Chapter 13

He was quite surprised with his own audaciousness, for having always considered himself a kind and honourable man above pettiness; he could not believe he approached Desiree, not with any love in his heart, or hope to win her over and thereby call this house and land around as his, but simply to annoy her most ardent suitor.

When he bowed before Desiree, offering his hand to lead her in a dance, he was as surprised as she. He felt just as shocked when, despite the slight widening of her eyes, she accepted. Moving into the adjacent room to which the cadence of music summoned them, he was aware of Jacques following.

As embarrassed as he felt at dancing, he was as skilled in this as his profession and he quickly swept Desiree up in the melody and his intentions. Her sudden intake of breath almost made him laugh, and when a few moments later she asked, “Tell me, Ignatius, do you dance for your own reasons or to help me tantalise another?” he was not in the least astonished.