» you caught me off guard

[Lucy Price]

Ever since Lucy had learned of this trip to Bath, a little over a week ago, her house had been in a state of chaos. All her very nicest dresses had been packed, along with anything else she might need, and her favorite books. Her siblings continuously brought her gifts, like flowers or drawings, as though she would never be returning from this voyage. With each passing day, Lucy's excitement grew, until she could barely move from her knees shaking.

And finally they had departed for Bath. The ride there was quiet, but altogether pleasant, between reading and conversations about clothing. Their first night there, they had not gone to the rooms, for it was much too late. But the second evening, after a day of shopping and being rather spoiled, Lucy and her companions were in attendance, along with throngs of other people.

Mr. Allen disappeared almost immediately. Mrs. Allen took Lucy's arm. "Come, and we shall find seats where we can watch without being..." She trailed off as Lucy plowed into someone. The young woman's cheeks turned bright pink.

"Oh, pardon me," She said.

[Miles Daventry]

"The fault was mine entirely." Miles said in a polite and unemotional voice. He moved to keep on walking, but he stopped when he saw the young lady with whom he had collided. He stopped, turning to face her, a grin on his face. "Though I suppose, when I think on it, it was really your fault after all."

Anyone who knew Miles at all would have known at that moment that he was teasing. The way his eyes were twinkling gave him away. He did love to tease, and he especially loved to tease pretty young ladies.

And this young lady was most assuredly very pretty. He had begun to grieve because of abundance of very plain and disagreeable ladies he had met on his stay in Bath thus far. He was not an altogether shallow young man, but one did like to come across at least one or two extraordinarily lovely young ladies when one came to Bath.

Up until now, he had been sorely disappointed on this point. However, he thought to himself, things were beginning to look up.

[Lucy Price]

Lucy did not know Miles whatsoever, and therefore had no idea that he might possibly be teasing. It appeared that Mrs. Allen did not either. The elder woman's hands were fluttering at Lucy's arm, trying to pull her away from this dreadful man, but Lucy did not budge.

"I'm very sorry, sir," she repeated earnestly, determined that he would know how badly she truly did feel for her clumsiness (though much of it could be attributed to the crowds). Lucy hated to think that anyone might think badly of her, especially for something as trivial as this.

[Miles Daventry]

"I'm afraid this offense is unforgivable." He said gravely, all traces of a smile gone from his face. He glanced at the elder woman with her, then back at the young lady.

It was obvious that neither of them knew he was not serious. It was because of this common occurrence that his sister often scolded him for his teasing ways. She was always afraid that Miles would accidentally offend someone.

However, MIles never listened to her on this subject.

"And look, another offense." He added suddenly, a look of shock on his face. "For you have committed an act of the greatest impropriety by continuing this conversation with me, though we have never been properly introduced." He smiled then. "Though I must claim equal responsibility in this. Excuse me." He said, bowing slightly then hurrying off through the crowd, intent on finding the master of ceremonies.

[Lucy Price]

Lucy stared at the spot where the man no longer stood dumbfoundedly. She could hear Mrs. Allen's shock at such behaviour before she even spoke. Lucy reflected on the past few minutes for a moment while listened to Mrs. Allen prattle on beside her.

"I have never been treated thusly in all my years," She said, wringing her hands and clutching at Lucy's arm.

"Perhaps he was only teasing," Lucy said, and she could only hope this was the case. After all, he had been smiling at her. And he had such a nice smile that he couldn't really be so horribly rude. Come to think of it, his eyes were much too nice to belong to anyone truly wicked. In fact, the more she thought of it, the more she was sure that he must have been joking. At least, he hoped he was; though she supposed it didn't matter. She would probably never see him again.

[Miles Daventry]

It tooks Miles some time to find the master of ceremonies; the rooms were terribly crowded, and he saw a number of gentlemen who greatly resembled Mr. King. He was beginning to grow frustrated, thinking that perhaps the young lady and her companion might have wandered off by now. He would have difficulty trying to find them again.

To his relief, at that moment, he found the man he had been looking for. He made his request known, and the two headed back in the direction that Miles had come.

