Page 17 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“Of course.”Nathanial bowed over Tiffany’s hand.He’d actually come quite close to offering for her before she’d been discovered kissing Gregory in the library at the Duchess of Richmond’s ball.
Truthfully, he still would have married her after that because he knew exactly who to blame for that particular scandal.Tiffany was far too sensible to have initiated that sequence of events.But Gregory had insisted that he be the one to marry her, and so he had.
As they’d been a love match by the time they were actually wed, it was rather lucky that Nathanial had not gone through with attempting to further his suit.It would have been dashed awkward for his wife to be in love with one of his closest friends and vice versa.
Getting into place to dance with Tiffany, Nathanial glanced over.
Miss Little was now paired with Matthew.
Matthew had said that he’d already flipped his lucky coin to decide whether or not to court Miss Little… but what if he’d changed his mind?What if he flipped it again, and it gave him a different answer?
He’d also flipped it for Nathanial and Miss Little, though he had not told Nathanial what the outcome was.He was not sure it would work for anyone other than himself.Not that it mattered.Nathanial was not going to court her, no matter what the Lord of Luck’s coin flip said.
The music started, and Nathanial focused himself.
Unlike Lady Nichole, Tiffany would have no hesitation in taking him to task over bruised toes.
Unfortunately, the turns of the dance made it impossible for him not to see across the room to where Miss Little and St.Albans were now dancing.Would St.Albans tell her about the coin flip?Was the reason he was dancing with her because he’d done a new one for himself?
She turned toward him, a vision in pink, her dark beauty arresting his attention.Their gazes met for a mere moment, then she turned away again.His chest felt tight, as though he could not get enough air in his lungs.
“I see what she meant,” Tiffany murmured.
Nathanial jerked his head around, managing at the last moment to keep from stepping on the duchess’ toes.
“What who meant?”he asked, confused and also relieved that she had reminded him of where he was.He needed to stop watching Miss Little and think about something else.Anything else.
Unfortunately, Miss Little was exactly who Tiffany wished to talk about.
“Kalina was worried you’d taken up against her for some reason.”
“I have not.”Indignation was swift and strong.
Tiffany studied his face as he stared down at her.She really was very beautiful, even more so since she’d become a duchess and begun wearing dresses in the blue she favored.It was far more flattering on her than the gowns she’d debuted in.
“Then why were you glaring at her?”
“I…” Had he been glaring?He had not realized.“I was looking across the room.”
“You were looking crossly across the room… at Miss Little.”Tiffany gave him a hard look.“You seemed to be getting on well enough with her at supper.And before supper.”
Nathanial hefted a sigh.Meddling females.He’d been relieved not to have his sisters dogging his every move.They’d been replaced with Sebastian’s sister in their stead.Something that would amuse them greatly if he ever admitted it to them.
Somehow, he could not escape his sisters, no matter how he tried.
“We had two very pleasant conversations, both before and during supper,” he agreed, turning in place and taking the duchess with him.Now that they were speaking intently, it was far easier to keep his focus on the dance and not step on her feet.Unfortunately, for poor Lady Nichole’s toes, she had not been as engaging.
“Then what is your problem with her?”Tiffany narrowed her eyes at him.“If you are judging her for title hunting…”
“Of course not,” he scoffed.“I am hardly in a position to judge that.”
Though why she would care about her father’s side of the family, he did not understand.It did seem rather petty.She might be able to force them to acknowledge her and her family by dint of status if she married a duke, but she could not force the Earl of Stilton to like or accept them.
But that was not his business, as he would not be her husband.That was something for whoever took that position.
And if the idea of another man, especially one of his friends, taking that position made him want to punch something… well, he would feel better once he’d chosen his own bride.It was likely his own uncertain state that made his emotions so unsettled.
Once he knew his direction, he would no longer be so distracted by Miss Little.
