Chapter 5:

"I've never known a man with more nerve than that Rathbone fellow…" Catherine stated within her mind as she breezed back into the ballroom. With her book safely hidden from sight against her flowing skirts, the young woman made her way over to her table where she found her father waiting. He looked up in surprise before he rose to greet her with a smile.

"Daughter." He began, "…how are you fairing tonight?" he asked curiously. Catherine cleared her throat softly before she moved to stand behind her chair,

"Oh…I'm just wonderful, father." She replied coolly while she discreetly hid her book back into her black cloak. Andrew Jones' eyebrows rose up in response,

"Really?" he inquired as his warm, brown eyes narrowed softly in suspicion,

"Oh yes…completely." Catherine assured with a forced sweet smile.

"Hmm….well I'm very glad to hear that. What have you been up to?" he returned.

Catherine shrugged a bare shoulder, "Just appearing like every other young woman here tonight," then she began listing things off, "….smile when looked upon, reply when spoken to….all that good stuff." She replied.

Andrew Jones chuckled and shook his head, "What, you telling me that you've been following the proper rules of etiquette when it comes to socializing?" he questioned with a fatherly curiosity.

"If by proper, you mean keeping the smart remarks out of the picture, then yes." She answered.

"Wow….that must be a first." Her father stated with a laugh.

A smile pulled at Catherine's lips before she turned her teal eyes upon her father, "When you put it like that, you make me sound difficult."

Andrew Jones remained silent to that for a couple seconds before both his eyebrows rose up playfully stare his daughter down. Understanding instantly what his silence was all about, Catherine laughed.

"Okay….maybe I can be a little difficult…." She confessed, "….sometimes…" she added.

When she received another silent look from her father, she reached over and lightly smacked him on his shoulder, "Oh hush!" she exclaimed before she took him by the arm and began leading them away from the table, "…Come and dance with me again, papa." She asked.

When the two stepped out onto the dance floor, a new song had just begun. Its tune was gentle, flowing and carried with it a haunting touch that sent chills down Catherine's spine as she and her father slowly spun in their dance.

"I must wonder," Andrew Jones began as they moved smoothly to the music, "….wouldn't you rather prefer having a handsome gentleman as your dance partner?" he asked with a teasing sparkle in his eyes.

Catherine smiled, "….Don't I already have one?" she replied with a charming wink.

Andrew Jones grinned, "Oh you're good." He stated with a laugh.

When Andrew Jones turned his daughter about once more in their dance, a hand from behind reached out and lightly tapped him on his shoulder. Politely, Catherine and her father moved to face the unexpected interruption. But when Catherine's teal eyes locked onto two familiar black holes, she instinctively tightened her grip on her father's hand and shoulder.

"Mind if I cut in, sir?" Lord Rathbone asked, his eyes never once leaving Catherine's face.

Catherine averted her gaze from Lord Rathbone before her to gaze back at her father who seemed to be silently going back and forth from his daughter to the man standing before them. The look he held on his face was that of deep consideration. "Papa…." Catherine thought in her head as her eyes pleaded softly with him, "…..no…don't!"

After a couple more seconds dragged on, Andrew Jones, despite the knowing look his daughter was giving him, smiled politely at the dark eyed Lord, "Not at all, Lord Rathbone." He answered.

Catherine bit back a groan of outrage as her father then handed her over into Lord Rathbone's arms. With one hand taking her waist firmly and his other holding out her right hand, Lord Rathbone smirked down on Catherine triumphantly before sweeping her back into the dance.

"Hope you don't mind the intrusion." He stated with a half smirk that Catherine had grown to dislike. She in response rolled her eyes.

"You very well know that I minded it." She replied with soft resentment while giving a gentle toss of her head to move a curled strand of hair from her eyes. "…..I mean did I even hint that I would ever want to dance with you, my Lord?" she returned.

Rathbone's mouth turned up into a cocky grin while he silently pulled Catherine closer to his body as he skillfully twirled her about on the dance floor.

"We're dancing now, aren't we?" he replied. Catherine's eyes narrowed.

"Unfortunately." She answered.

A low chuckle came from the back of Lord Rathbone's throat as his dark eyes burned straight into Catherine's, "I can see that even after all these years, you're still the same outspoken, little girl." He stated.

As his words sunk in, Catherine's chin rose up in defiance, "And you're still the same overly arrogant Lord who had no clue what he's talking about." She threw back before continuing on, "Tell me Lord Rathbone, has it become a goal of yours to keep pestering me for the rest of this evening?"

A certain light came to Rathbone's eyes at Catherine's question before he displayed an expression that resembled something along the lines of mocking innocence.

"Now why would I do a thing like that?" he replied smoothly.

"Mmm…." Catherine began softly as her eyes quickly traced over Lord Rathbone's face carefully, "…..try not to look so innocent, my Lord." She stated in a deceivingly sweet tone before she leaned slightly into the dark eyed man, "….it doesn't become you." She finished while pulling back to a more comfortable distance.

"And what does, my dear?" he inquired with a curious little tilt of his head,

At the question, a whole list of profanities filled her mind about the man who was holding her firmly in his arms, but keeping her composure, Catherine smiled sweetly, "I cannot say." She answered, "….for the words I bear are not for the public's ears I'm afraid."

The hand that Rathbone kept on her waist, spanned against the small of her back before it pulled her close, "Perhaps then, we could go somewhere more private?" he suggested in a low voice.

Now if it had been any other young women, they would've found the offer tempting beyond words, but to Catherine, it filled her with displeasure and a frown gently pulled down on her lips,

"I'd sooner throw myself off the London Bridge than ever even consider such a thought." She answered boldly.

Both of Rathbone's dark brows rose up at the statement, "Ouch." He answered while emitting a brief laugh, "Now was that comment really necessary?"

Catherine lifted her chin and coolly stared into Rathbone's eyes, "Indeed it was." She declared, "….and so is this!" she added before brought their dance to a stop by bringing the heel of her shoe down onto Rathbone's foot.

Rathbone's eyes widened at the swift pain but made no sound. Catherine then pulled herself out of the man's arms, being subtle enough to not draw attention to herself or to Rathbone from the other couples dancing. "And now I bid you a goodnight, my Lord." Catherine stated with an icy tone before she gently flipped her head and moved around Lord Rathbone's form. His dark head turned to follow her movements as she disappeared into the crowds of people hanging around in ballroom.

"Feisty little vixen." He stated under his breath as a tiny smirk started to once more pull at the corners of his mouth, "We'll meet again." He promised with a nod of his head before he turned on his heel and walked off, leaving the room with a plot concocting in his mind; a brilliant scheme that could very well change the face of England forever.

"And Catherine," Rathbone thought to himself with fierce determination, "…will be made apart of it. Whether she wants to or not."