Page 40 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke
"Lady Cecilia," Lord Buckley called.
She turned to him with a smile, irritation niggling in her that she didn't even feel a hint of attraction to him.
"Might I sign your dance card?" he asked.
She nodded, holding out the card to him.
She spied Emerton at the top of the stairs watching her with a smirk.
She was a fool to think she would feel anything akin to what she shared with him with anyone and sent a heated look at the man, turning back to Lord Buckley with a smile.
"Shall we break even more formality and dance in the next set?" she asked.
"I do not want to ruin your reputation, Lady Cecilia," he said looking around the room, worry evident in his gaze.
She wanted to laugh but she smiled instead.
"My reputation will survive one dance," she urged.
He looked thoughtful for a moment but was quick to agree and she smiled, allowing him lead her to the floor.
She would continue to allow them all think she was nothing but the sweet and innocent lady.
CHAPTER 14
Cecilia breathed easier as the hansom deposited her in front of Emerton's estate. She never breathed easily until she had arrived at his estate as each time it was getting harder to escape her brother.
He had been pleased when she reported her growing friendship with Lord Buckley but while she didn't care for his approval of the match, she had only told him so he would hover less around her.
It was her third night with Emerton and she was already anticipating the next item to be ticked off her list. They had not seen each other since the Keiton ball a week prior and it had eaten at her that he hadn't even thought to write.
When she stepped into his study, he nodded at her and she frowned stepping into the room that didn't look as though it was prepared for his painting.
"Are you not painting today?" she asked.
"No." he answered, heading to the sideboard to pour himself a drink. "I have secured us invitations to an engagement much like the Solstice ball so your activity will be outside my estate today."
Oh.
"You said those parties were dangerous," she accused.
"Indeed I did, but you will be with me the whole night." he answered with a grin. "No one would dare hurt you. Besides, you won't be looking for a partner for whatever scandalous idea you have. I will be your partner for the evening."
She rolled her eyes at how he used her embarrassing incidents against her so easily as one wielded a knife but that was the least of her worries.
She hadn't prepared a dress for the evening and the simple evening dress she had worn would hardly be suitable for the improper society they would be meeting.
"I took the liberty of having a dress made for you much after the fashion of the first I saw you in," he announced, sipping from his glass tumbler as he watched her. "I made a fewimprovements,of course, but I believe you will find it quite suitable."
He pointed to a box she hadn't noticed on the settee and gave her a nod to open it. She frowned as she moved to the box. Itdidn't appear to be from any of the dressmakers she frequented and was entirely unassuming but she knew that as long as he had had a hand in the design, it would be something no respectable modiste would be willing to design.
She opened the box, unfolding the paper used to line the box and slapped a hand over her mouth at the fabric. Her eyes snapped to his but he had a beatific look on his face.
"Your Grace, you cannot expect me to wear… that," she complained pointing to the dress.
"Why not?" he asked. "It is perfectly suitable for the event we'll be attending."
"It is profane," she answered. "I am an unmarried woman and it is not…"
