Chapter Four
The man looked truly stricken, as if she had just slapped him. "I beg your pardon. I was not doing so intentionally."
Immediately, Tatiana regretted her words. He was being kind and generous and she had said something hurtful.
He moved a step away from her.
What was it? Why would he be angry if she knew he used magic? She'd meant for her words to be light and teasing. Tatiana was thoroughly confused and annoyed with herself. She took another small step closer to him.
"No. It is fine. I mean, I don't know if you were or not, it is just that you, you..." She didn't know how to politely describe how good he made her feel, and felt completely unsure of what might be appropriate in this sort of situation. He was a stranger to her and yet made her feel so good, so happy. Was that not magic? Could it have been something else?
Now she began to question her own abilities. No, she understood magic. She knew what it felt like. He may not have meant to use his power to charm her, but she knew his voice had been laden with it. Could he not know his own power?
The man cocked his head, waiting for her to finish her sentence.
Tatiana swallowed hard. Putting all caution aside, she went for the direct approach. "You make me feel good. Happy. And you took away my anger, which was about to make me do something very inappropriate. Thank you," she finished, hoping she didn't sound weak.
The smile returned to the gentleman's face. "I'm glad you're feeling better. And I do apologize for those oafs."
Tatiana gave a shrug and let her previous anger fizzle out. "It's all right. Trina deserves it. Honestly, I'm happy she's getting so much attention."
"Trina? Is that your sister?"
"Yes. Ekaterina Ashurst. Would you like me to introduce you?" Tatiana was shocked by the words coming from her own mouth. What was with her this evening? She didn't want to introduce this man to Trina. She wanted him all for herself. Not that she could do anything more than have one pleasant evening in his company, a cruel voice in the back of her mind whispered.
"No. Thank you," he said with a smile that would warm any young woman on the coldest of days. "It was very kind of you to offer, but I'm very happy here speaking with you."
It was exactly the right thing to say—and sparked its own little fire within Tatiana.
"But what am I doing? I beg your pardon! We have not been properly introduced," he said, with sudden consternation. He looked about for a moment. "Is that your chaperone?" he said, indicating her grandmother just behind her.
"My grandmother," Tatiana nodded.
The gentleman took a few steps over to Lady Ashurst and bowed. "I beg your pardon, madam. May I be so bold as to introduce myself?"
He waited a moment for her nod of approval and then continued. "I am Christopher Vallentyn. May I beg the honor of an introduction to your granddaughter?"
His name echoed in Tatiana's mind. Vallentyn? She couldn't believe someone would be so bold as to take on such a name. Her grandmother must have had heard of his family, though, since she didn't even blink at his odd name. In fact, she seemed quite pleased with his attention.
Tatiana watched with a little dismay as her grandmother turned toward the throng of gentlemen surrounding Trina, but Mr. Vallentyn stopped her.
"I meant your other granddaughter." He nodded toward Tatiana.
Relief and happiness surged within her, but she saw that her grandmother was not at all pleased. "I'm certain you would much rather be introduced to the elder of my granddaughters," she said, turning once again toward Trina.
"Er, no ma'am, thank you. She seems to be rather inundated just at the moment," Mr. Vallentyn said.
Her grandmother nodded in agreement but didn't look like she was going to give up easily. "It is true. In that case, perhaps you'll be content to wait a little while? Or to come on Thursday when we will be "at home" to visitors?"
"Thank you, that is very kind." He bowed to Lady Ashurst but as his eyes slid once again toward Tatiana, a warm thrill cascaded down her spine. "Surely you wouldn't mind, then, introducing me to your younger granddaughter?" he asked once more.
Tatiana's grandmother pursed her lips into a moue of displeasure, but she seemed to be caught by good manners. Tatiana could see the resignation in her eyes as she turned toward her. "Of course. Mr. Vallentyn, Miss Tatiana Ashurst."
Mr. Vallentyn bowed over Tatiana's hand as she curtseyed. This time he didn't kiss it but instead kept his pale-blue, smiling gaze steady on her own. "It is an honor to meet you, Miss Tatiana."
"And you, sir," Tatiana said, doing her best to keep her voice neutral and polite for her grandmother's sake—when instead she was tugged by the urge to titter and giggle like an idiot. Never in her life had she felt this way. How ridiculous!
One small part of her heart rejoiced at having met such a charming man. Another part wept. She completely understood why her grandmother had been so reluctant to introduce her to Mr. Vallentyn—she was here to support Trina in her coming out, not to meet men herself. On the other hand, there couldn't be anything too wrong with a brief flirtation, could there? It was just this one night and then she would go back to being the good, dutiful daughter and supportive sister, she silently promised herself, and her grandmother. She would.
She was well aware that she could never have anything more than this extremely short time with him. And she had promised her sister that tonight she would dance and have as much fun as she possibly could. Opportunity smiled at her so she gave her chin a lift and smiled right back.
Tatiana lost track of Trina after that. She was too busy being completely charmed by Mr. Vallentyn. After he had escorted her in to the light dinner provided and then danced a second dance with her, he turned to her saying, "I must apologize, Miss Tatiana. If I continue to stay here, I know I will do something frightful like ask you to dance a third time or continue to hang about in a most inappropriate manner. Do say that you'll excuse me for the evening... and that you'll meet me tomorrow. No, I beg your pardon, the day after tomorrow—in the park?"
Sad as she was to see him go, she understood his reasoning. He truly was a proper gentleman. "I would be most happy to meet you in the park, Mr. Vallentyn. Shall we say at one before the throng of society descends?"
"Excellent idea. I'll see you there on Tuesday, at the main gate, at one." He bowed and kissed her hand once again before he turned and joined a man who was frowning hard at Tatiana.
Tatiana shrugged and turned back to her sister. Trina accepted a glass of lemonade from one of her many admirers, while the next one hovered about waiting his turn to dance with her. Well, there was no doubt the night could be called a success.
She had two weeks, Tatiana reminded herself. Two weeks to spend with the charming Mr. Vallentyn.
She did her best to make her sigh as silent as possible.
"Christopher, remember what we spoke of earlier this evening," Lord Durrington said in a warning tone as Kit approached him.
He took his father's arm and led him out of the ballroom. "I remember. I remember what you said earlier this evening, and yesterday evening, and the week before."
"Don't be rude," his father snapped. "It doesn't become you."
Kit found it surprisingly easy to ignore his father's anger. "What do you say to spending the rest of the evening at Brooke's? I'm feeling lucky tonight, and I believe Browlington just got paid his quarterly allowance."
"That boy has entirely too much money," his father agreed reluctantly, as they headed out the door.