Page 29 of The Duke
“You will be accompanying her to London.”
“We are all planning to venture up to Town?”
Kit looked away, following his sister to the end of the ballroom. When would be the best time to confess to her that he had no intention of leaving Tintagel—that he had his doubts he would be able to? Would anything he said convince Miss Keating who seemed so bright, so resourceful that his family was doomed to remain here? Perhaps she looked so pensive because she was clever and thought this offer was a ruse, a way of him being constantly in her presence, almost a trick to make her his mistress by sleight of hand—well at least he could clear up that understanding.
“If there was any misunderstanding on your part, or a lack of clarity on my part,” Kit said. He knew minutes were ticking rapidly by, and all too soon, the local gentry would be upon them, surrounding them, asking for their attention. Suddenly it mattered that despite his wishes, perhaps hers too—he was going to be honourable even if it killed him. “Let me insist there are no underhanded motives here.” This got Miss Keating’s attention. She turned on her heel and looked up at him, her expression opaque. “If that afternoon weeks ago gave you the wrong impression—I am not about to use your position as my sister’s companion, or mine as your employer as a way of… taking advantage of you.”
“As a means of seduction?” Her question was asked in the mildest of ways as if it were the merest trifle and nothing more, rather than a prospect that had tormented him for weeks, doing battle with his other worries, concerns, and fears until he was quite sure it was overwhelming him.
From outside, there came the sound of carriage wheels and raised voices—their guests were upon them. It was just as well, hereasoned, to make it clear to the girl that even if he thought he could see desire in her, it would burn both of them to proceed with such an undertaking.
“Quite,” Kit said. “I had no wish to give you the wrong—idea.”
“I see.” Her head tilted a little to the side, and she looked a little perplexed before giving him a tiny smile. “I have been trying to give you precisely that idea for weeks. What a shame you have no desire to pursue it.”
Miss Keating moved away from him, crossing after his sister, leaving Kit with more wild thoughts that he would ever have imagined and the greatest desire to cancel tonight’s ball immediately and drag her off to bed.
CHAPTER 15
Elsie kept her back straight as she walked away from the duke, staring forward, and resisting the temptation of looking back at him. Thankfully the ballroom was the most beautiful Elsie had ever seen it—cleaned and with dozens of candles illuminating the room. The ballroom had been opened up and aired last week in preparation for the party for Flora.
The lights flittered elegantly, and Elsie focused on these as she neared Lady Flora.
She still could not quite say why she had spoken to Kit in such a forward manner. It was shockingly unladylike behaviour on her part, but she was tired of waiting and hoping that he’d act. Besides, in a day or two they’d have a long carriage ride together, with Lady Flora beside them and, inevitably, all the problems that were awaiting him in London. He would be preoccupied with Margot, his dukedom, and Elsie realised there would be dozens of ladies all too eager to throw themselves at the new handsome duke. There was no way that Elsie could compete with that—she had no dowry to speak of and as her grandmother so delicately put it…
Elsie hastily shut down the memory of that particular lecturefrom her Grandmother Keating. “Lady Flora,” she said, coming up to stand next to her charge.
The younger woman gave Elsie a nervous smile, clearly anticipating the arrival of her guests. Hastily, she took hold of Flora’s hand, linking it through the crook of her arm with the physical confidence she wished she had with Flora’s brother. “Your quietness is a blessing. If you get too worried just look at me and…”
“We are so unlucky,” she whispered. “Good things like this”—she glanced around the ballroom, her skin pale in an almost sickly manner—“they don’t happen for us, not for my family… not without punishment.” Her white-gloved hands twisted together, and Elsie saw that the corner of one of her fingers was badly rubbed. Lady Flora had been worrying a new pair of gloves away, close to creating a hole in the material.
“Who’s going to punish you? Why would anyone wish bad things on you? Have you ever done anything to hurt anyone?” There could not be a more innocent soul in existence than Lady Flora, of that Elsie was quite certain.
For a moment, Flora looked nonplussed with no clue precisely why she would be cursed. But then she continued in her scared, low tone, “The devil or the almighty, it doesn’t matter which because the result is the same. People die, my family dies.”
“Then whichever it is that’s doing the cursing, it will have to deal with me.” Elsie drew Flora to her, and together, they followed after Kit. The duke had made towards the front door in preparation to greet the arriving guests. “I am experienced in arguing and sometimes I even enjoy it,” Elsie said in a conspiratorial tone, hoping to make Lady Flora laugh but all the girl did was exchange a tiny nod. She did not seem entirely convinced by Elsie’s argument.
The rush of guests into the hallway, filled the manor’s gloomy corridors with noise. There had already been light added and the bump of decorations, so to all extents and purposes the manor now resembled a normal aristocratic home, which hopefully anymember of the gentry would feel honoured to have been invited to.
Elsie nodded and bowed as one after another member of the local gentry filed past her and into the ballroom. She stood slightly back from Ashmore and Lady Flora, as befitted her station. This vantage point should have allowed her to properly see and judge whoever walked past, but if Elsie was being honest with herself, her eyes kept drifting back to Ashmore. Dwelling on what she’d said, on the daring gauntlet she’d flung his way. It had been a rash mistake… his eyes turned her way and were lit by a strange new awareness as he looked at her, and for the life of her, Elsie could not regret her boldness.
Once a good twenty guests were inside with more expected soon, Ashmore offered both Lady Flora and her, his arm to escort them back into the ballroom. After all, no one wanted to miss out on the champagne.
Despite her gloves and his fine dark suit coat between them, Elsie still felt the heat of his skin through the fabric. There was a stiffness to his jawline as she laid her hand down on his arm, and he hastily turned to one side to ask Lady Flora a whispered question.
As they moved the noise of the ballroom rose to greet them, and even with the duke’s body between them, Elsie could sense Flora’s hesitation. Perhaps they had pushed the fragile young girl too far. The wave of voices rose as they slipped into the ballroom, and the musicians started up a jolly tune. With so many eyes on her, Elsie forced a cheerful grin onto her face.
“What a pleasing number of neighbours you have,” she said as she looked right, then left as Ashmore guided them through the room towards the head of the chamber.
All around them the lights of the candles sparkled, making Elsie feel as if she had already consumed several glasses of wine, the smoke from them making the room airless.
“Despite living far from Town, when a duke issues an invitation,we still can attract a number of guests,” Ashmore replied smoothly, nodding as they passed the vicar and his wife, who Elsie remembered from the introductions just minutes ago. “Or perhaps they have come to gawp at us. We must present quite a faded sight, and it should keep them entertained I suppose.”
“So cynical,” Elsie said. As she spoke a strange set of things occurred in rapid succession. Time, for a moment, seemed as if it no longer obeyed the common rules of the game.
A beautiful piece of music picked up, and Elsie was amazed to see Ashmore bow to her and offer her out his hand. He wished to dance with her.
“My lady?” His tone was gentle, seductive, and for a moment, Elsie was moved and excited, touched and pleased to be able to dance with him.
