Page 39 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
Emmeline leaned her head to the side. “It has been quite easy to ask after brothers or other male relations while having tea with the ladies. I already know a good number of young men by reputation now, and through their sisters.”
“I shall let you in on a secret.” Lord Torrington leaned his head toward her. “I am not overly fond of dancing. I would be happier, say, conducting business while you entertained yourself.”
Emmeline frowned. “Do you not have to dance with me for appearances?”
“The first dance,” Lord Torrington agreed with a nod. “I suppose I can be persuaded to dance once.”
Emmeline shook her head at him. “So we shall dance together and then you are free to talk business with the gentlemen while I dance and thereby get to know other eligible men at the ball. That sounds like it might just work, Your Grace.”
“I certainly hope so for your sake.” Lord Torrington shrugged. “You are the one who has the most to gain or lose out of this. I want to ensure that you get what you want out of it, as any good business partner would.”
“You continue to surprise me.”
***
Emmeline felt quite odd when she arrived. Balls were held in towering halls, not in a large field. Though, all things considered, it was a lovely field. The first flowers were beginning to open. There were torches and candles that swayed in the gentle evening breeze.
“Bit early for an outdoor dance like this,” an older woman’s voice said, and Emmeline turned to see Darla and her Aunt Myrtle exiting their carriage. “Lady Callum, lovely to see you.”
“And you as well, Dowager Randall. Darla, you look lovely.” Emmeline smiled at the younger lady, who held herself a little straighter at the compliment.
“Lady Callum,” Francesca said as she appeared at her side. “I believe that your suitor has arrived.”
Emmeline fought the blush that came from the word suitor. She had never had such as that, and she could not bring herself to look at Darla and Dowager Randall as Francesca hurried her away. Ahead she noticed Harcourt waiting with Lord Torrington. She smiled at them both.
“Francesca and I spotted the duke as he arrived,” Harcourt announced as if this were some grand thing.
Emmeline shook her head at her brother and then turned a smile to the duke. “Lord Torrington, I am glad that your dislike of dancing did not keep you away.”
“You would be surprised what I can endure, Lady Callum, for the right motivation,” Lord Torrington said as he gave her a bow, his dark hair spilling forward over his shoulder.
To everyone else, it probably sounded very flirtatious, but Emmeline knew what the man was referring to and smiled. “Shall we go and dance, then?”
Harcourt laughed heartily at the look that came to Lord Torrington’s face. Lord Torrington held out his arm and he led Emmeline to the dance floor. “I do think your brother might make me marry you out of spite.”
Emmeline tried to hide her laughter behind her free hand. “Your Grace, perhaps you should not make his jesting quite so easy.”
“Why did I not see the family resemblance until now?” Lord Torrington seemed to be asking the question to the stars above, which only caused Emmeline more merriment.
To her great surprise when they reached the dance floor, she discovered that Lord Torrington despite his hatred of dancing was an exceedingly good partner, when he was not making her laugh hard enough to forget the steps. Before she thought it possible, the dance was ending and Lord Torrington guided her off the floor and out of the way of the other dancers. He and Emmeline exchanged a bow and curtsey before he went off to talk to a group of gentlemen who welcomed him with a round of guffaws and celebration.
Emmeline drew herself up and lifted her handbag to look through it for her dance card. She had found the idea of allotted dance times a trivial thing, but she could already see others looking at their cards as the official dance got underway. The dancers cleared the floor at the call of the host, and everyone began the process of pairing up again.
Francesca joined Emmeline. “It looks as though you have some time before your next dance. Is that why your duke is over there?”
“Oh, Lord Torrington is not fond of dancing, so we came to a compromise. He dances with me for the first dance and then I can dance with others. I get to dance, and he gets to talk business.”
Francesca gave Lord Torrington a surprised glance. Fortunately, the man was oblivious to them. “Lord Torrington is a brave man to allow his paramour to dance with others. Dancing is a delicate thing that brings people close together. It can sway hearts.”
“I would not worry about that,” Emmeline assured Francesca. Inside though, Emmeline hoped she was right. She had only until mid-season to sway some gentleman’s heart to choosing her and she could use all the help she could get.
She enjoyed the music. It was easy enough to pass the time. She chatted with Lady Grayson, who introduced her to several of the young men who happened by as well as some of the young ladies that she was not already acquainted with.
Before she knew it, the time arrived for her next dance. “Lady Callum,” an older man said, causing her to look up.
“Lord Gorham.” Emmeline put a smile on her face. “If you are looking for Lady Grayson then you just missed her. She went to chat with the Hadrin sisters, I believe.”
He chuckled. “I was actually coming to ask for a dance – that is, if you have any room left on your card.”
