“And then I slapped him,” she continued reluctantly, before babbling, “and then I slapped him again, and he kissed me for punishment and then the table fell over and he picked it up and we came back out.” She grimaced as she finished, aware that she was probably blushing furiously.

Lord Findlay was silent for several seconds and then cleared his throat and asked, “And does he often punish you with kisses?”

“No, of course not, never,” Lisa assured him, and then babbled nervously, “Well, except tonight, but you see he wanted me to stay away from Lord Pembroke, but I had to dance with him because of Suzette. Only Pembroke could tell I was uncomfortable and thought it was because I’d been sick and insisted on taking me out for air. Then he grabbed me, and I got away and Lord Tibald took care of Pembroke for me while I tried to come inside. But then Robert saw everything and dragged me off to rant at me about being with Pembroke, which is when I slapped him and . . . well, all the other followed and we returned to the ball,” she ended weakly.

“I see,” Findlay murmured.

Lisa was doing her damnedest to avoid looking at him, afraid of what she would see in his eyes. But when his shoulder began to shake under her hand, she glanced at him nervously, amazed to see him struggling to stifle what appeared to be mirth.

“Are you laughing, my lord?” Lisa asked with amazement.

“I am sorry,” he assured her sincerely, but the sincerity cracked under amusement as he added, “Truly you are the most delightful female. Sometimes I simply cannot make heads or tails of what you’re saying.”

“Oh,” she muttered and supposed her explanation had been a little less than coherent.

“Why are you supposed to stay away from Pembroke?” Langley asked.

“Because—” Lisa paused abruptly, and avoided telling the truth by repeating what Tibald had said. “Because he is notoriously difficult when in his cups.”

“Ah, yes, he is,” Findlay agreed solemnly. “I take it he is in his cups tonight?”

“Lord Tibald seemed to think so,” Lisa muttered.

“Right.” He nodded. “And how is it that you had to dance with Pembroke because of Suzette?”

“Oh,” she sighed unhappily. “He came up asking about a dance and Suzette announced that the first waltz was still free, so of course I had to dance it with him.”

“Of course,” Findlay agreed wryly. “And did you enjoy Langley’s punishing kiss?”

Lisa was so startled by the unexpected question that she actually stumbled in the dance. Lord Findlay immediately tightened his hold on her, drawing her closer against his chest to prevent her falling and she took refuge there briefly to avoid answering the question.

“Are you all right?” he asked, easing her back a moment later. It was the smart thing to do. It really wasn’t proper to be hanging on a man like that.