Page 37 of The Undesirable Duke
Lillian nodded and clasped her hands together. She knew that her mother did not wish her to wander off without a chaperone - which was exactly what she wished she could do. Although she adored attending balls, she felt rather discouraged that evening. She was disappointed that, when she had offered to assist the Duke in his pursuit of restoring his reputation, her brother had been against her suggestion as well. She only wished to help, but clearly, it was not enough.
“Good evening, Lady Lillian.”
A familiar voice said her name, and as much as she had hoped, for a moment, that it was the Duke, it turned out to be Lord Bertram. He was dressed very formally, with a dark gray long-tailed coat and a matching waistcoat. His eyes were bright, filled with an intensity that she had not experienced before.
“Good evening, Lady Lillian. How lovely it is to see you.”
“And you, my Lord,” Lillian nodded with a smile, bowing her head slightly.
“I could not help but notice that you are wearing the brooch which I gifted you. I am flattered,” Lord Bertram uttered with a smile.
Lillian instinctively moved her hand to the brooch, and as her fingers touched it, she nodded. Her mother had not wished her to wear it at first as, generally, gentlemen did not give gifts to ladies, beyond flowers, unless they were betrothed – but then, after some thought, Lady Welsford had decided that, perhaps, creating that impression might further her own aims, and had allowed Lillian to wear the pretty piece.
“Indeed. I thought it matched well with my choice of gown.”
“A very good match indeed. I am delighted that you adore it.”
Lillian forced a smile.
“My mother should be joining me shortly. She is at the refreshment table.”
“I am aware of her location. I spoke to her a short while ago. She suggested that I ask you to dance, which I was on my way to do.”
“A dance? Is this next melody not too slow for you, my Lord.”
“I cannot think of a more suitable melody, Lady Lillian,” Lord Bertram smiled and held out his arm to her. The previous set was just finishing, and the next dance would start in minutes. Over Lord Bertram’s shoulder, Lillian noticed her mother standing beside a friend of hers, and she encouraged Lillian with a subtle motion of her hand.
Aware that her every move would be being watched, she placed her hand on Lord Bertram’s arm, and he led her to the dance floor.
“I was not certain that you would attend this evening, Lady Lillian,” Lord Bertram pointed out as they started into the slow rotations of the dance, which had a great deal of turning aboutone’s partner, and not very much of changing to other partners for short turns.
“And why is that, my Lord?”
“You did not show much eagerness when I brought it up during my call upon you.”
“My apologies, my Lord. I was rather preoccupied with something that morning. Timothy and I had a slight disagreement about something, and I was still mulling it over in my head,” Lillian explained.
“I hope that you and your brother are well. I am yet to see him here.”
Lillian shrugged her shoulder slightly.
“We are perfectly well now. Thank you for being so concerned. My brother enjoys making an entrance, although he is not one for these social events.”
“I cannot imagine why.”
Lillian tilted her head to the side, and her brow furrowed.
“My Lord. May I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“You attended Oxford, correct?”
“That is correct, yes,” Lord Bertram answered with a swift nod.
“Were you and my brother friends, my Lord? I do realize that I have already asked you this, but please, humor me.”
Lord Bertram hesitated for a moment and then cleared his throat.
