Juli D. Revezzo, author of the Lost Slipper Society series and more

I hope you all had a great Christmas holiday. It’s the new year and we’re back with another Book Hooks segment. This continues A Waltz Before Midnight from where we left off. To refresh your memory, Cindaria and her sister have sneaked away to a ball, out from under their evil stepmother’s eye, and Cindaria has been engaged in a dance with her “prince”–or in his case, brother to an earl. You can read part one here.

And here’s the next part of the scene.

Miss Pumpkin’s sister wasn’t the only one with charm. Spencer wondered how much Miss Pumpkin resembled the young Cinderella. They shared the same face shape; dare he say even the same ears? The elder possessed a sadder air than her sister. He wondered why.

“You are the queen’s hunter, out for the blood of London’s villains.”

“You won’t shun me if I’m a working man?”

“It is the unseen middle and lower classes that make London the brilliant jewel of the empire that it is, sir.”

“You’re a radical. Shocking!”

“Well, Mr. Mould, I don’t mean to be.”

“Mould?”

Miss Pumpkin’s steps faltered. “That’s what you wrote on my dance card.”

Spencer did his utmost to hide his amusement. “I wasn’t sure you’d be able to read my handwriting.”

“Nonsense. Your penmanship was beyond perfection.”

No, it wasn’t, usually. Why would tonight be any different? “Would you vouch for me to my colleagues then? They’d disagree.”

They continued to dance as Spencer attempted to glean more about his dance partner. Many young women knew this dance, and he’d gone through many a quadrille partner at many dances over the years. But he didn’t recall one so concerned with her sister as this one. From time to time, he noticed her gaze straying to the sidelines. So he thought it the best subject to break the ice. “What is it about our little Cinderella that inspires such devotion?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Your charge. She’s a lively little thing. You were kind to bring her.”

Miss Pumpkin drooped. “You mean because she won’t be dancing.”

“On the contrary, I thought I’d take her for a whirl, after our set.”

“You did?” Miss Pumpkin brightened. “I know she would enjoy that. But it will require a bit of fortitude. She … can’t truly dance.”

“Not if I judge your stamina rightly. Or does Cinderella weigh more than she seems to?” Before he gave Miss Pumpkin a chance to answer, he barreled on. “You’re right. I’d better include you both in the dance. It would only be fair to you, as well.” When was the last time he’d seen a child like this at a ball? He couldn’t remember. Maybe the sisters never ventured into society. Families with disabled children rarely flaunted them here. What a shame, if they hid such lively ones as Miss Pumpkin’s sister. At least, he guessed that might be why Miss Pumpkin hesitated to allow her to dance.

Miss Pumpkin had a similar style to many young women he encountered in the past. Dark eyes, with a definite olive tone to her skin made her stand out among them. And she possessed a generosity to her that he rarely saw. Who was this young woman? Was she a member of the Lake family or the Robinson family?

The unmasking would happen at midnight, but curiosity was killing him.

Perhaps there was another way to abate that curiosity. “With whom do you like to spend your time, Miss Pumpkin?” Did they have mutual acquaintances in the ton?

“I spend most of my time, when I’m not taking care of my sister, with Miss Winifred Clankton.”

Ah, the Clankton family. She looked nothing like the family, but perhaps she was one of their inner circle. She must be a … Broadchurch. “I believe I know your father, Miss Pumpkin.”

“How can you?”

“From mutual circles.”

“None that I can think of. If so, I’d know you.”

He took a chance and leaned close to her ear. She smelled of dust and old lavender. “Ah, so you’ve seen through my disguise?”

She said nothing, but pulled away.

He sought a quick remedy and found only apology. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to pry. Tell me, who are your favorite poets?”

Miss Pumpkin relaxed a little.

The song ended. Spencer bowed to his partner and escorted her back to her sister’s alcove. “May I get you and Cinderella some refreshment, Miss Pumpkin?”

She hesitated, and scanned the crowd.

“No, you’re right. We don’t need it.” Spencer took the initiative and the chair next to her sister. “Well then, shall I fill out your dance card, Cinderella?” The girl was charming enough, but would she trust him for a dance? It didn’t seem so, to see how she kept to her chair. What a pity that the child might have to turn down any offer of a dance from a younger gentleman. “If you have no space for me on your dance card—” He scanned the crowd and spotted a little boy of one of his brother’s mutual acquaintances. The child had long ago learned to handle a cane better than most able-bodied dandies. “—might I suggest that little scamp?”

“I—” The little girl sized him up as if trying to decide if he was making some cruel joke.

“I assure you he would put any potential dance partner here to shame.”

Miss Pumpkin’s gaze hardened.

Spencer held up a hand. “Just a moment. I shall introduce you.” Leaving the two girls like this might be a hazard. But to bring some joy to the young girl’s night—and for a chance at another dance with her escort, it was worth the trouble.

Spencer searched through the crowd, and found Charles with some young boys. A few looked like they were about to play ball with one of the host’s precious crystal vases. “Charles.”

His brother straightened.

“Charles, come with me. I have someone I want you to meet.”

Charles stared up at him. “Why?”

“To give you a chance to redeem yourself. She’s a nice girl, who needs more charity than you.” He looked to Charles’s companion. “And you, leave by the side door now, and be home when I drop by to check on you tonight.”

“Why should I?”

“Because you’ve had your fill of the ball.” As the boys melded into the crowd, Spencer set Charles on his course.

“Ow, you don’t have to pull!”

“If I don’t, will you be the polite gentleman on your own?”

“I’ll dance with whoever you want. Just leave me arm in its place.”

Spencer placed himself at eye level with Charles, which didn’t require as much bending as it did the year before. When did that happen? “I want your word that you’ll be the soul of kindness to this girl. Make her forget dancing.”

“Why don’t you want her to dance?”

“You’ll see if you follow me.”

“My, how mysterious. You would puzzle even Sherlock ‘olmes.”

“Holmes.”

“What did I say?”

Spencer glared at him. “You’ll be the gentleman Barnaby and I have taught you to be. Just for tonight. Please.”

“I don’t see why I should.”

“You will.” Spencer bid him to keep going and soon found the alcove Miss Pumpkin and Cinderella waited in.

It was empty, but for two young ladies, about Miss Pumpkin’s age. He bowed to them and excused himself.

“Can I go now?” Charles asked.

Spencer scanned the ballroom. Where the devil did she go?

Synopsis:

When Cindaria Hethrope and Mr. Spencer Moreland collide, the collision destroys a precious gift for her ailing sister. Her nasty stepmother won’t purchase another, so Cindaria has no choice. She must agree when Spencer offers to procure it for her, even if it means traveling outside London with him to meet the creator. All Spencer wants is to clear his debt to the infuriating Cindaria, and forget the horrid, no good day he had less grace than an earl’s son should have. Then maybe he can put this girl behind him and find the charming beauty who stole his heart at a recent masked society ball.

If only he had a glass slipper to prove what his heart tells him is true… 

As always, if you’d like to read more, the book is available at Amazon.

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…