Page 28 of Tamed By a Duke
Which was preposterous, Hugh reminded himself, for this was supposed to be a temporary courtship. One could not lose what one did not want...
Setting his mouth into a grim line, in an attempt to emulate one of Orsino's fearsome faces, Hugh pushed his way through the crowd toward the staircase, where a reluctant-looking Miss Drew and her father were waiting. His own mother, who had insisted on accompanying him, gave a loud cry of delight as they finally reached the pair.
Dozens of heads turned in their direction and Hugh stifled another sigh; if Miss Drew wished to publicly humiliate him, his mother had obliged her with an audience.
Wishing to escape the curious gazes as soon as was possible, Hugh made a hasty introduction, before ushering everyone up the staircase to where they might find a little more privacy in his box.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation," Hugh said stiffly to Miss Drew, as they traipsed up the carpeted runners.
"I wasn't really given a choice," came the tart reply.
"Yes. Well," Hugh cleared his throat, cursing his pride which made forming the words of an apology so difficult, "I wished to ensure that you came so that you might hear my apology."
Miss Drew remained silent beside him and Hugh glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Her auburn tresses were piled high upon her head, revealing an elegant swan-like neck, and her high-boned face was turned resolutely forward, so that he could not read her expression.
"Well?" he queried impatiently.
"Well...?" Charlotte innocently replied, "You have told me that you wish to apologise, your Grace, but you have not actually said that you are sorry."
Impertinent chit! Hugh's first reaction to this scathing assessment was one of ire, but he held his tongue momentarily, and after a pause realised that Miss Drew was quite correct.
"I am sorry," he offered, hoping his words did not sound too grudging, "For speaking to you so rudely."
"And for insinuating that I was not good enough to be seen in your company?"
"Did I say that?" Hugh queried, feeling genuinely sorry now for being such an unfeeling boor.
"You implied it."
"Well, on bended knee, I will beg your forgiveness, Miss Drew," Hugh answered and looked down to find a pair of sparkling green eyes glancing up at him.
"No need to ruin your trousers, your Grace. What would Mr Weston say?" Charlotte replied, barrelling on before Hugh could commend her knowledge of Bond Street tailors, "I also wish to apologise. I know that you were only thinking of my reputation—and it's lucky that someone is, for I have been accused of forgetting it more than once. And I also..."
Miss Drew trailed off and Hugh saw that her face had turned beet red.
"I should not have told you that you should take your hoof and—"
"That's quite alright," Hugh interjected, before she had a chance to finish. He did not wish to hear that particular sentence uttered ever again.
Still, Miss Drew seemed sincere in her apologies, and Hugh at last relaxed. They had overcome their first disagreement, he thought cheerfully, as he led the way into his private box.
Naturally, Hugh rented one of the theatre's best boxes and Miss Drew gave an audible gasp of admiration as she caught sight of their view of the stage.
"Lud, we could reach out and touch the actors if we so wished," she cried happily, as she plonked herself upon a seat.
"Yes, well, try and restrain yourself if you can," Hugh replied, with a grin, "I'm told that the actors don't like it when people do that."
A sound that Hugh had not heard before, greeted his impulsive jest; Charlotte's laughter. A mild sense of pride stirred within Hugh as he witnessed his companion throw back her head and laugh—a proper chuckle and not that tittering lark that so many women employed to humour men.
"I do believe His Grace deigned to make a joke," Charlotte whispered with a smile, as Hugh slipped into the seat beside her.
"I enjoy a good laugh, like the next man," Hugh replied, his stirring pride rapidly depleting at her tease.
"Ah, but you have previously suggested that you are no mere mortal, but a duke through and through."
"Did I?" Hugh frowned; Lud but he could be pompous, "Well, tonight please think of me as just a man, and not as the Duke of Penrith."
"Might I call you Shug?" Miss Drew waggled her eyebrows mischievously, to show that she knew she was crossing a line.
