Page 16 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
Rachel laughed, finding the gentleman very jovial indeed. “I am attending a ball, yes,” she said, smiling at the way his eyes filled with a sudden hope. “I am to attend Lord and Lady Hallwright’s ball.”
Lord Chiddick let out a whoop of delight which made Rachel giggle, for she had never once been in the company of a gentleman such as this, one who was so delighted with almosteverything she had to say – and who appeared to be so eager to spend further time in her company.
“Then I shall find you this evening without a moment’s hesitation,” he promised, reaching across to pat her hand with his as it rested on his arm. “You will save me a dance, I hope?”
“My dance card is never fully filled,” she told him, though a little embarrassed to admit it to him. “So yes, I should be glad to dance with you, Lord Chiddick. I will let no-one else sign my dance card until you are found.”
Lord Chiddick beamed at her. “I thank you, Miss Grifford. That is truly delightful.”
A slight cough came from behind them and Rachel turned her head to see the Duke of Longford lift an eyebrow in her direction. “Might I be permitted to dance with you also?” he asked, his tone a little gruff as his gaze slid away from her.
Rachel’s mouth went dry and her steps slowed as she quickly considered. The truth was, she did not want to dance with the Duke of Longford but it would be difficult to refuse him with Lord Chiddick standing so close to them both. If she said she would not, then, no doubt, Lord Chiddick would wonder as to why she had done so and might then ask the Duke of Longford himself about it – and then what would he say? What wouldshesay, if he was bold enough to ask her? Rachel swallowed tightly, wondering if the Duke of Longford had asked her such a thing simply because he did not want to give her opportunity to refuse and, in considering it, found herself becoming a little angry.
“I suppose that will be all right,” she said, her lip curling just a little, her free hand tightening into a fist as the Duke nodded, giving her not even the smallest smile nor look of appreciation for her consent.
“Wonderful,” Lord Chiddick said, clearly not seeing anything that Rachel truly felt. “You shall have your dance card filled this evening, Miss Grifford, I am sure of it!”
Rachel offered him a smile but nothing more, her heart and her spirits sinking low. Lord Chiddick’s offer had made her wonderfully delighted but the Duke of Longford’s request had quite dulled that all away. This evening was not to be the most wonderful evening of her life thus far, she was quite sure, not when she would have no choice but to step into the arms of the Duke.
Chapter Eight
Why ever did I say that I would dance with her this evening?
Andrew shook his head to himself and then rolled his eyes for good measure. He had spent the last few hours wondering what it was he had done in telling Miss Grifford that he would like to dance with her this evening and thereafter, worrying about whether or not he ought to do as he had stated. The truth was, he had spoken without thinking and, in doing so, had found himself a little astonished at the words which had come out of his mouth. Miss Grifford had also seemed very surprised by his request but had been gracious enough to accept him – though he had seen the confusion in her eyes and had watched her as she hesitated before answering. Either she had been a little confused as to why he had asked her such a thing or she had been trying to find a way to refuse him – and Andrew was quite certain it had been the latter.
“Good evening, Your Grace!”
Andrew turned to see a young lady smiling up at him, a lady beside him who was clearly her mother given the similarity in features. The way that she spoke to him was a clear message of familiarity though Andrew himself could not seem to think of her name or how they had come to be introduced.
He cleared his throat. “Good evening.”
“Are you enjoying the ball this evening?” the young lady asked as her mother beamed a smile at him, clearly delighted that they found him entirely unattached to anyone else. “I do hope that you will be dancing, Your Grace, for this is one of the most remarkable balls of the Season thus far, I am sure!”
“Is that so?” Andrew asked, dryly, eyeing the lady and thinking that the only reason she had said such a thing was so that she might find herself in his company and with the hope of dancing with him. “What makes it remarkable, might I ask?”
The young lady’s smile fixed to her face as she looked up at him, her eyes rounding just a little as, to his mind, she began to find a reason as to why this evening was more incredible than the other balls of the Season. Her mother nudged her lightly – an action which Andrew did not miss – and Andrew’s lip curled just a little.
“As we all know, the Marquess of Hallwright hosts the most remarkable balls,” the young lady said eventually, stammering just a little. “I – I believe it has the best entertainments, the very best decorations and the like.” Recovering herself a little, she smiled a little more brightly. “And that is why I hope you will dance this evening for I am sure that thetonwill be speaking of this evening for a long time to come.”
Andrew cleared his throat again, this time a little more gruffly and watched as the bright smile began to fade again. He did not know what she expected him to say. Did she think that he would immediately agree, that he would ask for her dance card and thereafter, sign it with a feverish excitement?
“Ah, Your Grace.”
A familiar voice caught his attention and he turned his head just to see Miss Grifford standing beside him. She offered him a small smile but then looked to the young lady who had been speaking with him in the first place.
“Forgive me for interrupting your conversation with my sister,” she said, saving him from having to ask who this young lady was. A gentle relief flooded him and he nodded curtly, though the reminder that he was to dance with her flooded his mind at the very same time.
“Not at all. Might I have your dance card, Miss Grifford?”
Her eyes rounded in surprise, perhaps having no expectation that he would have remembered that he was to dance with her.
“I presume Lord Chiddick has already found you?” he asked, as she slipped the dance card from her wrist and with a hand that trembled lightly handed it to him. “I should not like to take his place.”
She nodded. “Yes, he has,” she said faintly, as Andrew saw the other Miss Grifford’s eyebrows begin to knot. “As has Lord Wrexham.”
“And you did not think that I would remember?” he found himself asking, seeing her eyes drop to the ground and immediately regretting speaking so. She did not need his condemnation. “Mayhap you did not wish me to do so.”
“Not in the least,” Miss Grifford replied, quickly. “I thank you for your consideration, Your Grace.”
