Page 48 of A Sinful Virgin for the Duke

Before Gemma could respond, he offered her his hand, “Would you do me the honor of sharing a dance?”

Gemma hesitated only for a moment to glance at Vivian, who gave her a discreet nod of approval and encouragement.

“It would be my pleasure, my lord,” she responded.

She placed her hand in Andrew’s and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. The music was soft and lilting, and as they moved together she felt herself relaxing and enjoying the ease of his company.

Andrew was charming, easygoing and full of playful compliments that made her laugh. He twirled her gracefully across the floor, his light-hearted conversation soothing her nerves.

But even as she smiled and laughed with him she could feel Frederick’s eyes on her. Every now and then she caught a glimpse of him watching them, his jaw clenched and his brow furrowed in that familiar, brooding way.

The sight of him, standing so rigid and stern in the corner, made her pulse quicken. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking; whether he cared at all that another man was showing her attention.

“Tell me, Miss Bradford,” Andrew said, pulling her attention back to him. “How are you finding northern society? We are not nearly as stiff as the London crowd, are we?”

Gemma chuckled softly. “No, you are not. It has been… refreshing, to say the least.”

“And I hope we have been treating you well?” Andrew asked, his eyes twinkling as he spun her gently. “You seem to be fitting in perfectly.”

“Everyone has been very kind,” Gemma replied, smiling. “It has been more than I could have hoped for.”

Andrew’s smile grew, and for a moment, his gaze flickered to the side, toward Frederick. “It seems you have caught the attention of more than just me this evening,” he said, his voice low and teasing.

Gemma followed his gaze and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Frederick watching them, his dark eyes smoldering with intense possessiveness.

“Shall we make him even more jealous?” Andrew whispered playfully, his tone light.

Gemma laughed softly, but there was a thrill in the suggestion, and she found herself nodding.

“I like you even more now, my dear,” Andrew said with a playful smirk.

They danced a little closer and a little slower, and she couldn’t help but enjoy the attention, both from Andrew and from the way Frederick’s gaze burned upon her from across the room.

For the first time in her life she felt seen. Not as an obligation or a burden, but as someone worthy of attention.

And it felt good.

CHAPTER 18

“Stop glaring, Frederick, you are going to burn a hole through the poor girl,” came the amused voice of his grandmother, who sidled up next to him with an ever-present twinkle in her eye. She followed his sight line to the dance floor and gave a knowing chuckle. “You look as though you are about to murder the earl.”

Frederick watched the dance floor with narrowed eyes, his gaze locked on Gemma and Andrew as they twirled across the floor.

The soft music floated through the air, but to Frederick, it sounded like nails on glass.

He was standing near the far end of the ballroom, trying his best to ignore the gnawing band of jealousy that tightened around his chest as he watched Gemma laugh at something Andrew had said.

Her face was illuminated by the chandelier light, her lips parted in a smile that had Frederick’s blood boiling. Not because she was smiling, no, it was because she was smiling at Andrew—a man who had never known a serious day in his life.

And the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him only made it worse.

“I do not know what you are talking about, Grandmother,” Frederick muttered, folding his arms crossly over his chest.

His posture was stiff and his jaw was tightly clenched as his gaze returned to Gemma, who was once again laughing at another one of Andrew’s witticisms.

“Of course you do, Grandson,” Vivian said breezily, as though his mood was of little consequence. “You are jealous.”

Frederick shot her a sharp look, his frown deepening. “Nonsense.”

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