Page 2 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
“I…” Rebecca was about to say it was all right when she noticed the true extent of the spill. It had to have been a very full glass indeed, for the droplets of champagne were running down her dress, making her shudder in embarrassment.
“It was my fault,” Eliza declared quickly. “I am sorry, sister, I was not looking where I was going.”
Rebecca felt Eliza’s shawl quickly thrown over her shoulders, the pale blue silk trying to cover up the worst of the spill.
“Nonsense, I am entirely to blame,” the fair-haired man said, stepping forward again. His eagerness to apologize seemed to fade away the moment his eyes landed on Eliza.
Rebecca could have laughed at the sudden change, had it not been for the way she was now clinging to the shawl to cover up her marred dress.
“Forgive me, I seem to have forgotten my manners entirely.” He bowed hurriedly to Eliza.
I think I have rather blended into the background now.Rebecca’s thought made her smile, somewhat startled by the enamored way the stranger was looking at her sister.
“I am the Marquess of Herberton,” he said kindly, never taking his eyes off Eliza.
“Oh, a pleasure, Lord Herberton,” Eliza said, rather fumbling with the words as she hurried to curtsy. “I am Lady Eliza Felton. This is my sister, Lady Rebecca Felton.”
“How do you do,” Lord Herberton said quickly to Rebecca before he returned his gaze to Eliza.
Rebecca bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.It is as if he only sees Eliza!
“Alex? What have you been doing?” a rather deep voice was clearly calling Lord Herberton, for he acknowledged the words with a quick look as another man approached.
“I have been getting into trouble, my friend,” Lord Herberton said hurriedly, returning his eyes to Eliza. “For which I must apologize for again.”
“It was entirely my fault,” Eliza pressed a hand to her chest as she spoke.
Rebecca would have happily pointed out that her dress was the one that had been ruined, not Eliza’s, when she caught sight of the approaching man that had called to Lord Herberton.
“I was about to ask what you have done, Alex, but I think I see just what you have done.” The newcomer turned to Rebecca and laughed.
He laughed!All propensity Rebecca had at that moment to laugh herself had vanished. All she felt was embarrassment and shock at this man daring to laugh at her in her predicament.
He was a striking presence. With hair so black it could have been made out of the darkest of ink. He was tall too, unusually taller than her, a rare thing to find. It was the smile on those rather sharp features in his face that shook her to the core the most though. The problem was it was such a charming smile. She would have been charmed by it more, if she had not been so irked.
“You do know, Alex, you’re supposed to keep the champagne in the glass when you’re not drinking it,” the man said, never taking his eyes off Rebecca’s dress. That look made her wrap the shawl self-consciously tighter around her body.
“It was my fault,” Eliza said hurriedly. “I walked into your friend here.”
“I should have been more careful with my glass,” Lord Herberton was still insisting he was at fault.
“Either way, the dress is wet,” Rebecca said, unwilling to let them continue to argue at who was at fault. With the way the new arrival was staring at her, she wanted nothing more than to retreat to the other side of the room and hide with her sister until her dress dried out. “Come, Eliza, our mother will be wondering where we are.”
“Now?” Eliza asked in surprise, not looking at Rebecca, but still at Lord Herberton.
Good Lord, you’d think they had been cast under a spell!Rebecca reached for her sister’s arm, about to tow her away when Lord Herberton stepped forward, clearly reluctant to let Eliza leave.
“Let me at least attempt to make amends before you leave,” he said quickly. “If your dance card is not already full, Lady Eliza, may I have the next dance?” He extended his hand with the words.
Rebecca chewed the side of her mouth, suddenly feeling tense before she whispered a few words to her sister.
“Remember what I said,” she murmured, yet Eliza didn’t appear to hear her. Earlier that day, Rebecca had warned Eliza again and again about the dangers of young men who were so interested after hearing her name. It meant only one thing.He is interested in your dowry, Eliza. That is all.
“I would be delighted,” Eliza’s reply made Rebecca curse inwardly. It seemed her warning was all for nothing.
“Eliza!” Rebecca said in a hissed whisper as her sister stepped away, taking Lord Herberton’s hand.
“I’ll be back soon, sister.” As Eliza stepped away with Lord Herberton, Rebecca felt watched.
