Page 29 of The Artisan and the Duke
Maxwell agreed, “That is what worries me the most.”
***
Jules stood with the ladies until the Duke approached a bit later. She had seen him coming towards them with long, purposeful strides that set the butterflies loose in her stomach yet again. She tried to crush down the jittery feeling in her legs, but she could not.
Dowager Stewart said, “I do believe the Duke has come to capture his rose.”
Lady St Claire laughed softly, “He does appear to be headed this way.”
Jules could not even manage a reply. The Duke’s long hair was tied back, and it swung with his movements. The movement of his hair only bringing Jules’ attention to the broad shoulders of the man headed toward her.
The Duke stopped just short of Jules and gave his mother and Dowager Stewart a bow, “Ladies, I have come to steal Miss Kelley away for a dance if that is acceptable to you?”
The two older women smiled at the blond Duke’s question. Dowager Stewart said encouragingly, “It would suit a couple to dance together.”
Jules was left with little choice but to accept the hand the Duke extended to her. As the man escorted her away, Jules said quietly, “I don’t know anything about dances such as these.”
“They are quite easy,” the Duke whispered back. “Just follow my lead, and you will do fine.”
Jules steadied her nerves as the man turned towards her at the edge of the dance floor. The Duke slipped his hand behind her lower back, and she laid her hand on top of his shoulder as he grasped her other hand. The next moment, Jules was whirled away into the dance. It might have looked easy, but Jules did not find it so at all.
The Duke seemed pleased by her, and Jules just laughed as she tried her best to get the steps correctly. They soon were laughing so much that Jules barely noticed the other occupants of the dance floor. It was a wonderful free feeling that took over as she danced with the man. He was so light and graceful that she envied the ease with which he moved.
When they finally stopped, the man from the nearest couple said to Gregory, “I think the dance you are doing must be more fun than ours.”
Gregory jested back to the man, “Are you listening to the same song?”
“I fear we must not be, Your Grace,” the man’s female companion said.
Jules shook her head and assured the woman, “I am just a poor dancer, and His Grace is being benevolent enough to humour my mistakes.”
Before anything else could be said, the music began again, and Jules found herself pulled into a slow swaying dance with the Duke. Jules blushed most deeply as she felt herself being brought close to the man.
The butterflies would not leave her be, and Jules just willed her heart to keep its distance from the Duke. She was not truly betrothed to him, after all. She was just playing her part.
***
The next day, Jules came downstairs to find Gregory dressed for riding. “Are we off somewhere?” Jules asked hopefully. She was tired of being stuck in the house except for when Lady St Claire wanted to trot her out like a doll for the showing.
The Duke chuckled. “If you like riding, then you will enjoy the winter at the country estate,” the man said.
“I actually haven’t had much practice riding,” Jules said with a smile. “I was quite busy earning a wage and did not have time for such things.”
The man nodded and agreed, “I don’t have much time for it outside of practicality these days. I used to like riding when I was a boy, though. I’m sure your sisters are learning how if I know my brother.”
“Do you really think that?” Jules laughed at the thought of Tally getting on a horse. Georgie would probably love to learn, though.
The Duke nodded. “Of course. It is something all children should be able to do, especially in the countryside. It is just practical.”
“I guess,” Jules said thoughtfully. “You never did answer me,” Jules reminded the man.
The Duke chuckled and shook his finger at her. “Here I thought you might forget,” he jested. “I am actually riding to see that barrister friend of mine, and the streets of London are not the best places to learn to ride.”
“I see,” Jules said with a sigh.
An expression of remorse came over the man’s face. “I promise that soon you can retire from all of this society life, and then you may enjoy all the riding that you choose,” the Duke said fervently.
Jules scoffed, “Yes, I can go live as a maid once you are done with me.” She regretted her words as soon as she said them at the look on the man’s face. “I didn’t mean to sound so ungrateful,” Jules said hastily.
