The next song was about to start when I got approached by so random nobleman in his 40s. He must have lost his wife and was on the hunt for a new one.
I desperately scanned the room. Percy! Where are you! Get over here and keep your promise!
To my surprise and gratitude, the strange guy with the sad eyes who was watching earlier swooped in to save .
"Forgive , Lord Myron, but the lady has promised the next dance to ."
The older guy looked intensely disappointed but bowed briefly before leaving. I was so relieved I actually spoke my mind.
"You just saved my life."
The mysterious man smiled at . "Oh? How so?"
I turned beet red. I hadn't ant to say that out loud.
"Ummy brother promised to keep n over thirty away from but I lost sight of him," I confessed. "You ca right in the nick of ti."
There was sothing about this guy that pulled words right out of . Yes, he stared at rather intensely earlier, but I was willing to forgive that after his smooth save. At least he didn't give off creepy vibes like the duke.
"Your brother?"
"Yes, Percival du Pont, next in line for the earldom. He's rather protective of and has been a bit like my bodyguard while we've been in the capital."
"Tall, brown hair, blue eyes? Usually wears a serious expression?" the mystery man asked with an odd look on his face.
"Yes, do you know him?"
"I have seen him around," the man said cryptically.
Where was my head today? "Sir, I just realized I don't know your na. I'm"
"Everyone here knows who you are, Lady Catherine du Pont." I pouted. Thanks for reminding , dude. He continued as if he didn't notice. "You can call Al."
"Al? But that doesn't tell a thing about you," I protested.
Clearly he already knew since he picked out of everyone here to dance with. It was probably just because I was a novelty here.
He grinned and the heaviness in his eyes seed to vanish. "Do you have a nickna, Lady Catherine?"
"I do, actually. I prefer it to Catherine but only two people call that anymore," I said wistfully.
This guy seed pretty casual so it probably wouldn't hurt to add one more person to that list. I missed my real na.
"Please feel free to call Katie."
"Katie," Al said as if savoring the na. "I do believe that suits you better. I shall call you Katie then. Lady Katie sounds a bit strange, since it rhys and all. I hope you will forgive the informality."
I burst out laughing. Not a polite, civilized lady titter. A real laugh. The kind that hadn't erupted out of since before I dropped into this novel.
I slapped a hand over my mouth before anyone could notice, stifling it quickly before returning my hand to its proper position for the dance. "Forgive . That wasreally funny."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Maybe I should call you Lady Katie from now on if it makes you laugh like that," he teased with a glint in his eye.
"Please don't," I pleaded, fighting the urge to laugh again. "My mother would kill if she saw laughing like that."
He squinted at . "Your mother doesn't seem to know you very well."
"She doesn't," I admitted before realizing my mistake.
One does not insult a mber of the nobility outright in front of other nobles. It is supposed to be done subtly by twisting words.
"No need to feel bad, Lady Katie. Your forthrightness is refreshing, to be honest. The people around are always masking their true thoughts."
There it wasthe sadness in his eyes again, mixed with a hint of laughter because of my antics.
"That must be exhausting."
"It is. So soone like you is a breath of fresh air," he said with a genuine smile.
My heart fluttered a bit. I'd never been called a breath of fresh air before. Everyone back ho (minus Abby) thought I was a drag.
"That's quite the complint, Sir Al."
"I'm glad you think so. Actually, I ant to introduce myself to you before this. I first"
The song ended and Percy finally caught up to , cutting off whatever Al was going to say. "Catherine, an acquaintance of mine wishes to dance with you."
I couldn't believe it but I was disappointed! I wanted to hear what this interesting person had to say. I turned back towards him to apologize but he was already gone.
"I'm coming," I told my brother sadly.
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