Page 3 of A Spinster to Reform the Duke
She turned to see Lord Herberton’s friend had not left at all. He was still standing there, with that insufferable grin on his face, showing how amused he was at her predicament.
“I have a feeling I have already given you enough amusement tonight. Surely you do not require conversation as well. I beg you would excuse me.” She curtsied with her words, intending to walk away from the stranger when he stepped forward, hurrying alongside her.
“You are walking away so soon?” he asked, flicking his dark hair that had grown in an unruly manner around his ears.
“That is what I meant when I asked you to excuse me.” Her rather witty words pulled another smile to his face. This smile was not as insufferable to her as his last one was.
“At least allow me to introduce myself to you before you part.” He moved in front of her, stopping her from going any further as he bowed to her. “It seems my friend struggled to notice you were the injured party in their little incident. At least allow me to apologize for him when he barely apologized for himself.”
“If you must apologize, you could apologize for laughing at my expense.” Rebecca’s words clearly caught him by surprise, for he laughed all the more as he stood straight.
“You speak plainly. How refreshing.”
“I have learned it is the best way.” She spoke rather tightly. There was a time when she had tried to bite her tongue in public, to restrain herself from the witty words that came so naturally to her, but that time was long past. These days, she was not afraid of scaring a gentleman away.It is safer this way.
“May I at least know who I have offended?” he asked with that amused grin still in place. “At least then I could offer an apology properly.”
“Lady Rebecca Felton,” she said quickly, turning her gaze away and hunting for her parents across the room. She was hoping to make her escape from him soon.
“Lady Rebecca?” he repeated, his voice betraying his surprise so much that she looked back to him.
“I see you have heard of me.” This time, she was the one to smile. She had seen this look now so often in strangers’ faces that it was amusing to her. There was something about the way people panicked when meeting someone they had read of in the scandal sheets and heard muttered on gossipers’ tongues.
“A little,” he confessed. “My name is Timothy Fletcher, the Duke of Frampington.”
Rebecca froze. She was unsure which emotion grew worse within her. Should it be the shame that she had been so outspoken to a Duke? Or should it be the fact that she had read his name in the scandal sheets as well?
“I see you have heard of me too.” He took a step toward her, his smile becoming rather lopsided. She found herself gazing at the smile, rather enamored by it.
No wonder he has the reputation he has, when ladies like me cannot stop staring at him!
She tried to snap her gaze away, looking down at the shawl she had firmly around her shoulders instead. She rather imagined those handsome features in the Duke’s face could lead many a lady to their disgrace, and they would go there quite willingly.
“As we already know of each other, perhaps we can avoid the usual small talk and chatter people engage in on evenings such as this,” he said rather jovially, as if amused by his own words. “I’ll come straight to the point instead.”
“Pray, do,” Rebecca said distractedly, hoping she could escape any second.
“Allow me to repair the injury my friend has just done. He should have apologized to you and asked you to dance instead.” He offered forward his hand. Rebecca snapped her gaze down to the hand, confused by it.
“You wish to dance with me?” she asked, practically scoffing. “Even when you know who I am?”
“I do. From what I hear, you do not dance with anyone.”
“And you wish to see if it is true?”
“Let us say this instead.” He took another step toward her, coming so close that Rebecca felt rather swathed by his scent. There was something earthy about it, and it made her reluctant to step away. “I’m intrigued to see your answer. Turn me down and you prove the gossip to be true.”
“And if I say yes?” Rebecca asked, unable to stop herself from making the challenge.
“Then you prove them wrong.” He kept his hand in the air, waving it toward her another time. “What do you say, Lady Rebecca? Dance with me?”
Chapter Two
Timothy wasn’t sure why he was so interested in Lady Rebecca’s answer, but he found himself holding out for it, with his hand still in the air.
Of course, I know of the lady. Who here could not?He had read her name in the gossip columns along with everyone else when her betrothal to a certain gentleman was called off. He could have warned her just what her betrothed was truly interested in, though the scandal sheets had made it apparent it was clearly a surprise to her.
The lady’s eyes flicked down to his outstretched hand again, giving him the freedom to gaze at her a little more. Timothy was no fool. He had seen a beautiful woman many times, danced with many too. It was partly what had earned him the reputation of being a rake, but there was something about Lady Rebecca he found quite fascinating.
