Page 3 of A Duchess Bound
“It will be well,” Dorothy said. “I promise, Bridget.”
“Right.” Bridget let out a ragged breath of air. “Everything will be fine.”
Dorothy clasped her hands so tightly together that her knuckles were white. “If it is any consolation, Catherine was equally nervous for her first ball.”
Dorothy had not been anxious upon her entrance to society, for she had known already that she would not wed. Without the pressure of having to find a suitor, a lady’s introduction to the tonwas significantly less taxing on the nerves.
She had been nervous at Catherine’s introduction, though, and her nerves had grown increasingly strained with every ball and soiree that passed without producing a match.
Elias cleared his throat. “It also took some time for Catherine to secure a match, so even if this first ball is not what you imagined, there will be many more opportunities. You will find a suitor.”
The rest of the journey passed in near silence. Dorothy counted her breaths, trying to force herself into a state of calm. She had nearly succeeded, but her efforts were all undone the moment that they entered the ballroom.
“Oh, dear!” Bridget exclaimed, grasping Dorothy’s arms. “There are so many people.”
“I know,” Dorothy said. “But fear not. Do you see that a few gentlemen are already looking at you?”
She gestured to a cluster of young men speaking to one another in one corner of the ballroom. Some of them were distracted with other ladies or one another, but at least three of them had already turned their attention to Bridget. Their gazes were curious, and their lips curled into sly smiles. One of them would eventually find the courage to approach.
“I will be here to guide you,” Dorothy murmured. “If any gentlemen are unsuitable, I will turn them away. All you must do tonight is dance and enjoy yourself.”
Bridget took a shuddering breath. She nodded and smiled, the gesture only a little hesitant. “Right. Thank you. I would be devastated if I found myself falling to a rake’s charms!”
“I know. Fear not! I shall not let that happen.”
Dorothy’s eyes swept over the ball, searching. The cluster of gentlemen had not yet decided which of them would approach Bridget. One of them would. Had her sister garnered any other attention?
She spied Elias, joining some of his companions. Most of them would not make suitable partners, for Elias himself was something of a rake. His rakish friends would be unsuitable.
A shiver traced the path of Dorothy’s spine, and she had the sensation of being watched. She turned her head, searching for the source of her sudden unease. It did not take her long to find him.
A man watched her. Or more accurately, he watched Bridget.
“Is it taking too long?” Bridget asked.
“No,” Dorothy replied distractedly.
She could not recall the man’s name, but he seemed familiar. Dorothy supposed that she must have seen him before. To call him handsome was to do him a disservice, for the man appeared to be a perfect specimen of masculinity. If he had any flaws, they were not found in either his face or body. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his torso narrowing to a trim waist. Perhaps, some of it was padding, but Dorothy suspected not.
His face was a thing of beauty. A strong jaw with high cheekbones and intense hazel eyes that gleamed like gold in the flickering firelight of the ballroom. The man’s dark hair was a little unfashionably long, but it suited him. It lent him an air of mystery.
Something hot awakened in Dorothy. Her heart lodged itself in her throat as she watched. He began walking towards them.
Dorothy’s breath hitched. “It appears that at least one gentleman is interested in meeting you,” she said.
The words were forced from her throat, painfully and haphazardly. What had come over her? She was searching for suitors forBridget’s sake, for it was assuredly she who had drawn this man’s attention.
He would never be looking like that at Dorothy.
No man would.
CHAPTER 2
There was no flower more alluring than a lady newly introduced to the ton. His eyes swept slowly, luxuriously over the form of the young lady in her white gown. The fine material swept over her delicate curves, effectively displaying her charms without being vulgar.
Gerard’s thoughts, in contrast, were quite vulgar. He imagined spiriting the young miss away from the ballroom and taking great handfuls of her skirts. It would be improper for a gentleman to introduce himself to a lady, but fortunately, he knew the young miss’s sister. Gerard halted before the ladies and bowed deeply.
“Good evening,” he said.
