Page 24 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
“Really? That is quite interesting.” Gemma murmured quietly.
“What is interesting?” Hugh’s voice echoed from behind the women.
Startled, Gemma waved her hands as Felicity took a clumsy step back.
“Nothing Hugh, just lady talk,” Gemma explained.
“Ah,” Hugh stated. “I see.”
There was a beat of awkward silence before Hugh turned his attention toward Felicity.
“May I see your dance card, my lady?” Hugh asked Felicity.
“W-what?” Felicity stuttered; eyes wide as she looked down at the dance card in question.
“I would like to secure the next dance; may I see your dance card?” Hugh elaborated.
Gemma’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline as she watched the interaction. At last, Hugh was making a proper move with Felicity.
With shaky hands, Felicity held out her dance card and Hugh signed it.
As he finished, the music changed.
“That is our cue,” Hugh said, taking Felicity’s hand in his.
Felicity turned towards Gemma with a dreamy smile on her face as she nearly skipped onto the dance floor with Hugh.
How affectionate Hugh has been with Felicity, she thought. And Felicity has been very sweet about all matters relating to Hugh. It would be a gift if the two of them ended up married by the end of the season.
Gemma watched as her best friend was whisked across the dance floor. Happiness filled her and, she hated to admit, with it came a smidge of jealousy. No one had asked her for her dance card yet this evening.
She didn’t know whether to be thankful or resentful of the fact. Being forced to attend the season’s first party was one thing. A blank dance card added insult to injury.
As Gemma watched Felicity and Hugh dancing across the dance floor, she felt a soft tap on her shoulder.
“My lady,” Gabriel said in her ear.
Gemma was overcome with goosebumps across her skin as his breath hit her ear.
Before turning around, she hoped above everything that Gabriel was about to ask her for a dance.
She faced her guardian and was startled to see he wasn’t alone.
A shorter man with dark hair and bushy brows was staring at her with an eager grin. Something about the man was intriguing.
“This is Lord Langley,” Gabriel introduced.
“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Langley,” Gemma said as she curtsied.
Alastair beamed at Gemma. “The pleasure is all mine, my lady. I could not help but be taken by your beauty from across the room and I had to beg your guardian to introduce me.”
Gemma looked at Gabriel and saw a grimace on his face which may have egged her on.
“Well, if I may be so bold, you are quite handsome yourself.” Gemma watched the grimace turn to a set line on Gabriel’s handsome face. She may have overstepped a bit, but it was too late to turn back now.
“My, you are a delight,” Alastair said. “May I have this dance?”
“She would love to dance,” Gabriel said before Gemma could respond.
