Page 39 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
“Then you do approve of him?”
Rebecca chewed her lip, building the courage to speak her mind.
“Yes, but I will not be completely convinced about him until the day they are married. If they marry, that is,” she added, looking away and trying to find Eliza again through the crowd.
“Ha! Believe me, if Alexander has his way, they will marry,” the Duke laughed as he collected glasses of champagne for them. “He talks of little else but your sister.”
“He does?” Rebecca said in surprise.
“He does. Now, shall we change the topic? I have a feeling I have upset you with my words.”
“What? No, no, I’m fine,” Rebecca spoke hurriedly as the Duke went for her arm again. It was such an easy thing between them now, constantly reaching out for a connection of some kind, whether that was escorting her by hand or by arm, there was usually some kind of touch. Feeling it now shocked Rebecca, for she was so deep in thought.
“Oh, no,” the Duke’s mutterings were the thing that brought her out of her daze.
“What is it?”
The Duke clearly didn’t have time to answer her, for a group of three ladies abruptly arrived in front of them.
“Your Grace, I did not know you were to attend this evening,” the first lady said, hurrying to curtsy. Rebecca recognized her instantly – this was Lady Esther Baxter. The very lady that she had once seen the Duke avoid dancing with, only to dance with her later that evening. “How good to see you.” Lady Esther barely looked Rebecca’s way.
“And you, Lady Esther,” the Duke bowed with his words, before nodding his head at the other two ladies. “Miss Harriet, Miss Beth.”
“My sisters and I were just talking of the play. We’d be grateful of a gentleman’s opinion on the story, if you can spare a minute.” With the words, Lady Esther glanced Rebecca’s way.
Rebecca stiffened, feeling the dismissal was clear.
“Actually, Lady Rebecca and I –”
“He is all yours, Lady Esther,” Rebecca spoke hurriedly. She had no wish to stay with three ladies that were all looking at her as if she had carried dog muck into the room on her shoes. “I must speak with my sister.” She curtsied and hurried to extricate herself, aware that the Duke was trying to say something to her before she parted, but she didn’t give him chance.
Let Lady Esther take him. I should be distancing myself from him after all!
Angered that she never seemed capable of holding to this resolution, she drank rather a lot of the champagne in her glass in her search for Eliza. She just found Eliza in the room when she heard laughter, giggles that were so strong they urged Rebecca to look back across the room.
She sought out easily enough who was the source of those giggles. It was Lady Esther and her sisters, as they all hung upon the Duke’s every word. Lady Esther had her arm through his.
The Duke must have said something charming to her, for she blushed and pretended to hide behind her hand.
The sight of it urged Rebecca’s hand to tighten around the glass so much, she feared she was in danger of breaking it. The Duke would whisper in her ear, saying charming things to her and making her blush in that way. Barely a minute later, he was doing the same easily with another.
What is this feeling?
Rebecca turned away from the sight, unable to watch them anymore as the answer to her question came into focus.
“Jealousy,” she murmured. She was indeed jealous, for she wanted to be back on the Duke’s arm, in Lady Esther’s place.
“Rebecca? Are you well?” Eliza appeared at her side, evidently noticing her rather odd behavior.
“Yes, I’m fine,” Rebecca nodded, doing her best to summon a smile.
“You look as if you have had an epiphany!” Eliza said with a laugh. “Has something happened?”
“No, nothing has happened.” Rebecca tried to dismiss the matter, but she couldn’t. She downed what was left in her champagne glass as the realization grew deeper.
She was jealous for one very particular reason. It was a feeling she’d had before, a bond that she’d felt, only this time it was deeper, stronger, and a much greater attachment.
Good Lord. When did I start falling in love with the Duke?
