Page 16 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

They took their place on the floor and he put a hand around her waist.

She sucked in a breath at his indecently close he felt. This close, his scent filled her lungs. Leather, man and something spicy that made her head whirl.

"Try not to step on my toes," she said quietly, still recovering from the disorienting sensation that was the Duke.

"I shall try my very best."

She glared up at him and the sides of his mouth curled up in obvious amusement. "You are very prickly."

"Prickly? How dare you?" she hissed.

"How dare I?" He raised a brow, "I thought we were being blunt? Or do you only appreciate bluntness when it is coming from you?"

She snapped her mouth shut and settled for just glaring at him.

"You do not seem to be having fun, Miss Lavinia," he continued.

"You only seem to be having fun at my expense," she countered as he spun her around.

"One has to get his little pleasures in life where one can," he shrugged. "Meanwhile, you looked like you were being led to the guillotine."

"That is..." she trailed off. Had she really?

"If you do not want to be here, then why are you?"

She scoffed, "easy for you to say, Your Grace. You are both a man and a duke with one of the oldest titles in the country. You are practically free to do as you please without any consequences."

He stiffened and his voice was a little cooler when he replied, "I wish."

Lavinia ignored him. "Whereas I am a woman, whose fate is determined by the whims of societal norms and the men,whether they be father, guardian or husband. There are very few options for women and this nightly charade is one of them."

If she weren't watching him so closely, she wouldn't have caught the flicker in his eyes. His expression turned thoughtful. "Hmm," he hummed, "Miss Proctor, I may just have a solution for you. For both of us in fact."

"A solution?" Lavinia asked doubtfully.

The tall man nodded seriously, "Yes. Meet me at the back garden five minutes after this dance."

Jade green eyes widened, "W-what? How dare you suggest an assignation?"

"It is nothing of the sort, I assure you," he replied, "it may come as a surprise to you, but I'm in a bit of a- er- stint. And I know just the way for both of us to get what we want."

The orchestra brought the music to an end and Lavinia curtsied to her partner before she placed her hand on his arm and he led her back to where the two older women stood.

"My ladies," then he looked at Lavinia and said too lowly for the others to hear, "I shall be waiting."

Lavinia watched him walk away, admiring the long lines and strong form. She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts and turned to her aunt who was giving her a big, proud smile.She sighed. It was too bad that she was going to have to let her down.

"Excuse me, I think I see Jenny," she lied after a while.

"Alright, dear," Lady Hartfield said. "You two shouldn't wander too far."

Lavinia slipped through the crowds on a steady pace, making sure to not draw any attention by rushing out of the room. The garden was dark and looked deserted and for a second she was struck with a sharp disappointment.

"Miss Proctor," the Duke's voice called out from behind a row of hedges and she ducked under the arch to meet him.

It took her a while for her eyes to adjust to the dark only illuminated by a pale flash of moonlight.

"I cannot be gone for long," she warned him.

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