Page 8 of Denying a Rakish Duke
“And humble as well!” Brandon added with a shake of his head. “Very well, let us fetch some more to drink while the song finishes. I have my eye on the lovely lady in green to the far side of the hall. Do you see her? She is a marvelous creature. It is very terrible that her mother seems to find me very objectionable for reasons that I cannot fathom.”
“Perhaps she does not like the smell of liquor on your breath, friend.”
“I do not drink while I am around her! Well, I do not indulgemuchwhenever I am around her. Even so, I have made my intentions clear, and I will win the crone over one way or another so that I might have her daughter for my own. I have the fortune and the property plus a respectable income. I truly do not see what she finds so objectionable about me!”
The men moved toward the wine and replenished their glasses. Brandon made a displeased face as he sampled his. “I do not wish to offend my wonderful host, but the selection of wine is much too sweet.”
“Feel free to tell my grandmother that you are displeased with something, I challenge you to do it. In fact, I shallpayyou to tell her that you are displeased with her choices.”
Together, they located the visage of the Dowager Duchess across the hall where she was speaking to a gaggle of young women. No doubt she was attempting to bestow them with sage bits of advice— likely even to avoid men like her grandson at all costs. Perhaps she was making her own selections to propose whom he ought to consider marrying. In unison, Joseph and Brandon shuddered at the notion of confronting her with the idea of being displeased withanythingshe had chosen and the subsequent tongue lashing that would result afterward.
“Now, tell me about the Farbridge sisters quickly,” Joseph said as his eyes moved over the dance floor until he found the women in question.
“Well, it is the youngest daughter’s first Season, and she is a diamond of the first water which you well know as you have already danced with her. Beautiful and talented with the voice of a songbird— or so I am told. Her sister, Lady Vanessa, however, is on her third or fourth Season in Society and seems to shun the idea of ever being married. More than one gentleman has told me of her barbed tongue. She spares no feelings when rejecting a man for herself and is apparently just as poisonous when it comes to those who she feels are unfit for her sister.”
Joseph side-eyed his friend. He wanted to ask ifhehad attempted to court either of the sisters, but he stopped himself.
“Who made her judge? I feel that if a lady is unmarried, she should have no voice to speak on the behalf of others who wish to be married.” Joseph’s brow furrowed in confusion. He watched as the raven-haired beauty spoke to her sister and saw the way that her face seemed to warm when she fought the urge to smile because of something they were speaking about. What a curious creature. One might think her cold, detached almost. She held herself with such a rigid, perfect posture that it was hard to imagine her as anything but droll. Yet, there was something behind her blue eyes that was most intriguing.
“Mark my words, old friend, I shall have Lady Amanda so enamored with me by the end of the evening that there will be no keeping us apart,” Joseph declared and handed off his wine glass to the man standing beside him. Joseph straightened his waistcoat and crossed the dance floor the moment that song ended, fully intending to snag Amanda for the next one.
“Lady Amanda,” he stated as he bowed to her. She greeted him with a soft smile, and the woman beside him regarded him with nothing but ice. He flicked his eyes over her. He could feel the waves of ire washing from her. How had she decided that she did not like him when they had never even spoken? He found himself glancing to her as if she were a snake waiting to snap at him if he made a wrong move.
“Might I have the pleasure of your company for a second dance?” Amanda started to lift her gloved hand when Vanessa interrupted them.
“No,” she said firmly and placed her hand on top of Amanda’s to lower it. Amanda glanced anxiously at her sister for the possible slight, but Vanessa did not waiver.
“No?” Joseph blanched; it was not a word that he heard very often, especially from a lady.
“Apologies, I was not aware that you were a simpleton as well as presumptuous. No, Your Grace, she will not be dancing with you a second time this evening. She is otherwise occupied.”
Joseph could feel the challenge in her words. Perhaps she might be used to people backing down when she asked them to. Perhaps she felt that she was so impressive and intimidating that he should simply cower in her presence, but he would do no such thing. He shifted, his hands grasping one another behind his back as he appraised her with his eyes. Certainly, Lady Amanda was a very beautiful woman. She appealed in every way that a lady ought to. Yet, standing next to this creature beside her— it was nearly impossible to tear his gaze from Vanessa. “Apologies, My Lady, I was unaware that her dance card had already been filled.”
Amanda parted her lips to object, but one look at the tension growing between Joseph and her sister silenced her once more.
“Whether it is or not is no concern of yours, Your Grace. She will not dance with you again.”
“I see.” Joseph’s eyes sparkled with mirth over how quickly Lady Vanessa was to anger. He was never one to back down from a challenge. Somehow, the woman in front of him might be the most interesting challenge that he had ever faced. “Then I suppose you shall have to dance with me instead.”
ChapterSix
“Then I suppose you shall have to dance with me instead.”
The words rattled around the inside of her mind from one side to the other. The very notion was more offensive the deeper that it settled. He could not have possibly meant it though the Duke looked dead serious.
“No! Absolutely not!” Vanessa squeaked in surprise. She was embarrassed that noise had come from her mouth. The Duke asking her to dance was the very last thing that she could have expected. So far, when she spoke on behalf of her sister, the gentlemen would be upset, but they would also be on their way. One had insulted her outright, but then he had not come around again. Personally, she was pleased with that development. She did not need a man with a foul temper around her sister anyway.
“I insist. I have to presume that the reason you do not wish for me to dance with Lady Amanda is because you wish to dance with me yourself. As I do not wish to offend you or your sister, I am happy to oblige. You could have asked.” Joseph spoke cordially as if this were the perfect solution for everybody involved.
Vanessa could hardly contain her shock. “I do not— I am notjealous.” She turned to her sister, checking with Amanda to ensure that her sister did not have the same opinion. She could not stand it if her sister thought that she was doing this with malicious intent. “I am not jealous,” she repeated. “I think that perhaps Lord Mulworth might be a better partner for this dance; he is light enough on his feet.” She spoke too quickly. Amanda squeezed her hand.
“Fret not, dear sister; I know that you are not jealous. Certainly not of His Grace. Perhaps we ought to take a turn about the room instead?” Amanda said evenly as if none of this were unusual, and she would be perfectly happy no matter what any of them chose to do.
Vanessa nodded. She could embrace her sister; she was so happy with her suggestion. Vanessa felt very uncomfortable in the current situation and wanted to leave the company of the Duke quickly. She could feel the heat of his green eyes locked on her. He did not even seem to blink. It was like standing next to a roaring hearth or having all of the lights in the ballroom focused onto her. She never did care to be the center of attention. Yet, the Duke seemed to force her attention magnetically toward him in a way that she could not articulate.
“Do you find me an objectionable dance partner?” The Duke’s voice rose in volume, just enough to attract the attention of those around them. “I have not seen you on the floor all evening. Is there truly no gentleman here handsome enough to tempt you?”
Now he had the audacity to insult her as well? Her face felt warm. “You are accusing me of things that I have never said, Your Grace.”
