Page 28 of The Truth about the Duke
Lord Kendall flushed and quickly obliged though Henry himself found himself quite caught by the smile on Lady Lydia’s face. It was warm and filled with delight as she observed LordKendall and Lady Miriam. Was she aware of Lord Kendall’s interest in the lady or was it just that he had made himself far too obvious in his manner and in the color of his face? Henry found himself smiling at Lady Lydia’s obvious pleasure, noticing the way that her green eyes seemed to dance with delight.
“We have come in the hope that you three ladies will not have had every dance taken thus far,” Lord Kendall continued, as Henry nodded quickly, drawing his attention away from Lady Lydia. “Alas, the Duke realized a little too late that he wished to dance and thus, we came in search of any willing ladies to stand up with us!”
“Then you will find us most obliging,” Lady Miriam answered though, Henry noticed, she was looking solely to Lord Kendall when she spoke. “I certainly have some dances remaining.”
“And you, Lady Ann?” Remembering that he was to direct his attention towards Lady Ann, Henry smiled at her warmly. “I do hope that you have some dances remaining?” He took the dance card from Lady Miriam as he spoke, scribbling his name down for the cotillion and then handing it back to her, looking still expectantly at Lady Ann.
“You are very kind to ask, Your Grace,” came her response, as Lord Kendall lingered over Lady Miriam’s dance card. “I would be very glad to give you my dance card, of course.”
She did so with seeming eagerness and Henry took it, looking to see what dances might still be available. The waltz was already taken and for that, he was grateful. It meant that he would not have to disappoint her by choosingnotto take the dance, while at the same time, feeling no pressure to set his name to it in the first place. Settling for the country dance, he handed her back the dance card and took the lady in, seeing the gentle blush on her cheeks and smiling at the way her eyes darted to the card, only for her to smile. Clearly, he had chosen well.
“I do so love the country dance,” she told him, looking back into his face. “And thus far, no one had taken it! You cannot know of my delight, Your Grace.”
Silently thinking to himself that Lady Ann was more than pleasing in her manner, Henry inclined his head just a little, never taking his eyes from hers. “I am looking forward to the dance already, Lady Ann!” Finding himself quickly drawn into conversation, Henry spoke on all manner of topics, speaking about his estate, finding her eager to learn all that she could about him. Lady Miriam too spoke with them, telling Henry a little more about Lady Ann; her good nature, and her love of the garden. Henry smiled, nodded, and listened with eagerness, only for a sudden thought to strike him, hard.
Where is Lady Lydia?
A hand grasped at his heart, squeezing it hard as he realized that not only had he missed out on the opportunity to ask her for her dance card, but he had forgotten about her entirely! He had not meant to do such a thing, had not meant to leave her out of the conversation but somehow, he had been so caught up with Lady Ann and his thoughts towards her that he had managed to do that very thing. His heart racing, he looked this way and that, quickly forgetting the conversation with Lady Ann, Lady Miriam, and Lord Kendall and eager instead, now to find the lady and to apologize profusely.
“Is something the matter, Your Grace?”
Henry turned his head back towards Lady Ann, nodding as he did so. “Yes, there is. I appear to have quite forgotten about Lady Lydia! She was here only a few moments ago and I did mean to ask her for her dance card but now it seems, I have lost the opportunity.”
Lady Ann laughed and waved one hand as if to dismiss his concerns. “Oh, Your Grace, you need not think such thoughtsabout Lady Lydia! I am sure she will not mind in the least. She does not appear to be in the least bit concerned about dancing.”
Henry blinked, then let a frown settle over his expression. “All the same, I should like to make certain she does not feel as though she has been abandoned.”
At this, Lady Ann let out another trill of a laugh as though what he had said was rather ridiculous, and heat began to spiral in Henry’s chest. “Your Grace, you aremuchtoo concerned when you need not be! She will think nothing of it, for I am quite sure that she has no interest in any gentleman present – and very few gentlemen will be interested in her either!”
“What do you mean by that?” Henry asked quickly, catching the way that Lord Kendall frowned though, Henry thought, it was not because of what he had asked but rather from what Lady Ann had said. “Is not every debutante here to catch the attention of a gentleman?”
