The ballroom at the big country house was crowded and the floor was good. Evelyn was a graceful dancer and her partners were numerous, but she refused to fill her card. Since she had put on Harry’s present he was entitled to some reward. Yet she was not ready to give all she thought he claimed, and she rather hoped he would not arrive. In the meantime the music, the crowd and the beat of feet carried her away. She liked excitement and admiration, and she followed her bent. When the dance was over she must go back, like Cinderella, to Mrs. Haigh’s quiet house. Evelyn felt she hated the bleak moors, the savage wind, and the clouds that rolled about Netherdale.
At length, when she talked to a young sportsman, Ledward crossed the floor. By contrast with her brown-skinned, athletic partner, Harry’s figure was bulky, but he carried his weight well, and Evelyn noted his urbane confidence. He had remarked that she wore the jewel, and her heart beat.
“I hope you have not forgotten me,” he said, and took her from the other.
“I have kept two dances.”
“Then I claim both. I don’t know if one can earn a favor like that, but I’ve made some effort. We lunched at Glasgow with a shipyard manager who wanted some expensive forgings for a new liner, and for some time it looked as if I ought to stay; but Jasper’s a sport, and when he knew I’d fixed to meet you he sent me off. Then the express was late, and at Carlisle my train was gone. I was forced to use the other line and hire a car for twenty miles.”
“You were very keen.”
“I don’t boast. All I wanted was to apologize because I did not arrive before,” Ledward rejoined.
Evelyn doubted. She thought Harry wanted to imply that he was occupied by important transactions and, so to speak, stood for power and riches. To some extent he did so, but the power was Jasper Carson’s, and Harry admitted that Jasper let him go. Somehow it bothered Evelyn. She was vaguely, and perhaps instinctively, afraid of Jasper.
“At all events, your keenness was rather nice,” she said with a smile, and allowed Ledward to steer her into the dance.
The music was good. Although Ledward was strongly built his step was light, and Evelyn gave herself to the rhythm of the swinging tune. She need not measure distance and avoid collision. To do so was Harry’s business, and he knew his part. Evelyn thought it important. Harry’s rules were her rules, and if she agreed, he would carry her soberly along the safe, beaten track.