Page 2 of Wicked Is the Duke
"Good evening, Your Grace."
"Lady Caroline. You look lovely as always." He sipped his champagne and waited for what came next.
"Who was the woman you were speaking with?"
"Miss Anna Grover."
"She's not titled? Why would you give her the time of day?"
"Because it's the polite thing to do at a party such as this," he said.
"You signed her dance card."
"And I'm sure I'll sign many more.”
She moved closer. "You know we're perfectly suited for each other. My father's a duke, and you're a duke. We're a perfect match."
"I'm not looking for a wife," he lied. He felt her hand on his back. He wanted to rid himself of her as quickly as possible.
"Sign my dance card, Blackmont? A waltz perhaps?"
He noticed the Countess of Oldham beckoning him from across the room. He politely nodded and smiled at the older woman. She was the mother of another of his friends, James White. "I'm sorry, Lady Caroline, the Countess of Oldham is wishing to speak with me. We'll continue our conversation at a later time." Never, if he had any say so. Even her brother, Trent, who was a dear friend, knew what game his sister was playing when it came to Henry. To her, it was all about landing the most titled man she could. Henry trusted Caroline as much as he trusted his enemies...if he had any.
Ignoring Lady Caroline, he walked through the crowds that now lined the ballroom and made his way to where the countess stood with two other women and their daughters. Obtaining further dances might not be as hard as he imagined. The countess had offered him a lifeline.
"Good evening, Countess. You look lovely as always," he said as he took her gloved hand and kissed the back of it.
"Thank you. I thought you looked in need of rescuing."
He smiled. "Indeed."
"May I present Lady Almhurst and her daughter, Lady Violet Almhurst," she said adding, "You remember my daughter, Lady Henrietta?"
"I do," he replied. He made all the right moves, said all the right things before the ladies. His friend James' sister was a plain thing. This was her first season if he remembered correctly, which was probably why she barely spoke.
He signed both dance cards, hoping he didn't make a fool of himself. He detested most dancing, and as he'd told Anna, he rarely danced anything but a waltz. Then he bowed to make his way to where two of his friends were standing at the edge of the room, watching him.
"I see you've pleased my mother," White said.
"She saved me from the grips of Lady Caroline," he replied.
"Ah, yes. Poor Montgomery, saddled with her for a sister. You best keep away from her. She's got her sights set on you, Blackmont," Turner said.
"I try, but she always seems to seek me out."
"Well, we'll leave after your last dance, Blackmont."
"I'm afraid I won't be joining you this evening," Blackmont said.
The three laughed among themselves. Blackmont found he couldn't keep his eyes off Anna Grover. He couldn't wait to get her in his arms for their waltz. His cock twitched at the idea. He wondered how she would feel as he led her around the dance floor, to be close to her. How long would it take to kiss her, to show her his intentions were honorable? She would make his perfect duchess.
When Blackmont realized it was time for his first waltz with Miss Grover he left his friends talking among themselves and strode across the edge of the ballroom to where she was standing. He noticed the Countess of Oldham talking with Robert and wondered if the older woman had figured out what was going on. Robert was quite protective of his sister, rarely leaving her side at parties, thus leaving himself unable to converse with the men.
"Miss Grover, I believe the next dance is mine."
She shyly smiled at him. "It is, Your Grace."
He guided her to the center of the dance floor and gathered her in his arms. Not too close, but this was what he loved about a waltz. Compared to the livelier dances the waltz gave the couple a chance to talk between themselves without having to speak loudly.
