Page 64 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
He cursed himself mentally for being such a fool and praising her so in front of her brother. Lady Callum simply smiled sweetly. “You are too kind, Lord Hawley. You make me blush.” Her slim fingers raised into the air, he took the opportunity and grasped them in a delicate embrace in his own impossibly fumbling hand. He dared not kiss those fingers, but he bent his head while holding her hand, as was acceptable to do.
Then it was over and he was forced to walk on by as if she meant no more to him than any other host of any other party. He found himself lingering nearby, feigning interest in this conversation or that conversation. All the words were meaningless. If he lost sight of her, he might lose his courage to do what he had worked himself up to do.
He, Lord Edward Hawley, was going to prove his ancestors’ worth and was going to do something impetuous and daring. He was going to steal the lady love of Lord Torrington right out from under the man’s nose. He knew the engagement would soon be made formal and that his time was short.
“Lord Hawley,” a man’s voice behind him caused him to jump. He caught himself from doing so, but still felt the keen embarrassment as he turned around and spied Lord Torrington watching him with amusement. “Saw you standing here and thought I might come and say hello. We have only managed a few passing phrases this season and I thought I should rectify that, what with Lady Callum being so fond of you.”
Edward swallowed, but the lump in his throat would not budge. “Yes, we have not really talked, have we?”
“Are you well?” Lord Torrington put a hand on his shoulder. “You look like a man who could use a drink. Come, let us find one.”
Edward could scarcely do anything else. He had a grip of iron on his shoulder. He resigned himself to go with the duke to find a drink. Truth be told, a stiff drink might do his nerves wonders.
When they found the refreshments, Edward exclaimed, as one really should, “What a lovely offering of delights you have!”
“I cannot take credit for any of it,” Lord Torrington assured him. “This is all Lady Callum’s doing.”
Edward nodded in appreciation as the duke handed him a glass. “Should I ask what this is?”
“It is punch of one sort or another. All I can tell you is that it has fruit and a considerable quantity of spirits in it.” Lord Torrington raised his glass in a toast, causing Edward to return the gesture.
They drank the punch in unison. Edward blew out a breath. “That is a strong enough spirit to drive out the devil himself.”
“Hear, hear,” Lord Torrington said in merriment. “Still, it seems to have cured your ailment. Are you feeling better then?”
Edward nodded and laughed boldly. “I do feel better. Thank you, Your Grace.”
They fell into silence. It was odd to stand next to the man who would be one’s enemy yet he treated one as a friend. Perhaps that was because he had as of yet no knowledge of what treachery Edward was here upon.
To Edward’s relief, Lord Grayson collected the duke for a card game. He waved off the duke’s concerns about leaving him on his own and watched the duke finally go with Lord Grayson with a sigh of relief. He waited a respectful amount of time before he went to find Lady Callum.
He spied her as she was leaving a group of ladies. He joined her as she went into the side hallway. “Lady Callum,” Edward said quickly, before she could disappear again.
She turned her sparkling hazel eyes towards him and Edward swore her face lit up. The notion of it warmed his blood and his heart. “Lord Hawley, I had wondered where you had got to.”
“I was with Lord Torrington having some punch, but Lord Grayson stole him away to play cards.” Lord Hawley smiled. He lowered his voice. “I was wondering if I could perhaps talk with you privately. It is a matter of urgency.”
Her lips pushed out as if she were considering his words before nodding cautiously. “We can step into the library.”
Hope buoyed Edward’s spirit as she agreed to speak with him. Having her agree to a private conversation was by far the part that Edward had worried over the most. Now she had agreed, he only had to worry over her reaction to what he had to say.
They made their way in silence down the hallway to the library, where he held the door open for Lady Callum. He felt a little roguish, but he made sure as best he could that no one else was in the hallway. No matter the outcome, there was no need in ruining Lady Callum’s reputation over a conversation.
Inside the library, Lady Callum waited for him with her hands clutched in front of her blue dress. “I do apologise for being so dramatic and pulling you away from the party, but I fear that if I do not act brashly then I may not have the chance to say what I need to say.”
“And what is it that you need to say so urgently, Lord Hawley?” Lady Callum looked genuinely curious as she lifted a hand to pat her hair.
Edward looked at his feet for a moment trying to find the words that would sway a woman’s heart. Failing that he looked at her and sighed, “I admire you, Lady Callum.”
“Thank you.”
Edward shook his head. “I mean so much more than that, yet those are the words that fill me. I mean that I adore you. We are a good match, are we not?”
She stared at him for a long moment before she said softly, “Oh.”
It was not the resounding declaration of mutual feelings that he had wanted, but she had not slapped him across his face. “I fear I might have made a fool of myself.”
“No,” Lady Callum assured him. “I am fond of you as well. Things are not all black and white. I fear that my heart is troubled.”