[Lucy Price]

Lucy had just calmed Mrs. Allen down, when the woman was sent into another flurry of excitement. "Look, Lucy," she cried, "He's returning with the master of ceremonies."

Lucy did look, and she could feel color rising to her cheeks again, but this time from pleasure rather than embarrassment. She was positive now that he had only been teasing, and had not meant anything unkindly. She smoothed down her white muslin dress and reached up to ensure that the flowers were still pinned in her hair, and had not fallen out during their trek through the ballroom.

[Miles Daventry]

Miles walked up to the two women, a smile on his face. The master of ceremonies spoke first. "Mrs. Allen, Miss Pricee, allow me to introduce Mr. Miles Daventry. Mr. Daventry, Mrs. Allen and Miss Lucy Price." He glanced at Miles.

"Thank you." He smiled gratefully, and Mr. King walked away, leaving the three alone. "There, now we may talk freely." He said to the young lady. "And I have always found that dancing is the best way to promote conversation."

[Lucy Price]

Lucy smiled at Mr. Daventry as they were introduced. Once the Master of Ceremonies had left and Miles asked her to dance, Lucy turned her gaze to Mrs. Allen, whose excited smile gave her all the answer she needed.

"I am very fond of dancing," She told him as her only reply, not sure of anything else to say, that would not make her seem silly or foolish. She noticed Mrs. Allen slip away, presumably to find a place to stand near the dance floor.

[Miles Daventry]

With another smile, Miles held out his arm to her. "What a coincidence, for I too am very fond of it." He led her through the crowded rooms to the dance floor.

There were other couples lining up for the next song, standing across from each other. Miles went to the end, standing beside another young gentleman. "I do hope you'll forgive me teasing." He said with an apologetic smile. "I did not mean to alarm you, Miss Morland. And I do hope I did not scare Mrs. Allen too much; she did seem shocked at my behavior. You must know I did not mean any of it. I just enjoy teasing pretty young ladies, and sometimes I cannot stop myself."

[Lucy Price]

[Lucy smiled at him. "I was sure you were only teasing," She told him as the music started. She went silent and tried to concentrate on the music and steps. After a turn, she saw a man watching her dance, and she quickly turned her gaze back to Miles' face, rather embarrassed.

She would have said something, but she had no notion of what to say. Her interaction with young men in Middleton was rather limited, and it was different then anyway. They were boys she had known ever since her childhood, and none of them were interesting at all.

[Miles Daventry]

Miles followed her gaze and saw the other young man. He turned back to her. "Miss Price, it seems you have an admirer." He said.

To his surprise, he felt a hint of jealousy. This made him feel very foolish indeed, as he had only just met Miss Price. He supposed that he could not help it, that any man would feel the same when it came to a lady so pretty as Miss Price.

"Are you acquainted with the gentleman?" He asked casually.

[Lucy Price]

That Mr. Daventry had noticed the man did not help Lucy's feelings of awkwardness. But at the same time, his observation told her a great deal about himself. She had learned, from her novels, than any man who notices such a small occurance cannot be very full of himself, and he must have an interest in the young woman to whom the situation related.

"No, I have never laid eyes on him before," Lucy replied.

[Miles Daventry]

Miles grinned down at Miss Price. "Well, I certainly cannot fault him for his actions." He said. "I suppose he likes what he sees." He smiled at her, then glanced back at the gentleman. They caught one another's eyes, and Miles had to refrain from glaring at the young man.

"I suppose you shall write about this in your journal tonight." Miles remarked casually. "For I know as a fact that all young ladies keep journals of the important things that happen to them, and being stared at by so handsome a man is sure to be one of those important things."

He did hope that she would contradict him.

[Lucy Price]

Lucy silently watched the looks passed between the two gentlemen, with blissful ignorance to the feelings that either one might hold, particularly jealousy. She moved with the music, feeling only complete felicity. When Mr. Daventry commented on how her time would be spent later on, she sent him a teasing smile.

"Perhaps," She began, pausing momentarily for emphasis on her unintentionally flirtatious tone, "I don't keep a journal." She turned around, barely taking her eyes off of him as she rotated