Page 48 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
Dowager Randall looked at Emmeline and smiled. “Lady Callum, please come and talk with us. My niece is currently on the dance floor with Lord Victor. He is a lovely young man.”
“He has only danced with her twice now,” another young lady chimed in with a sly grin.
Dowager Randall gave the younger woman a disapproving look. “Excuse Lady Heaton’s enthusiasm, Lady Callum. She has not yet learned that some things are best left unsaid, even if true.”
Lady Heaton looked as though she very much wanted to disappear. Emmeline gave the woman a warm smile. “I am still learning the ropes of society myself, so do not feel overwhelmed.”
“You are very generous, Lady Callum,” Lady Heaton said with a shy smile.
She stayed with the group until Lord Hawley approached her. “Lord Hawley,” Emmeline said fondly. “Do you know my companions?”
“Yes, Lady Callum.” He nodded to the ladies. “I do not wish to appear rude, but I was hoping I could steal you away for the tune that is starting. That is, if you do not have another partner.”
Emmeline readily accepted by placing her hand on the arm he held out. “That would be wonderful.”
As soon as they made it to the dance floor, Lord Hawley whispered, “Forgive the swift exit, but Dowager Randall frightens me a little.”
“And with due right, she is a formidable woman.” Emmeline gave him a smile as they stepped off into the dance. “I had wondered if I would see you.”
Lord Hawley seemed to be dancing well, but it was a slower dance, which helped with being able to talk. “I did say that I would see you again.”
“That is true.” Emmeline dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Why is it that you have sought me out again?”
Lord Hawley looked a little uncomfortable for a moment before he smiled. “You are so straightforward with your speech it takes some getting used to. But I like it.” They spun around in the dance. “I sought you out again because I enjoy your company and, if I must be at these things, I might as well enjoy who I spend time with.”
“That is a fair answer. You said you ran a shipping supply business?”
He nodded and looked rather pleased that she had remembered that much about him. “That is right. You have a good memory. What about you? What are your interests?”
Several things sprang to mind, such as philosophy and history. But he wanted something dainty. Emmeline could think of scarce little that she had done that would be considered ladylike. She hesitated before she said, “I occasionally sew, nothing too intricate, but I can do some.”
“That is a handy thing to have. It would be quite useful if you needed something mended right away,” Lord Hawley said with a thoughtful expression. “Come now, tell me of the things that you thought but did not say. Surely a woman such as you has something other than sewing in her repertoire. I already know that you are an excellent dancer, for one.”
Emmeline could feel the colour rising to her cheeks and cared not to think about how unladylike she looked at the moment. “I do have a fondness for philosophy and literature. I also helped raised sheep as a lass, so if you ever need help with sheep, I can come in handy there too.”
Lord Hawley’s face lit up with surprise as he as he shook his head. “You do not cease to astound me.”
“With the scant time that we have spent in each other’s company, I do not see that as much of a feat, Lord Hawley.”
The creases in his cheeks dimpled as he smiled. “Maybe it is not, but I still feel as if it is something to be treasured. I know that Lord Torrington has your heart, but if I can only be relegated to your friendship, then I think that enough.”
“You flatter me,” Emmeline said honestly. She was so unused to a man speaking to her with anything other than jest that Emmeline did not know quite how to respond. She flustered and looked away.
Lord Hawley’s voice came to her as she kept her gaze away. “I apologise if my earnestness embarrassed you. I did not intend that, I assure you, Lady Callum.”
She finally dared to look around at him and found nothing to worry about in his expression. He looked at her with concern, but not intent. “I appreciate your honesty, Lord Hawley. More than you know. I find that honesty seems to be sometimes lacking in these gilded halls.”
“Truth does stand out,” Lord Hawley agreed. “You are a rare woman, Lady Callum. Lord Torrington is a lucky man.”
***
She had met up with Lord Hawley at the following dance as well. He was funny and kind. He held no particular grudge against Lord Torrington, and that was a good thing.
More and more she felt awful spending time with him, because she knew that she was not being entirely truthful with him. Every time he told her that it was her honesty that had made her stand out, she ached with the guilt a little more.
Worst of all was that even as she grew fond of him and he became her true friend, she did not know if her feelings went deeper. While she liked him the best of the men she had met, she still danced with others when the opportunity arose. She plagued herself with worries over whether she only liked him because he seemed safe.
“You seem miles away today,” Lord Torrington observed as he picked the carrots out of his stew.
