Page 12 of The Wrong Duke

“Not at all,” Lord Wexley chortled, holding his large belly as he did. “The more the merrier, I always say.”

“It will do you well, Wexley,” Lord Chalmers joked. “Less chance of a third helping of desert finding itself on your plate.”

“How dare you!” Lord Wexley pretended to be upset. “I’ll have you know, I’ve lost five pounds this year alone.”

“Lost them where, exactly?” Lord Chalmers parried. “From where I’m sitting, they are easy enough to spot!” The room burst into laughter with even Lord Wexley chuckled along.

The dining table was set in the usual fashion as indeed was the room. Candelabras positioned along the center for lighting. Silverware placed before each diner — Evan’s were crooked, but he was quick to straighten them — along with the finest crystal to drink from. Baked vegetables and various meats and breads lain out before the guests with servants wandering the sides of the room, ready to help serve each plate when commanded. And in the corner, a solo violinist strumming a slow melody to which the atmosphere of the room was set.

Once the unexpected arrival of Evan and David had been acknowledged and dealt with, the guests fell back into the rhythms that had been established earlier; small talk being had between two to three guests at a time, nothing too bawdy or uncouth, pleasantries and light exchanges because the dinner table wasn’t the place to get political.

Sitting at the end of the table, Evan was able to ignore the chatter happening around him, happy to sit back and listen and watch. He avoided imposing himself because he didn’t want the guests to think that he was having the most splendid of times and thus risk being invited to further dinners this Season.

As expected, Miss Baker was there with her father and mother. They sat at the other end of the table, blessedly too far from David to pull him into conversation, but Evan made sure to catch Miss Baker’s eyes almost the moment he sat down — that was once she chose to give them as she seemed to purposefully be avoiding him — throwing her a warning glare that she returned with a polite smile and a smirk that suggested she wasn’t at all put out by his presence.

He’d thought about Miss Baker a lot these past two days. Too much for his own liking, truth be told. And while it was easy to tell himself the reason for these constant thoughts was worry, a sense of knowing that he needed to be on his guard where David was concerned, he’d be remiss if he didn’t admit to himself that it was more than that.

Their kiss... it flittered through his mind’s eye more than he liked to acknowledge. If it was just a kiss, he might have been able to ignore it. But it was paired with the woman, the tongue on her — and not in a literal sense. The way she had spoken to him on the dance floor, the fire in her belly, and the attitude she seemed to carry in spades. She was different to many of the ladies that Evan had met. Different in a way that he couldn’t decide if he liked or loathed.

“Your Grace...” A voice spoke from Evan’s right. “Your Grace?”

“Hmm?” He pulled his eyes from Miss Baker — she was looking at her plate but was wearing a frustrating smirk the whole while — and looked to see who was talking. “Oh. David — Lord Malnor,” Evan hurried to correct.

David eyed him curiously. “Miss Forbes here was just telling me that she saw you dancing the other night. And her words were that he moved like a — what was it?” He turned to his right and raised an eyebrow at Miss Forbes.

“A man possessed,” she giggled. “Quite the dancer.”

“Ah, yes, that’s it,” he chuckled. “A man possessed. I better be careful where I invite you from now on, Your Grace.” The term of address was proper but always sounded strange coming from his friend. “Stealing all the attention like that.”

Evan eyed him with a complete and utter lack of amusement, aware that he was being made fun of. “I’ve seen you dancing, Lord Malnor, and short of being in a stables, I’m afraid that you’re always going to be outmatched.”

“Oh, he is funny,” Miss Forbes giggled.

“Not really,” Lord Malnor sighed. “And don’t encourage him!”

Now, there was a match that Evan supported. Miss Forbes was the daughter of Lord Chalmers, a lovely little thing who seemed the perfect type for his friend. But she was also good friends with Miss Baker, he was sure, and likely knew of her friend’s desire toward the lord. Likely, she was just being friendly.

The two continued to talk among themselves, and Evan glanced back down the table, catching sight of Miss Baker eyeing the pair with a sense of frustration. This had him smiling to himself, and he couldn’t help but catch Miss Baker’s eyes again, waggling his eyebrows and smirking so that she understoodwhat he was suggesting. She offered him a cold glare in response and went back to her food.

Oh yes, she had her sights set on Lord Malnor tonight. But dinner wasn’t where she would make her move. That would be saved for after, once the guests made their way to the drawing room for drinks and deeper discussions. And as was his very reason for being here tonight, Evan would be sure to be on guard.

* * *

Blast! Evan could not believe his eyes. And his own foolishness for that matter. He’d excused himself to attend the washroom for less than five minutes, and in that time, Miss Baker had struck.

The guests had moved to the drawing room, spreading throughout it as they separated into small groups of three to five apiece. Brandy was flowing. Cigars were being passed among the men. The light chatter from dinner had turned far more raucous and bawdy, and with the low lighting that flickered from the chandelier which dangled from the room’s ceiling, it was the perfect time for those who were single to excuse themselves and begin the dance of seduction.

From the looks of things, Miss Baker wasn’t taking any chances. Why, from the looks of things, she was an expert!

She had David all to herself, tucked away in the corner, his back to the room as she stroked his arm softly, stared into his eyes wantonly, and laughed gaily at every little thing said. If it had been anyone else, Evan would have left it. After all, this here was the main reason that Lord Brundel had hosted his dinner in the first place — and indeed, across the room, Lord Lindstone eyed his daughter with a look on his face that suggested he was more than happy to leave her alone, so she might weave her seductive web over his friend.

Good luck! Evan set his eyes on the two as he charged across the room, ignoring the drink offered by a manservant, moving with such haste that he very nearly knocked them over.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” he said with a friendly chuckle as he stepped in beside his friend, forcing Miss Baker to drop her arm.

“Oh, not at all,” David cheered as he registered Evan. Miss Baker showed no such enthusiasm. “We were just talking of tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

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