Page 4 of In Need of a Duke
“Oh, he only needs a bit of direction,” Kate said with a sly grin.
“And you are the fresh flower who will make him see the ill in his ways?” Charlotte asked with a knowing smile.
Kate only shrugged, before her eyes grew big, and she wiggled her hips. “Someone is coming.”
Lily stood on her tiptoes and leaned forward before mouthing, “handsome.”
“Who?” Charlotte asked.
She wished she had worn her shawl to draw around her. Instead, her yellow satin dress felt like a target. Her mother had insisted it was fashionable, but if that were true, she wouldn’t have stood out amonga sea of pinks and greens. She had already refused to wear a headdress fashioned with heron feathers on principle.
“I believe he’s the Duke of Dandridge.”
“His brother is friends with the marquess.”
“I don’t believe that’s the recommendation you believe it to be, dear,” Charlotte said.
The smell of gin rolled off the lemonade, nearly turning her stomach. She had never cared for the stuff.
“He keeps looking over this way,” Lily said, peering around Charlotte and waggling her brows. “I thought he was engaged.”
Kate placed her hand on Lily’s arm and steered her closer toward the dance floor. “He was. The poor man has a broken heart.”
Charlotte tried slipping away, wishing desperately to fade into the background. She didn’t care for the gossip, and while Kate and Lily teased one another, Charlotte was ready to retire for the evening. There were too many people, too many conversations… The noise was overwhelming, and her dress felt too small, or maybe it was only that she felt like she was moments away from crying.
“Charlotte?” Lily asked. “Are you well?”
“Try all you like, Lottie, but my goal this evening is to see you on the dance floor.”
“You and my mother,” Charlotte mumbled. “I don’t wish to dance. I swear I have two left feet.”
Lily crossed her arms. “That’s impossible.”
“I didn’t mean it literally.”
“He’s coming this way,” Kate warned.
Charlotte turned and adjusted the feathers adorning Kate’s black hair. “You are beautiful. Duchess Kate has a lovely ring to it.”
“No, no.” Kate blushed, shaking her head. “No, he’s—” Her eyes went wide as Charlotte nervously took a sip of lemonade.
“Good evening, ladies.”
Charlotte jumped, hearing the low voice so incredibly close to her, choking on her drink. As she spun, she sputtered her lemonade over the chest in front of her and the lovely vest adorning it.
“Confound it,” she whispered, mortified.
She ignored the deep chuckle that washed over her like the warm afternoon sun. If only the dance floor would open up and swallow her, she might survive this moment with a shred of dignity.
“I am so sorry, Your Grace,” she said as Lily and Kate attempted to calm her in staged whispers.
“I’m afraid it’s poor etiquette on my part to walk over without a proper introduction, but I must know, what’s your name?” he asked.
Charlotte couldn’t look him in the eye, instead focusing on his fine leather riding boots.
Lily nudged her from behind as Kate gently kicked the back of her calf. Charlotte tipped forward, nearly colliding with the man.
“Are you having an enjoyable time this evening, Your Grace?” Kate said.
