Page 61 of Her Cursed Duke
Aiden held out a hand and asked, “Would you like to dance?”
Without a single thought, she slipped her hand into his, delighted by how perfectly their hands fit together and how the heat of his skin somehow always managed to send shivers down her spine. “I would be honored to, Your Grace.”
He grinned and began to lead her to the dance floor, only to pause and turn to the girls. He gave them a cold once over, then he asked Prudence sweetly, “Are they friends of yours?”
Prudence barely spared the girls a glance before walking past them, saying loud enough for them to hear, “Hardly. They do seem to be fans of yours, though.”
Aiden snorted, and she held back a giggle, losing her train of thought when he held her close and began to lead their dance. “Might I say that you look astonishing tonight—as you do every time I see you.”
“You’ve learned well, I see,” she teased, fighting against a blush. “You look quite dashing if I do say so.”
Aiden smiled at her a little, and she had to remind herself to keep up with him as they went through the dance steps, in danger of falling behind—or worse, tripping—because every time he smiled at her, she got lost in his eyes.
“Why, thank you, my lady. It warms my heart to hear that you think so highly of my looks.”
“You make it sound as though I obviously couldn’t have thought otherwise. Have you always been so full of yourself, or have I only begun to pay enough attention to notice?” Prudence wondered aloud with a teasing grin.
“You have a penchant for being mean. Perhaps it’s best if you and my godmother do not grow any closer than you already have,” he said with a worried expression.
“That won’t be a problem. Our time together is almost up.”
It was a foolish thing to say. Even more so, Prudence had picked the worst time to bring it up.
Aiden’s playful smile dimmed slightly, and she began to feel even worse. She had told herself to do all she could to keep his spirits up tonight, warning herself not to bring up the unpleasant events at the fair, to commit herself to having a nice night by his side. It was supposed to be so easy.
But in a bid to ease his concerns, she had slipped up, and brutal honesty leaked through.
“Aiden, I didn’t mean—”
The sound of glass shattering caught their attention, along with panicked gasps. They exchanged a look and then walked toward where the crowd was gathering.
Lord Thornbury was kneeling on the floor, clawing at his throat as he gasped and heaved, turning paler by the moment.
“Someone, help! Please, help my husband. He’s choking!” a woman cried, reaching for him.
“Don’t!” Prudence snapped, drawing all the attention to herself. “Don’t crowd him. It’ll make it harder for him to breathe. Everyone back away, give him some room.”
At first, the guests hesitated, but then Aiden boomed with authority, “Move aside, everyone.”
Immediately, people shifted away from him.
Prudence grabbed onto Aiden and nudged him forward as she walked closer to the Earl.“Help him up quickly,” she instructed. “Be gentle.”
Aiden did as she asked, pulling the coughing Earl to his feet. Swiftly, Prudence moved to stand behind him, carefully nudging him to bend forward slightly.
“I’m sorry, this might be slightly discomforting, My Lord,” she said quickly.
Then, she hit him between the shoulder blades with the heel of her hand. The Earl wheezed, still clawing at his throat. She hit him again and again, sighing in relief when he finally coughed out a small piece of half-chewed scone.
The crowd murmured in disgust while Lady Thornbury embraced her husband, patting his back as he regained his composure, breathing in and out slowly.
“Get him something to drink,” Prudence told a servant standing close by.
The footman nodded, walking off briskly.
Prudence faced the Earl, inquiring softly,“Are you all right, My Lord?”
“Yes,” he said in a raspy voice, pausing to down the glass of wine that had been brought to him. “Thank you… you saved my life.”
