Page 30 of His Ruined Duchess

Selina stood from the table and gestured toward the door. “Right this way, Your Grace.”

“Your hand goes here on my waist.” Selina guided Hugh’s hand into the proper position. “And do not let your elbows droop. You will be attending lavish events every Season. You must perfect this art.”

“This is ridiculous. I am aware of the modern dances.” Hugh’s complaining had not stopped since they left the dining room. “Seli?—”

She raised her brows at him, making a face.

“Your Grace,” Hugh squinted at her, “is this entirely necessary?”

Selina stepped back, ready to go through the steps of the dance with Hugh again now that she had perfected the way he positioned his hands when they met during the line.

“Show me that you are well prepared for this particular dance, and I will end my instruction in dance.” She smiled at him,feeling lighter and more exhilarated than she should at the feeling of Hugh’s hands warming her skin. “Shall we?”

Rolling his eyes, which Selina couldn’t help but chuckle at, the Duke nodded.

“Now, you would have already asked for my hand to dance, but I am assuming you are at least aware of that custom. Yes?”

The Duke glared at her. It was still so obvious that he did not enjoy being at a disadvantage, especially against her. Selina was so familiar with this world of money and rumor, and Hugh’s limited experience with it clearly upset him. Having knowledge was indeed powerful, and it actually pleased her quite a bit to see that the man was committed to obtaining it, even if it meant asking for her assistance.

“Yes,” was all he offered.

“Excellent. We are practicing this as if attending aprivateball. We can conduct a lesson regarding a public ball at a later date.” Selina focused, remembering what he mother had taught her so long ago. “Firstly, if you wish to dance with an unfamiliar lady in an effort to find yourownmatch, you will need to be introduced to her by her chaperone, likely her mother.”

Hugh glowered all the harder at the notion that he might wish to find his own bride. Selina had mentioned it purposefully of course. He’d avoided engagement thus far, and it was exceedingly likely that he wished to continue doing so.

And yet the man can’t seem to understand how I would feel the same? Ugh, God rest him, but Easton should never have sent that letter to Hugh.

“Let us go through the steps again. You will have to continue to imagine the other pair of dancers who would be joining us during this particular dance, but it will do for now.”

Sucking in a deep breath, Hugh gave her a nod, taking his place at the start of the imaginary line where they would begin. Selina counted aloud to mimic the beat of the music, guiding Hugh through the steps.

“You are an excellent dancer, Your Grace,” she offered, making conversation with him as she’d instructed.

“You…” Hugh hesitated, still moving through the dance as he turned and then lifted her. “You are a sight yourself, Your Grace. Quite… graceful.”

Selina was forced to swallow at that. The words were not what they had rehearsed, and heat gathered in her cheeks. Each touch throughout the dance made Selina’s stomach clench before flitting about inside her like it was some fairy seeking an exit. Hugh’s fingers were firm as they held her, following the steps as discussed so perfectly that Selina fell into the rhythm of it, losing her focus on the fact that this was just a lesson, not anactualdance with him.

Hugh stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face now, as they moved through the remaining steps. The minutes seemedto be hours as they twirled about each other, no other couple present to interrupt the prolonged eye contact he held with her.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Selina finally managed to say, no other words to be found.

Instead, the two of them simply continued the steps, returning to the start of the line over and over again as they practiced. Selina no longer needed to count, and she could not look away from Hugh, mesmerized by whatever was happening between them.

He appeared equally bewitched, neither of them daring to break the intimate silence or regard anything other than each other.

Selina’s eyes found Hugh’s lips, and it was too late when she stole them away again. Hugh had noticed. A gentle smile lifted the corner of his lips. She had not meant to, but the damage was done. Too often, so much more frequently than Selina wished, her eyes roamed to places they ought not to, Hugh touching areas of her face and body that made the furious blush swell higher.

He was an imp sent to torment her. This was supposed to be a practice for a dance, and yet, they were trapped here now, swirling about each other in the ballroom in the quiet.

What was going on between them? It couldn’t be explained away by annoyance any longer, and Selina was unsure what they meant. As she finally came back to herself, her pulse a frenzy,Selina curtsied appropriately and swallowed hard, struggling to find her voice.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I…” Her skin was aflame, but she could not see the fire consuming her. “I require some fresh air before we take our afternoon tea. I will meet you in the drawing room for it.”

Without waiting for a reply, making her guilty of breaking one of the first rules she had provided Hugh, Selina turned her back and fled, the fit of her stays undoubtedly laced too tightly again for the way she felt faint.

Dearest Ethel,

I am terrified that I might be losing my mind.HughThe Duke’s lessons began today. Everything had started out as expected, including the man’s insufferable hatred for following my instructions. Then, he opened up, and it began to provide a sort of humor to watch him go about memorizing and adhering to the etiquette I provided.

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