Page 79 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
She didn’t know what to do with it, what to do with the height of his focus and desire, how to control herself in this ballroom, so she turned her back to him and put more distance between them.
As Edwina and Diana sipped on their drinks, they were approached by a tall man with hair as blonde as fields of wheat catching the summer sun.
“You must be the Duchess of Stormhold!” he exclaimed, holding out his hand. “It an absolute honor to meet you, Your Grace! You know, I have seen you throughout the night, and I kept wondering if it was indeed you. But when I saw you dancing with His Grace, I just knew it! You are her. And if I may be so bold, you are as beautiful as everybody says.”
His young face was bright with excitement, and Edwina hesitantly shook his hand.
“I am indeed her, but forgive my rudeness, as I do not know you.”
“Oh!” He laughed boldly, drawing the attention of several people around them. “How terrible of me. I am Allan Fitzgerald, Lucien’s cousin.”
Realization dawned on Edwina slowly, and by the time his words had registered, she had been staring at him rather dumbly.
“You are Rose’s brother?” she asked, smiling widely.
Allan nodded eagerly. “The very one!”
“Oh, wonderful. You know, I asked Lucien when I might meet you both.”
“He is terribly cagey, is he not?” Allan’s eyebrows knitted together in something akin to sadness. “I would have loved to be at your wedding, Your Grace, but we were not informed. It is a rather sad occurrence. Rose was beside herself.”
“I am sure.”
Edwina’s heart went out to her husband’s cousin, especially as he glanced around nervously.
“I… well, I have not had the chance to greet my cousin tonight. Do you know where I might find him?”
“He was right… over there…” Edwina trailed off as she glanced back at the spot where Lucien and Jasper had been and found it occupied by another group of young lords, whose gazes flicked to her and then back again. “I am sure he is discussing business somewhere else.”
“That sounds like the Lucien I know.” Allan laughed heartily. “And who is your lovely friend here?”
“I am Miss Diana Hughes, My Lord,” Diana said, holding out her hand for him to kiss. “Daughter of the Viscount Grenfield.”
“They ought to call you Miss Dazzling Hughes, for your beauty is ever so captivating.”
Diana blinked, her face flushing. “My, you are charming.”
“I have a good soul and a heart filled with laughter, nothing more.” Allan beamed at them, glancing around. “Although my sister should be around here somewhere. She will not be impressed, but would you do me the honor of this dance, my dear cousin-in-law? I suppose that is what you are now, yes?”
Edwina nodded, unable to stop thinking about Lucien’s other cousin, whom he had once mentioned introducing her to. She wished he would talk to her. She wished he trusted her not only with his body but also with his life, with his emotions, as she had tried to trust him.
“You may,” she finally answered.
Surely her husband wouldn’t be opposed to a dance. Regardless, he was not there to tell her anything.
“Excellent. Once we are done, we shall find that cousin of mine. He is prone to lurking in the shadows. Either that, or he is hiding behind Lady Lardan’s rather… large headpiece. If those peacock feathers atop her head are any indication of how her ball may look next week, then I imagine we will all be in for a rather riveting night.”
Discreetly, Allan pointed at the older lady’s headwear, and both Edwina and Diana could not help but stifle giggles behind their palms.
“Something displeases you.” Jasper’s voice cut through the din in the ballroom, igniting Lucien’s anger all over again.
“Nothing displeases me.”
“I see. So, do tell me who you are attempting to shoot columns of flame at?”
Lucien rounded on Jasper, glaring at him. “Your smirk irritates me.”
“Yours irritates me. Always has.”
