Everyone was staring at them, and for that reason she forced herself to smile and to act as though it was nothing at all to be dragged across the room by a man she'd only just met. When she heard one woman whisper in a loud voice that she and the Marquess made a striking couple, she lost her smile. Yes, she did feel like hitting Lyon, but it was certainly uncomplimentary of the woman to make such a remark.
The scene captures a moment of tension and discomfort for the protagonist, who feels the weight of judgment from those around her. Despite being in an unfamiliar situation, she puts on a brave face and tries to act nonchalant about being pulled across the room by a man she has just met. This highlights her struggle to maintain composure amidst the scrutiny of onlookers.