Page 20 of The Insufferable Duke
“That may be a little difficult.”
“Is my company so distasteful you could not bear a single conversation with me?” Her hands fidgeted with the dance card at her wrist. He couldn’t tell whether the action was one of nerves or fury. He noticed it was empty.
Why would Lady Helena’s dance card be empty?
Had she not been a Carter, he would have asked her to dance long ago.
“Are you two going to continue to bark at one another like dogs in the night, or are you actually going to discuss something?” Percival asked at their sides. “Though I will admit, the show is enjoyable to watch.”
“Let us talk, please,” Lady Helena said in a more serious tone. “I wish to talk about my sister and your brother.”
“Very well.” Yet Christopher did not wish to stay here. Percival’s smirks were becoming intolerable as were people’s gazes. “Not here, though.” He offered his hand to Lady Helena.
“What are you doing?” Her tone was sharp.
“Well, everyone is already staring at us. Shall we give them something to really talk about? Dance with me.”
CHAPTERSEVEN
“I…” Helena faltered. This was not something they did. It seemed as wrong for a Moore and a Carter to dance together as it was for their siblings to marry.
“Speechless, Lady Helena? And here I thought I had no such effect on you.”
“You have none.” She gave him her hand, not wishing him to see how much he had startled her.
The Duke of Bridstone was one of the wealthiest men in this room, not to mention the most handsome. She should have felt flattered to be asked to dance by him, she knew it, but she didn’t. She took his hand and did her best not to tremble.
“How thrilling,” Lord Sheylough said as the Duke led her away. “I could have sworn this is the first time you’ve danced at an event like this for some time, cousin. She must have tempted you.”
“Be quiet, Percival.” The Duke didn’t once look away from her as they walked away. There was an intensity in that gaze that left her mouth dry.
Do not think of the attraction!
Yet her own order was difficult to follow when her gloved hand felt clammy in his grasp. That heat had been caused entirely by his touch.
As they took to the middle of the floor, others’ eyes upon them prompted Helena to look away. They were the tallest couple by far on the dance floor, for the Duke of Bridstone stood above the other gentlemen’s head heights. He was one of the few men tall enough to dance with her easily. She wished the people were staring at them for that reason rather than the gossip.
“Well, we are certainly doing what you intended,” she muttered. “They’re talking of us all the more now.”
He chuckled in a low tone.
“Let them talk,” he whispered. “I do not care what thetonthink.”
“What a surprise.” Her reaction made his brows quirk together, but he said nothing as the music began.
She curtsied as he bowed, the two of them never breaking the connection of their gazes. It was a waltz. The three-time music had both of their jaws slackening in surprise. He offered his hand to her nevertheless, even though it was a beat late, and she stepped toward him, placing her other hand on his shoulder. When his free hand took her waist, a small sound escaped her lips, and he smiled. That simple smile was insufferable to her, for he plainly knew the touch had affected her.
“For a second, I thought when you realized it was a waltz, you were going to refuse the dance,” she said, determined to be the first to speak.
“I am not that rude.”
“Even when it comes to a Carter?”
“Tempting indeed, but still, not that rude. Despite what you think of me.” He began the dance, leading her around the room with surprising ease. For one so tall and broad in shoulder, he was light on his feet and escorted her as if she were a feather in his grasp. “So, why did you wish to speak to me, Lady Helena?” he asked, that mischievous smile growing. “It can’t have been just to dance and stare at me.”
“I wasn’t staring,” she said in a low tone.
“Weren’t you?”
