Page 25 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
“I should be glad to,” she said, handing her dance card to the Duke. “Though so long as it is not because you feel obliged, Your Grace. Miss Grifford did not do this in order to secure a dance!”
“I am very well aware of that,” came the quick reply, though Rachel noticed how the gentleman’s smile grew rather than faded. “That would be a most extraordinary thing to do.” That smile and his dark eyes flicked towards Rachel and for a moment, she saw him in an entirely new light. He was not frowning, his expression was not shadowed and the way he looked at her brought a lightness and a brightness to her heart which she had not felt before. When it came time to hand him her dance card, their fingers brushed and Rachel jumped in surprise, the touch making her skin burn as the heat in her fingers rushed up her arm.
It was all very strange.
“Oh, I must take my leave in search of Lord Rushford!” Miss Renfrew, hearing the next dance announced, turned quickly and hurried away, leaving Rachel and the Duke standing alone together – something which Rachel knew ought not to be done. She blinked, glanced at the Duke and then took her dance card back from him with a murmur of thanks.
“The country dance this time, Miss Grifford, though I should like to waltz with you again on another occasion,” he said, his eyes alive with a sudden interest as he gazed back at her. “I did enjoy our dance.”
“As did I,” Rachel admitted, quietly, not quite certain where to look. “Might I ask you something, Your Grace?” She looked up at him, just as his gaze turned to the whiskey he had left on the table.
“After what you have just done for me, Miss Grifford, I believe you can ask me anything.”
She nodded, pressed her lips tight together as she considered and then nodded half to herself, filling herself with the courage she needed to ask this rather probing question. “Is there someone trying to harm you? Is that why the footman did such a thing?”
The Duke let out a small sigh and then shook his head. “I do not know, Miss Grifford. I confess that I am rather astonished at all of this, though it is not unexpected.”
Rachel’s eyes flew wide. “Not unexpected? What can you mean by that?”
There was another pause and then the Duke shrugged as though inwardly considering whether or not he ought to tell her this. “I have had a very strange note today, Miss Grifford. A note which has warned me that there is someone amongst society who wishes me harm.” He passed one hand over his eyes as Rachel caught her breath, both astonished and horrified to hear this from him. “I do not know why I am telling you this. Perhaps it is because of what you have done for me… I do not know. However,” he continued, looking back at her, “it seems that this whiskey, thispoisonedwhiskey is proof that this letter I received, this warning, is quite true. And I am now rather worried.”
“Who would wish you harm?” she found herself saying, words tumbling over each other. “I will not pretend that you are the most jovial of gentlemen but there can surely be nothing within you that would prompt such dark actions?”
The Duke looked at her and then chuckled, making Rachel’s eyes widen all the more. She did not understand why he laughed, not at such a time as this, though after a moment, he gave her the explanation.
“You are very honest indeed, Miss Grifford and in truth, I find that quite refreshing,” he told her, still smiling. “Yes, I am not the most jovial gentleman in all of London but yes, at thesame time, I have done nothing which would bring about such a desire within someone else. I cannot understand it. That is why you find me both troubled and confused, Miss Grifford, for that is precisely what this letterandthis whiskey have brought me. Confusion. Doubt. Uncertainty. And now, worry.”
Rachel nodded slowly, then lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “Should I be able to be of any use to you, Your Grace, in aiding you in this matter then you have my willingness.” Her smile grew wry. “My mother is attempting to improve things between my sister and myself and in how we are treated but I can assure you, I will still be very much unnoticed at occasions such as this – though mayhap that will be to an advantage in such situations as this.”
The Duke offered her a small, wry smile. “That is very generous of you, Miss Grifford. I would be foolish to refuse, I think, given what has just now taken place.”
Rachel’s eyes flared in surprise, having expected the Duke to refuse her.
“But you must not disadvantage yourself,” he continued, quickly. “Do not do anything for my sake only. It would not be right.”
Rachel nodded, finding herself considering the gentleman for a moment as their eyes met. There was a gentleness to him which she had not expected, a softness about his eyes and a hint of tenderness in his smile which seemed quite at odds with the dark demeanor she knew him to carry. There seemed to be nothing further for the two of them to say and, with a small smile, she turned away, ready to go in search of her mother and sister again.
“Ah, there you are, Rachel.”
Coming face to face with her mother, Rachel attempted to stammer an answer, seeing how her mother’s gaze went over Rachel’s shoulder to where the Duke of Longford was standing.
“Good evening, Your Grace,” Lady Carmichael said, a little more loudly than Rachel thought she needed to. “I do apologise if I interrupted your conversation but my daughter is unchaperoned, as you can see and does not even have her friend with her!”
“Miss Renfrew went to dance,” Rachel replied quickly, not wanting her mother to start making connections were there were none. “And I was just about to come in search of you.”
“That is just as well,” came the slightly sharp reply, “for it is entirely improper for a young lady such as yourself to be standing talking to a gentleman without a chaperone.”
“I was seeking Miss Grifford’s dance card, which I ought to have done whilst she was in company, of course,” the Duke interrupted. “I must apologise for my oversight. I am afraid that I am often quite taken up with my own thoughts and expectations in matters such as these and quite forget about propriety and the like.”
“I see.” Lady Carmichael did not sound in the least bit convinced, though she did smile at least. “And have you signed her dance card, Your Grace?”
“Yes,” the Duke confirmed, nodding to both Rachel and then to her mother. “Forgive me, Lady Carmichael, for my lack of consideration. I will make certain to be more careful in the future.”
Rachel’s relief grew as her mother managed a small smile, glad that she was not about to be in any particular difficulty over this mistake.
“But of course, Your Grace,” Lady Carmichael said, reaching out to take Rachel’s hand. “Now, do excuse us. I must return to my other daughter now.”
Letting herself be led away, Rachel chose to say nothing and instead waited for her mother to speak. With a glance or two inher direction, upon catching her mother’s eye, Rachel managed to give her a smile but nothing more.
