Page 27 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
The dance quickly went from awkward, to comfortable, then intimate as the pair maintained eye contact the entirety of the dance. The pull in her belly that she had been unsuccessful at quelling reared up with full force, knocking the breath out of Gemma.
Gabriel stared into Gemma’s eyes as his hand tightened on her waist as he dipped her.
Their chemistry was undeniable to everyone watching, including Alastair.
As they danced their way through the song, the intensity of their attraction to each other was palpable.
Gabriel wished the waltz would go on forever as he twirled Gemma around the room. To distract himself from how well her body fit against his, he asked, “How has the soirée been treating you this evening, Lady Gemma? Have you enjoyed yourself?”
Gemma swallowed, carefully considering her words.
“It isn’t as bad as I thought it might be. The company has been nice,” She left out Alastair’s name on purpose.
It was possible to misinterpret her words. He needed to be careful that he did not do that very thing. She could be talking about him, or she could be talking about Alistair. He chose his next words carefully.
“What do you think about Lord Langley?” Gabriel asked, eager for her response. This would be a good test to see who she was really referring to. He felt clever for a moment.
Gemma glanced towards the punch table where Alastair stood watching them dance. “He is an interesting gentleman, and our dance was fun. I do not sense ill intention from him so far.”
Gabriel held back a grumble but nodded. Her answer was satisfactory but not entirely pleasant to hear.
“I am glad. How did his dance compare to ours?” Gabriel asked cheekily.
Gemma flushed.
“It doesn’t compare,” she whispered, staring into Gabriel’s eyes.
Gabriel’s heart skipped a beat.
“I am enjoying our dance as well,” Gabriel responded before dipping her again.
Silence filled the air after their brief conversation, and they stayed dancing and gazing into one another’s eyes the rest of the waltz. Thankfully, it was a rather long waltz which suited Gabriel just fine.
***
“That should be you,” Cressida snapped at her daughter. She gestured angrily toward Gabriel and Gemma.
Vivienne watched Lady Gemma and the duke, clearly entranced by each other on the dance floor.
“We already shared a dance,” Vivienne explained. “It was a very lovely dance, as well.”
While ladies and gentlemen could share two dances, it would be less than acceptable to share more than that. Rumors of ill intention spread like wildfire in the Ton at a third dance.
Vivienne and the duke had only just met and she would have had to make quite the impression for them to dance twice.
“Remember the goal, Vivienne. You are to impress the duke and become the Duchess of Ashbourne,” Cressida reminded Vivienne. “There is no middle ground.”
Vivienne didn’t want that for herself, but her mother could be scary, so she knew she had to do as she was told. After all, she was trained to be a dutiful daughter, and a dutiful daughter she would be.
***
“You seemed to have had a grand time at the soiree last night,” Gemma spoke to Felicity as the best friends had tea in the drawing room the following morning.
“I do not know what you mean,” Felicity said as heat rose to her cheeks. “I merely fulfilled my season obligation, of course.”
Gemma gently pushed Felicity for more information. “It seemed that Hugh and you have grown close. And the heat between you two, as you danced, was scorching. I know that it is bold to say that in such a manner. But that is what I saw.” She winked at Felicity.
Felicity giggled behind her gloved hand. “Oh, Gemma. Do rein in your imagination on last night’s interaction, please.”
