Page 11 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

“I see you were to have the supper dance together.” He scrawled his name beside it and added, “I see you have two other numbers open. Might I be presumptuous and ask for the final dance of the evening, as well? The better to make your acquaintance.”

Her slow smile turned into a radiant one. “I’d like that very much, Lord Sather. But please, don’t ask for the remaining slot on my card. It’s bad fashion, you know, to dance with a partner more than twice.”

He returned her card, catching a whiff of vanilla. “Who makes such silly restricting rules? If I found an interesting partner, I would claim every dance from her,” he teased.

She cocked one eyebrow at him. “You would tempt the gossips of theton?”

“I would, my lady. And give them something to gossip about,” he added suggestively.

Lady Catherine burst out laughing. Her rich laughter was contagious, causing him to do the same, drawing the eyes of those standing nearby. He swallowed, trying to contain his laughter and failing miserably. Inhaling deeply, he calmed himself, though his spirits soared.

Taking her gloved hand, he kissed her fingers. “Until the supper dance.”

With that, Jeremy left, his heart pumping wildly.

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