He grinned, reaching out with his arms and pulling her close until her body was bumping against his. Thankful for the absence of his servants, he grazed her cheek with his thumb, fighting the urge to reach out and claim her lips. But he knew he couldn’t. On the contrary, tonight they were both required to act formally —to keep their hands to themselves, and restrict the contact of their lips to the grazing of the knuckles. "This is going to be a very serious gathering, Gretchen."

"Huh," she smiled, leaning further into him and pursing her lips in anticipation of a kiss.

He shook his head in refusal. "It's important we both act proper and that includes keeping our hands off of each other." He said, trying not to sound offensive. He didn't know what it was like growing up in America, but he knew that such show of attraction —especially in a gathering of the highest class of society— wouldn't be received too warmly, and he didn't want her to feel embarrassed. "Do you think you can manage, darling?" He whispered in his own rendition of an American accent.

A smile finally settled on her face at his ridiculous attempt, before she nodded her head.

"Good. Now, enough of silly accents, we have a ball to attend." He said and held out his hand to her as they made their way out the building.

**

BEING IN A ROOM FULL of proper men and women left Gretchen feeling like the elephant in the room. She felt clumsy and uncivilized, and it didn't help that the women in the room seemed to be looking down their noses at her. A second in her presence was enough to give away the fact that she was American; a fact that became increasingly embarrassing with every second that ticked by.

"Lord Williams,"

Gretchen lifted her gaze to the female voice that beckoned Ethan, a frown immediately claiming her face the second her eyes came to rest on the unfamiliar woman.

"Lady Hall," Ethan offered a polite smile, taking the woman’s hand and planting a slight kiss on her gloved knuckles.

"I'm so glad you could make it." Lady Hall's voice grated on Gretchen's nerves.

“Likewise," Ethan smiled. "I'd like you to meet Miss Riverside."

"Oh?" Lady Hall turned to the side, hazel eyes coming to rest on her as a small frown creased her face.

She was lovely, Gretchen thought, her gaze moving from Lady Hall's curly blonde hair that sat atop her head in a fancy hairdo, to the white pearls that graced her neck, and finally, to her lovely red dress.

Suddenly feeling small next to Lady Hall, Gretchen leaned closer to Ethan.

"Miss Riverside, this is Lady Henrietta Hall." Ethan said, turning to Gretchen.

For a brief second, she hoped he would elaborate further on the fact that she wasn't just 'Miss Riverside', but also that she was being courted by him —he didn't.