello, Venable. It's been a long time."
Venable frowned and edged closer to Harriet. "Evening, my lord. I had not realized you were acquainted with Miss Pomeroy."
"We've met," Gideon murmured. He turned his attention back to Harriet. "I wonder if I might have the pleasure of the next dance, Miss Pomeroy."
Harriet's eyes widened. "I am not an accomplished dancer, my lord."
"Neither am I. I have had very little practice in the past few years."
Harriet relaxed. "Oh, well, then, in that case, I should be delighted. Please excuse me, Mr Venable." She handed him her cup and saucer.
"Now, see here," Venable sputtered as he automatically accepted the dishes. "I am not at all certain your aunt would want you dancing without her permission, Miss Pomeroy."
"Nonsense." Harriet snapped her fan closed and put her fingertips on Gideon's sleeve. "My aunt will be positively thrilled to know that I managed to secure at least one dance this evening." She looked up at Gideon through her lashes. "Shall we, sir?"
"By all means, Miss Pomeroy." Gideon led her away from Venable.
"Where are we going?" Harriet demanded when she saw that he was drawing her toward the corner where the musicians were ensconced.
"To make a request." Gideon halted and leaned over to speak to the man who was wielding a violin. The musician nodded violently.
"At once, my lord. Immediately."
"Excellent. I know I may depend upon you." Gideon straightened and took Harriet's arm.
"Now what?" Harriet asked as he walked onto the floor.
"Now we dance, of course."
At that moment the country dance that the musicians had been playing came to an abrupt halt. The dancers stopped in their places and gazed at each other in bemusement.
A few seconds later the violin sounded a few experimental notes and then plunged into a full-blooded waltz. The rest of the small group of instruments followed.
The young people on the floor sent up a cheer and leaped into action before anyone could countermand St. Justin's orders. Couples swung eagerly into the previously forbidden dance. Their elders frowned sternly. All eyes went once more to Gideon.
Gideon's gaze was on Harriet, awaiting her reaction.
Uncertainty made Harriet's stomach tighten, but a throbbing excitement was pouring through her. She took a deep breath and stepped into Gideon's arms. He smiled with satisfaction and whirled her across the floor.
"I did not think you would back away from a challenge, Miss Pomeroy," Gideon said softly.
"Never, my lord." Harriet laughed. "I vow, you have created quite a stir tonight. Our poor country assemblies will never be the same after this. You have single-handedly brought the waltz to Upper Biddleton."
"I sense that in the minds of some of the good folk here tonight that is equivalent to having brought the plague to the village."
"They'll all survive the arrival of the waltz. And as for me,
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