Page 42 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
With a chuckle, Lord Torrington agreed. “It is quite pleasant, but even with the pleasant company I need to know the dates and times.”
“Oh, I know.” Harcourt patted Lord Torrington on the shoulder.
Francesca whispered to Emmeline, “Did you enjoy yourself, Lady Callum?”
“It was splendid. Did you enjoy yourself? I lost track of you several times, so you must have been quite busy yourself.”
Francesca smiled, but there was tightness to it. “It has been quite some time since I could participate in a formal ball. It was interesting.”
“We used to have dances in Scotland, but they were not nearly as formal as here. I do miss the old country dances, but I fear they might be out of fashion.” Emmeline shrugged.
Francesca shook her head. “We have similar dances in France. They are very entertaining, but the minuet and other dances have taken their place. Do you dance the minuet?”
“I was taught to dance it, but it has been so long that I fear I would not remember how it all goes,” Emmeline admitted.
Francesca frowned, but Emmeline did not think the expression was directed at her personally. “Everything seems to be about rank, just like the minuet. Even the group dances are all very strict.”
“It is much simpler now, or at least in the balls I have attended, which admittedly is not much.” Emmeline looked at her dance card, which she had scarcely had to use as she mostly just danced with the men as they asked.
Francesca drew in a breath. “Perhaps it seems simpler because of your status or the status of your beloved. Things often seem simpler from the top than the bottom.”
Emmeline grew quiet. Perhaps Francesca had a point, but she would get no further conversation to deny or prove her point as the carriage arrived. The footman put down the stool for them to step on to, but Emmeline let Francesca go on ahead of her.
Lord Torrington stepped up in the footman’s place to help Emmeline into the carriage. He gave her a curious look, but Emmeline smiled. There was no need to worry the man with her dimming mood.
Once she was in the carriage, Harcourt climbed up into the carriage and sat down on the seat opposite her and Francesca. He gave a nod to Lord Torrington before the door was closed. Emmeline looked out the window and lifted her hand to say farewell.
***
With the help of her generous allowance from Lord Pentworth, Francesca had outfitted herself with new dresses that were more appropriate to her station. She smoothed her hand along the satin material. Lady Callum might prefer muslin, but Francesca thought it foolish to overlook the shape-defining qualities of satin. She was looking herself over in the mirror when there was a knock at her door.
“Enter,” Francesca called.
The nervous little maid who had taken her place as Lady Callum’s maid for the season came into the room with a look of apprehension. “You rang, Miss?”
“Jasmine, yes. Would you bring my breakfast up if you have tended to Lady Callum.” Francesca was careful to put the amendment about Lady Callum into her request, as she would not want to be seen as usurping more than was her due. Not yet at any rate.
Jasmine bobbed down into a quick curtsey.
Francesca watched the young maid flee the room far swifter than she had entered. She turned her attention back to her reflection. As she no longer had to attend to the needs of Lady Callum, she had more time to attend to her own appearance. Francesca smiled at her reflection. The dark green dress brought out her fair complexion nicely.
She had a good deal she wished to accomplish today, but first of all, she knew that Lord Torrington would be visiting. He was a hard man to crack. Most men would at least allow their eyes to admire her, yet Lord Torrington seemed oblivious to her beauty. Perhaps the man was dull. That might explain his fascination with the simple Lady Callum. The woman’s stature alone was enough to make Francesca shudder. Lady Callum’s features were plain and unremarkable, set against the a regrettable complexion that made her look like the freckled and sun-warmed farmer’s daughter she behaved as.
It was only a matter of time before Lord Torrington truly saw Francesca. Perhaps then he would realise that any refinement he might have come to appreciate in Lady Callum was all due to Francesca’s skilled guidance. Why settle for an echo of refinement when one could have the real thing?
She barely noticed Jasmine scurry in and leave her breakfast tray. The maid did not bother her. She thought it insulting that Lady Callum had thought the girl a suitable replacement for her, but she tried not to dwell on such things.
After she had eaten, Francesca walked down to the lobby, where she hoped to catch Lord Torrington as he came to visit the earl. She sat down on one of the benches that were set against the wall. They were there for waiting guests, but Francesca did not wish to stand around for an undetermined amount of time.
The doorman gave her a curious look, but Francesca looked away. The help in a house such as this would be hounds for gossip, and Francesca thought perhaps that would work to her advantage. If she could get the doorman to witness an exchange between her and Lord Torrington, it might get back to Lady Callum and foster doubts in the young lady’s head.
At the sound of a carriage, Francesca rose and made her way down the hallway to the earl’s study. She waited for the duke to enter and greet the doorman before she started walking up the hallway toward the lobby. She met the duke as he turned down the hall.
“Oh, Lord Torrington, I had forgotten that you were due in this morning,” Francesca lied with a smile. “That jacket is very flattering.” She waved her hand at the line of the man’s torso that hinted at the muscles that lay underneath.
Lord Torrington gave her a quizzical look. “Is Lady Callum about? I so rarely see you two separate.”
“Oh, she is probably off reading,” Francesca said with distaste. “She so likes her books.” She reached out and brushed her finger brazenly against his sleeve. “Oh, forgive my forwardness. I merely was just interested in the material. It lies so wonderfully against you.”
