Page 28 of A Duke But No Gentleman
She could hardly fathom that she had thought she missed these two scoundrels.
The duke abruptly spun her in a half circle and she felt a solid wall against her back.“Blackbern—”
“Hush!”he ordered before he sealed his mouth over hers.
Imogene did not try to avoid his mouth.He murmured his approval when she lifted her chin and parted her lips.Her tongue met his and she sagged against the wall where he had pinned her.The duke knew how to kiss a lady.
Blackbern seized her by the shoulders as he tore his mouth away.He was out of breath and there was something in his expression that made her want to flee from him.“Little fool, you are not supposed to encourage me,” he exclaimed, behaving as if she was tormenting him.
Imogene smiled.“I like encouraging you, Your Grace.”
His expression was incredulous, as if he could not believe she was daring him to kiss her again.“You have caused me enough trouble, Lady Imogene.Now run back to Norgrave and offer him an apology.You can thank me later for distracting him.He is too angry with me to consider any mischief with you.”
Her spirits plummeted at his explanation.“You kissed me to provoke your friend?”
“Of course,” he said carelessly, seemingly oblivious to her pained expression.“When I kiss a lady, I prefer to do it in private so I can take my time.”
Imogene’s lips betrayed her by trembling.
Blackbern noticed and took a hesitant step toward her.“Lady Imogene.”
“Thank you for the dance and the lesson in ballroom etiquette,” she said, slipping under his arm so she could put distance between them before she disgraced herself by crying.
“Imogene!”
She ignored his plea to return to him.He was a true scoundrel and she had to remind herself of that fact.Blinded by self-loathing and fury, she stepped right into Norgrave’s arms.
“Sweet lady, has someone upset you?”
Imogene was in no mood to indulge either gentleman this evening.“Not in the slightest,” she lied.“If you will excuse me, I intend to spend some time upstairs in the drawing room set aside for the female guests.”
Norgrave cast a speculative look over her shoulder.She refused to glance back to see if the duke was observing them.“Of course, my dear.We will talk later after you have recovered from your upset.”
Her gaze focused on the floor, she resisted the urge to run toward the nearest door.If she was fortunate, she might find something to purge the foul taste of Blackbern from her mouth.
***
“Feeling better?”
Imogene had not expected to find Norgrave waiting for her when she reemerged from the ladies’ saloon.He unfolded his crossed arms and straightened from his slouched position against the wall as she approached.
“You did not have to wait for me, my lord,” she said, her emotions too close to the surface to fence words with the marquess.
He frowned at her.“You were upset.If I were to wager a guess, I suspect Blackbern had something to do with it.”
“I do not wish to speak of it,” she replied, her mouth thinning at the reminder that the duke had kissed her to bait the gentleman walking beside her.
“Of course,” Norgrave said solicitously.“It was not my intention to distress you further by mentioning a certain gentleman.”
He guided her along a passageway she had not explored earlier, and down the stairs.She was not quite ready to return to the ballroom.Nor was she ready to face the duke.
“What is it?”he asked, noticing that her pace had slowed with each step.
“I cannot—” She shook her head, unwilling to explain her feelings about his closest friend.The two gentlemen were behaving as if they were rivals for her affection, but she did not trust the marquess not to reveal their conversation to the duke.“You go ahead.I am not quite ready to return to the ballroom.”
Her admission pleased Norgrave.
“Perhaps I can offer you a compromise,” he said rather mysteriously, before he led her through a side door.Instead of opening into another room, the door opened into a narrow gallery above the ballroom.“This way, you can enjoy the ball and my company.”