Lady Ann glanced at Lady Miriam, let out a giggle – one that Lady Miriam did not join in with – and then looked back to Henry. “Your Grace, I should not speak out of turn but I shall tell you this so that you do not concern yourself any longer.” She came a little closer to him, a hint of lavender swirling around him as her eyes lifted to his. “Lady Lydia is too much of a bluestocking for any of the gentlemen in London to consider, I am sure! She has tried to hide it but I know she cannot! Do you know, I heard her in deep conversation with Lord Wilcher over his plans for the improvement of his estate? It appears that she knows something about the architecture from the continent which, apparently, is being brought to England’s shores also!” She giggled again but Henry’s frown only sank deeper. “It seems to me that Lady Lydia knows a good deal more than a young lady ought, and no gentleman will want a bride who understands more than they!”
Henry swallowed hard, aware that his first instinct was to agree with Lady Ann but that, soon after that, came the desire to argueagainstit. Lady Lydia had shown herself to be a competent young lady and though he was still becoming accustomed to the idea of being in company with a bluestocking, Henry did not feel himself eager to mock Lady Lydia, as he might once have done. Indeed, the more he considered it, the more he found Lady Ann to be the one lacking instead of Lady Lydia herself.
“You will have to excuse me,” he said, a trifle brusquely as he stepped back from Lady Ann, choosing to say nothing about what she had said but instead, keep his thoughts entirely to himself. “Regardless of what you have said, Lady Ann, I do feel it my obligation to go in search of Lady Lydia to make certain all is well.”
“Oh.” Lady Ann began to blink quickly, her eyes searching his. “I quite understand.” Her smile began to fade, a paleness coming into her cheeks. “Forgive me, I did not mean to speak in any disparaging way, I only sought to assuage your conscience.”
“And you have done so,” Henry answered, bowing quickly. “Though I must do what I feel is my duty. Good evening, Lady Ann, Lady Miriam. I shall seek you out again at the time of our dance.”
Without another word, he made his way from them both, his heart pounding as worry began to gnaw at the edge of his mind. Lady Ann’s words haunted him, sounding a good deal more callous now even though he recognized that, only a few days ago, he would have agreed wholeheartedly!
She has changed me,he thought to himself, searching for Lady Lydia with every step he took.And I cannot think it a bad thing.
Chapter Twelve
Lydia smiled as the Duke of Melrose and Lord Kendall took the dance cards from Lady Miriam and then Lady Ann. She had noticed the interest that came into Lord Kendall’s expression when he had first set eyes on Lady Miriam, though she knew they were already acquainted. It was of great interest to her to see that he was almost entirely focused upon her, his every look and every word given to Lady Miriam – to the point that the Duke of Melrose had been forced to ask him to make the introductions! She did not know Lady Miriam particularly well but she had heard that Lord Kendall was an excellent gentleman and the little time she had spent in his company had only confirmed that.
Bringing her hands together, Lydia slowly slid the silk ribbon from her wrist, fully prepared to give the Duke her dance card the moment he asked. Lord Kendall too, of course, for the gentlemen would not be as improper as to ignore her! Given that they had asked for Lady Ann’s and Lady Miriam’s, she was certain she would be next. Her heart leaped at the thought of being led out for two dances by not one but two distinguished gentlemen, a little surprised that she did not feel any hesitation when it came to dancing with the Duke! After their lastconversation, she had not felt any dislike or any lingering upset. Instead, there had been a sense of relief – almost gladness – that there was to be no tension or the like between them any longer. She saw a value in his consideration of her, happy to know that he was, at the very least, reconsidering his opinion as regarded bluestockings. To acknowledge aloud that he would be grateful for her aid and assistance as he tried to find the truth about the heirlooms had made her heart happy and it had remained so even until this very moment.
She watched as the Duke handed back Lady Ann’s dance card, preparing now for him to turn his attention towards her.
“I do so love the country dance and thus far, no one had taken it! You cannot know of my delight, Your Grace.” Lady Ann smiled warmly at the Duke and Lydia licked her lips, hoping that he would soon remember to look towards her. The Duke inclined his head just a little, his eyes fixing to Lady Ann.
“I am looking forward to the dance already, Lady Ann!”
Lady Ann beamed at the Duke, turning her body just a little so that Lydia was effectively pushed back from the group.
