Page 36 of His Duchess' Wicked List

Daniel snapped out of his reverie at the sound of his mother’s strident voice. He had been spellbound, watching Maddie dancing. She was looking particularly delectable this evening in a white silk gown with a silver net overlay. Small sprigs of jasmine were scattered like stars throughout her dark hair.

His face soured. He wasn’t, however, enamored with her dance partner. This was the second time this evening that Christopher had asked her to dance, which was practically announcing their engagement, in this society.

“What is it, Mother?” Daniel snapped, turning to face the Dowager Duchess.

“I want you to go and ask Lady Augusta to dance,” she whispered, fanning her face dramatically. “She is in danger ofbecoming a wallflower for the entire evening. It is the honorable thing to do, my child.”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “Really, Mother? Could you be any more transparent in your matchmaking?”

“There is little harm in simplydancingwith a lady, Daniel,” his mother retorted sharply. “And this is your home. You are the host! It is yourduty. And it would please me.”

Daniel drained his champagne glass, placing it on the tray of a passing footman, and grabbing another. His mother raised pained eyebrows, staring at him pointedly. He just knew she wasn’t going to give up. She would be harping at him for the entire night if he didn’t agree to one dance with Lady Augusta.

“Oh, all right,” he relented. “I will do it—just once. But you must promise me that you will not interfere for the rest of the evening.”

His mother beamed at him. “Of course, dear boy!”

He passed her the glass of champagne, walking through the crowd, to where Lady Augusta was sitting. He didn’t believe his mother at all. She would find something else for him to do—some other onerous chore. He was sure of it.

Lady Augusta was watching the dancers with a pained expression on her face. She looked like she was about to expirefrom boredom. Clearly, she didn’t enjoy balls in this society any more than he did.

He bowed. “My Lady, Would you do me the honor of accompanying me in the dance?”

Lady Augusta looked amazed. “But… why?”

Why, indeed?

But he couldn’t back away now. He could feel his mother’s eyes boring a hole into his back.

“Because it would please me,” he replied, trying to be gallant. He lowered his voice. “And I would wager it would please our mothers even more.”

To his surprise, Lady Augusta burst out laughing, jumping to her feet. She took his proffered arm. “That is a good enough reason, Your Grace. Mothers can besotiresome to deflect.”

They reached the dance floor, timing it perfectly, as one dance had just ended and another was about to start. Several people walked away, vanishing into the crowded ballroom, but he couldn’t help noticing that his cousin was commandeering Maddie for yet another dance.

He felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He had never seen Chris so openly enamored with a lady before. It just wasn’t his style. Could his cousin possibly beseriousabout her?

A quadrille started. He turned to his dance partner, bowing. Lady Augusta curtseyed. The dance was underway.

He tried to be attentive towards her, but his gaze kept drifting over to his cousin and Maddie. She was laughing at something his cousin had said. He scowled.

“Do you think they would be a good match, Your Grace?”

He turned to Lady Augusta. “Who?”

“Your cousin and my sister,” Lady Augusta replied, smiling slightly. “That is who you keep looking at, is it not?”

“Hmm,” he murmured noncomittally. “I hardly know.”

“I am serious,” Lady Augusta said. “Lord Christopher has been dancing attendance upon my sister ever since we arrived at this house party. His preference is obvious.” She hesitated. “But is your cousin a sincere gentleman? Would he love her if he were to marry her?”

Daniel’s heart plummeted to the ground. The jealousy was biting him again, quite viciously this time. He didn’t want to even hear about the prospect of Christopher marrying Maddie. But he couldn’t tell Lady Augusta that, of course. He tried to school his face.

“I doubt that Chris would love his wife any more than I would love mine,” he replied in a dry voice as they passed each other on the dance floor.

To his surprise, Lady Augusta burst out laughing. “I should be offended by that comment, but, alas, it eludes me.” She paused. “I assume that you are no more pleased by the plotting of our mothers to match us than I am?”

Daniel flushed. He had been gauche. But the lady seemed to be telling the truth—she really wasn’t offended. He suppressed a sigh of relief.

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