Page 30 of The Truth about the Duke
“Lydia, I was just – oh!”
Lydia’s face grew hot as her mother came to stand directly beside her, only for her eyebrows to lift in surprise as she looked to the Duke of Melrose and then to Lord Chesterfield. “Mama, I was just speaking with the Earl of Chesterfield. I was coming in search of you when – ”
“When I interrupted,” Lord Chesterfield said, warmly, turning to bow low towards Lady Hampshire. “Goodness, what a marvel your daughter is!”
A flicker came into Lady Hampshire’s eye and Lydia’s stomach twisted. What was the Earl going to say now? Was it going to be something that would bring Lydia nothing but upset and anger once they were alone?
“I quite agree.” The Duke spoke now before either Lady Hampshire could ask what was meant by such a statement or Lord Chesterfield could say more. “In fact, I also came to interrupt the conversation, which I had not yet apologized for.” He cleared his throat briefly and then bowed his head. “Forgiveme for breaking into your conversation with my uncle, Lady Lydia. I had come in the hope of speaking to you for a moment.”
“You wish to speak with my daughter?” Lady Hampshire’s voice was a little quiet, perhaps a little overcome with surprise. “I am sure she would oblige you, Your Grace.”
Lydia threw her mother a sharp look, wishing that she could wipe out any hope that her mother had of Lydia being pulled into a close acquaintance with the Duke. Whatever it was he wanted to say, Lydia was sure it did not hold any real significance.
The Duke nodded and smiled briefly though there was a slight flare of light in his eyes, a light which Lydia could not quite understand. Was it relief? Or something more?
“If you might, Lady Lydia?” The Duke gestured to his left and Lydia, with a nod to Lord Chesterfield and another look to her mother, stepped away from them and towards him. They did not move very far away, however, only a few steps so that her mother could keep her in sight but also so that the Duke might be able to speak freely.
“Lady Lydia.” The Duke turned to her, rubbing one hand over his chin as his eyes darted here and there rather than looking at her. “I did not mean – that is, I understand that Ididbut it was not my intention to do so.”
Confused, she frowned. “I am afraid that I do not know what it is that you mean, Your Grace.”
“Your dance card. The conversation.” He flung out one hand in the vague direction where he had come from. “I was speaking with Lady Ann, Lady Miriam, and yourself but though I signedtheirdance cards, I did not sign yours. You disappeared before I could do so!”
Lydia lifted one eyebrow just a little. “And you did not seem to even notice that I was present, Your Grace.” She held up one hand as he began to protest. “I do not mind in the least bit if you are intrigued by Lady Ann, Your Grace,” she continued, ignoringthe slight twist of her heart as she spoke, “but to be forgotten is not a situation that I had a desire to linger in. Thus, I took my leave.” She lifted her shoulders just a little, fully aware that she was pretending that she did not feel all that she trulyhadfelt when he had turned away from her. “You did not need to trouble yourself.”
“Oh, but I had to.” The fervency in his voice surprised her. “I had no other choice but to come after you, for I felt myself so ashamed of my lack of awareness, I could not leave it as it stood. I did not want you to feel any injury – or if you already had, as I believe you must do, then I would do all that I could to apologize for it. Which I am doing now.” He inclined his head. “I humbly apologize for my lack of awareness and consideration, Lady Lydia. It was not in the least bit purposeful.”
Lydia swallowed at the knot which had formed in her throat. “Then it was not because you did not wish to dance with me?” Her cheeks grew hot as his eyes shot to hers, having had no intention of speaking so and yet finding that her heart had put words in her mouth before she had been able to prevent it.
“No, not in the least.” The Duke came a fraction closer to her, his gaze searching hers. “I did not do so deliberately, I assure you.” His gaze grew gentle. “Did you truly think that I would do so?”
She nodded. “Yes, I did.”
“Because you are a bluestocking?”
Again, she nodded. “Precisely. I know that you have accepted my help and in that, our connection can be strong and assured. However, in society and for dancing and the like, you might well desire to step away from me, aware that there are those in society who are already aware of my tendency towards bluestocking ways.” She dropped her head and pulled her gaze away. “I can understand that. You are a Duke after all.”
Much to her relief, he shook his head. “No, not in the least. That does not affect my situation at all or my thinking. I would be more than glad to have you stand up with me for at least one of the dances. Would you be willing to give me your dance card? I should like to see if there is even one dance I might be able to take!”
Lydia, aware that she had only a few names on her dance card, flushed. “I am afraid it will not be as full as Lady Ann’s, Your Grace.”
“That does not matter in the least, I assure you.”
With a tightness in her chest still, Lydia took her dance card from her wrist and, a trifle reluctantly still, handed it to the Duke. Their fingers touched for just a moment and a streak of heat rushed up her arm and into her chest, making her heart quicken. The Duke did not look down at the dance card either, holding her gaze for a long moment as though there was something that he too had felt but did not fully understand.
Then, he dropped his gaze and looked at her card. Lydia clasped her hands tightly together and looked away, wondering why it was that she felt such a strange tension twisting through her, why she had this panic gripping her heart as though somehow, she was almost excited by what the Duke was going to offer her.
I must talk to him about his uncle also.
“There.” The Duke smiled and handed her back her dance card. “I hope that will be enough to prove to you that there is nothing about you that holds me back from dancing with you.”
Lydia’s heart thundered furiously as she looked down to see his name written for the waltz. In an instant, she could not breathe, her heart squeezing, her stomach roiling as she tried to take in the significance of this moment.
I am to be dancing the waltz with the Duke!
“Are you quite sure?”
He chuckled and nodded. “Yes, I am quite certain. I know that there may be a few lifted eyebrows and some might be a little surprised that I have chosen even todancethe waltz given that I have not done so thus far, but I think it is quite right and fitting for me to do so.” Smiling still, he leaned a little closer to her. “So long asyouare contented?”
