Page 25 of The Virgin Duchess

“Dancing shall begin at half past two, everyone,” the Marquess announced. “We will see everyone here and in the ballroom downstairs.”

The following thirty or so minutes proceeded quickly, and Frederick found himself standing before Charlotte at the side of the room as the music began.

“Would you…” He paused, and his wife looked up at him with her brows up. “…care to dance, Your Grace?”

He smirked, enjoying the tiny wrinkle in Charlotte’s nose that formed whenever he used her formal title. It appeared to take her a moment to realize what Frederick had actually asked, and she shook herself as the words settled over her.

“You…You wish to dance with me?” She grinned ever so slightly, her brow still knitted with confusion.

Bowing, Frederick held out his hand with a flourish, smirking up at Charlotte, who did her best to hide a snort with her hand.

“I do.”

Rolling her eyes at him, she nodded and took Frederick’s hand. “Very well, then. But I should have you know I fully intend to dance until the last possible minute. I do hope you wore comfortable shoes.”

He couldn’t stop the laugh that barked out, straightening and spinning Charlotte into the center of the dance floor. Her body came up against his quickly, and the feeling of her there ignited something in his blood. Holding her eyes, Frederick bowed low as he settled them into the line of dancers who would take the floor next. Charlotte rolled her lips between her teeth, the dimples in her cheeks standing out.

The next round began, and Frederick watched his wife spin about the floor through the steps, her lovely gown flowing behind her. She truly looked ravishing this evening, the subtle lavender color of her dress complimenting her pale skin and dark,darkhair.

“What?” She whispered to him as they joined hands, ducking through the line of arms above them.

When Frederick could answer, he leaned toward Charlotte’s ear. “You look lovely, is all. Quite the sight in that gown.”

His stare cemented to her, Frederick grinned as Charlotte’s cheeks flushed a delightful pink, his thoughts quickly sinking to new lows as he wondered what else might look so fetching with that rosy glow.

Returning to his hand for the next portion of the dance, Charlotte kept her eyes pinned forward.

“Thank you.”

Frederick gaped at her, grinning widely as he turned her through a circle.

“Well, this is a most surprising evening, indeed. My wife has graciously accepted one of my compliments.”

Charlotte glared playfully at him, leveling him with such a powerful look that his entire body went rigid.God, the things I’d do to see that expression somewhere else…

“Your sense of humor knows no bounds, husband.” She took his arm, letting him lift her through the air along with all the other dancers. “You should rent out your services to those in dire need of a good laugh.”

Chuckling, Frederick wound through the following steps with her, her graceful form pressed to his side making his blood rush through him like a storm.

“Should I, indeed? Perhaps you shall be my first client then. And what should I charge for this noble service?”

Charlotte grinned, then tipped her head to the side, considering. “Not so much as a pound. That is far too much for the slight chuckle I have received. Perhaps a haypenny?”

A hard cut, to be sure, and all Frederick could do was laugh, the corners of his eyes stinging with amused tears.

“A haypenny? I am not even worth a full copper piece? My, I shall have to improve my skills.”

“Indeed, you shall, Frederick. Though,” we spun through the final turn, walking to the center line once more and giving a bow, “if you are to pursue a new career, perhaps I should join you. It is with my help that your jokes land with the proper punch.”

Grinning, Charlotte glanced up at Frederick as they stood in the center of the dance floor, catching their breath. The dim light of the room did nothing to stop his wife’s smile from beaming, and the tussled curls around her face looked as soft as silk.

A warmth entirely unfamiliar to Frederick consumed him from core to skin, and he chuckled as he smiled back at his wife.

My wife. Still such a strange notion, and yet…

“I concur with your assessment, Charlotte. I should not be parted from you should I wish to do the world any good through a laugh.”

In the back of his mind, Frederick knew there was a pressing matter that he intended to focus on. Still, as Charlotte eyed the lineup of participants for the next dance, he offered her a gentle nod and followed after her to take their places.

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