Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore Page B

hindering the watch is especially serious.”
    Amelia forced herself not to look away. She clenched her jaw to stop her chin from trembling and waited for the captain to hand down her sentence.
    “However, I will take into consideration that this is your first offence.” He slowly rubbed his chin, thinking. “And it is, after all, your birthday.”
    The heaviness in Amelia’s chest began to lighten.
    “In place of your punishment, Miss Becket, I should very much like to dance with you.”
    She blinked and opened her eyes wide, examining his expression but finding no indication that he was teasing. If he had ordered her to walk the plank, she could have not been more surprised. “Captain, I do believe you are flirting with me.”
    He quirked an eyebrow, and the corner of his lips lifted in a small smile. He turned his head slightly toward the sergeant, who still stood against the wall. “A waltz, if you please, Mr. Fairchild.”
    “Captain,” Amelia gasped. “A waltz is so . . . vulgar.”
    William looked down at her. “Miss Becket, I happen to know that the prince himself commissioned a waltz at his own ball last year.”
    Amelia felt the heat rise to her face at the very idea of waltzing with the captain. “But, I do not know how—”
    “I am a very excellent teacher.” He took her hand and bowed over it, then placed her left hand onto his right shoulder before taking her right hand in his. She chided herself for not wearing gloves to supper, feeling self-conscious at the roughness of her palms. Various partners had held her hands at different times during the evening, but the way his hand enfolded hers caused heat to spread over her skin.
    William placed his right hand on the small of her back and pulled gently with his left hand, leading her in a simple series of steps, which she quickly mastered. She focused on the captain’s shoulder, where her hand rested tentatively. He moved lightly, but her movements were stiff. She was afraid of relaxing when he was practically holding her in his arms.
    After a few turns around the room, Amelia felt her tension ease. The music was beautiful, and Captain Drake had a way of drawing her across the floor as if she were floating. When she finally braved a glance at his face, she met his eyes, and her nervousness returned.
    “And is your punishment so dreadful, Miss Becket?” he asked. “I have yet to see you smile.”
    Amelia allowed herself a small smile. “It is a very nice punishment indeed, sir. Is it one you utilize regularly?”
    “Perhaps I shall, if you believe it will keep the men in line.”
    Amelia laughed. “I do not know what they would think if you waltzed with each sailor who failed in his duty.”
    “I imagine it should be quite effective at discouraging rule breaking, don’t you?” William looked thoughtful, as if considering the idea.
    “Perhaps. Until some of the men develop a taste for waltzing. You might begin to worry when the same men continually require discipline.”
    William laughed. Amelia had only heard his laugh a very few times and found she quite liked it. Especially knowing she was the one who had inspired it. She also realized that the sound had caused her heart to trip ever so slightly, and to her dismay, she found that she quite liked that as well. She lowered her eyes, suddenly finding the gold buttons on the captain’s coat fascinating. She was extremely aware of the captain’s arm, the way it wrapped around her, and his hand resting on her lower back. The hand that held hers was strong, and she felt each movement of his fingers and the subtle tightening around her own hand. And had he always had such a pleasant smell?
    “How do you find the waltz, Miss Becket? Is it as scandalous as you had supposed?”
    Amelia prayed that the captain could not read her thoughts and attempted to school her expression into one of polite disinterestedness that she thought a genteel lady of London might wear. “No. It is very agreeable, sir.