Page 108 of Foolish Bride
Michael’s face filled with rage.
Preston had lost his mind and Michael was about to kill him.
She began at a stutter. “I…I am pleased to see you as well, your grace. How have you been?”
“My wellbeing is of no consequence as long as you are well. May I have this dance?”
She looked around the room. Every eye was trained on the three of them. She couldn’t refuse but her fiancé was grimacing like a feral dog. She could claim a twisted ankle. No one would believe it. They had all seen her walk in. She looked up at Michael’s furious face and for an instant caught something in his eyes that wasn’t anger. Amusement?
Elinor put on her best demure smile for Preston and nodded once to her fiancé. She took Preston’s arm, and he led her onto the dance floor. The music started as they reached the crowded floor, and Preston’s hand settled on her back.
It was a waltz. Elinor rolled her eyes, imagining the crowd’s gossip as she took Preston’s hand and allowed him to begin the dance. “What are the two of you up to?”
Preston smiled down at her. He was still too handsome to doubt, but she fumed at him and at Michael for keeping her in the dark on whatever they’d plotted.
“We are restoring your reputation, my sweet.”
“Don’t call me that, Preston. I nearly fell over when you approached me as if I were your fiancé and not Michael’s. This will only add to the scandal. Society will call me a loose woman.”
“I think not.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she stomped on his foot, making him lose a step.
He frowned at her, then laughed. “Smile, Elinor.”
She glanced around the room. Everyone was still watching. She smiled and laughed at him as if he had made an amusing comment. He was right. They had to put on a show.
“That’s better. It is better to have the ton think you are being pursued by two dukes than to think that you had to run off and get married due to some horrible mishap in the north.”
“There will still be scandal. I will still be shunned, and so will Michael after the wedding,” she said.
He shook his head. “I do not think so. No one will believe the rumors about what happened in Scotland or on the way back. They would never believe that I would still be after your hand if I thought those rumors were true.” He whispered, “Better to be thought of as loose than as a murderess.”
She gasped.
His hand pressed at the small of her back, lower than was proper.
“And are you still after my hand, Preston.”
“Is it available?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I love Michael. I will marry him next week if he will still have me.” She continued smiling for the crowd.
A sad smile marred Preston’s lovely full lips. “I thought as much. Then I shall be thwarted, you and Kerburghe shall marry, and your reputation will suffer little more than a hiccup. I suspect even that will have passed by the time you return from your honeymoon.”
She couldn’t hold the fake smile any longer. “Why are you doing this?”
He gripped her tighter. “I think you know the answer to that question.” The intensity in his gaze was replaced by a light smile. “We are friends. I want to help you.”
Tears of gratitude welled in her eyes. “Thank you, Preston.”
“I am at your service.” As the music ended, he bowed, then took her hand and kissed her fingers lightly. “I always will be available for you if you need me, Elinor.”
Torn between gratitude and shame, Elinor could think of no response.
Middleton delivered her back to her mother’s side. “I will make sure that by the end of the evening, the entire party thinks the story in the paper was rubbish spread by an unhappy servant. I am sure this will pass quickly.” He bowed and turned to walk away.
“Your grace,” she called.
