Page 38 of The Duke's Gamble
“Lady Florentina? The country dance, if you recall?”
Lord Crawley’s expression darkened. “Lord Finneston, now is not the moment for interruption!”
Florentina’s skin crawled. The last thing she wanted to do at this moment was to dance with Lord Finneston. “Lord Finneston, I—”
“Is there something the matter?” Lord Finneston came a little closer, frowning now as he glanced from Florentina to Lord Crawley and back again. “Lady Florentina, if there is something the matter then, of course, we need not stand up together.”
“No, no, I am quite well.” Florentina forced a smile, telling herself that to admit anything to Lord Finneston would be foolish, for he might then go and speak with the Duke before she had any opportunity. “Lord Crawley, thank you for your conversation. I have much to think upon.”
His lips flattened, another sharp look being sent towards Lord Finneston. “Are you sure you are quite well? I am sure Lord Finneston would understand if you could not.”
“I am sure.” Florentina drew in another breath and then, with a final nod to Lord Crawley, turned to take Lord Finneston’s arm. The gentleman immediately began to talk, speaking of things that did not interest Florentina in the least and making her turn her head away, praying that she would be able to dance without any difficulty and would not betray herself. Coming to the centre of the ballroom, she stepped back from Lord Finneston into her place, dropping into a curtsy as he grinned at her and then bowed.
The dance was something of a blur for Florentina was so overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions, she could not even summon a single smile for Lord Finneston. The gentleman continued to speak as they danced but Florentina did not so much as offer a single word by way of response. Over and over, she wondered if Lord Finneston would be quickly reporting to the Duke about their dance, fearful now that he would be laughing over how much he had managed to pull Florentina away.
I will not give in.
The resolve brought her back to herself, back to the moment. The truth was not yet known, for Lord Crawley only suspectedthat the Duke had done the very same thing again, but even to hear that he had sought to push Lord Allington towards her made Florentina’s heart ache—though she could well believe that he had done such a thing. That was the gentleman hehadbeen, the gentleman who had been cruel and callous and selfish, not this newly reformed fellow who kissed her so gently and told her of his affection! If hehadbeen doing nothing but a pretense that would break her heart utterly but all the same, Florentina swore to herself that she would not step back from him. The family home, her mother and her sisters had been her only thought when she had first accepted him and even now, that was still at the forefront of her mind.
“An excellent dance!” Lord Finneston beamed at her as he bowed, then caught her arm. “Come now, let me fetch you a drink. I can see that you look a little weary!”
Florentina took her arm away from him. “I thank you but I must go to find my mother or my sister.”
“I know where they are.” Another voice caught Florentina’s attention, only to see Lady Dinah gesturing to one side of the ballroom. “I was standing near them before the dance.”
A little surprised but grateful nonetheless, Florentina thanked her and then, thereafter, thanked Lord Finneston before turning on her heel and making her way as quickly as she could towards the other side of the ballroom. She had to speak to her mother about what had been revealed, finding herself uncertain now that the Duke had any real, true intention of announcing their engagement. What if all of this had been a ploy? What if Lord Finneston was meant to coerce her this evening, instead of her standing by the Duke’s side as he told everyone that they were to wed?
Reaching the back of the ballroom, Florentina looked left and right, struggling to find any familiar faces. Her heart clamouring, she pushed open the door to the hallway, thinkingthat she might find her mother or sister standing there, away from the noise and the heat—only for someone to grasp her arm tightly. Before she could make a sound, Florentina found herself propelled into another room, a small, dark parlour, with the door shut tight behind her.
Fear clutched at her throat and she let out a strangled cry, pulling her arm out of Lord Finneston’s grip. Her eyes rounded as she took in his dark expression and, much to her surprise as she glanced over her shoulder, Lady Dinah’s presence also.
“You are much too frustrating, Lady Florentina.” Lady Dinah shut the door tightly behind her and began to walk towards Florentina, her hands curled tight. “Iknowthat you intend to seek out the Duke for yourself, but I am here to inform you that you shall not succeed.”
“I—I do not understand,” Florentina stammered, seeing Lord Finneston’s lip curl. “What do you mean?”
Lady Dinah glared at her, her face set in anger. “What I mean is clear, Lady Florentina. The Duke ismine.”
Chapter Sixteen
Samuel frowned, walking through the crowd of guests, his heart longing to once more be in Lady Florentina’s company. He had seen her dancing with Lord Finneston only a few moments ago but since then, had lost her entirely and that troubled him. Her mother and sister were nearby where he stood so where might she have gone?
“Dartmoor.” Lord Crawley’s voice caught Samuel’s attention and he turned, a little surprised to see the gentleman approaching him.
“Yes, Lord Crawley?” Samuel’s heart lifted in the faint hope that his friend might have come to tell him that all was well now between them, that he believed everything Samuel had said and was glad of it. “Is something amiss?”
Lord Crawley’s chin jutted forward. “I thought it best to inform you that I have spoken to Lady Florentina.”
The hope in Samuel’s heart shattered in an instant. “I beg your pardon?”
“I have told her of your dark intentions as regarded Lord Allington and now, once more, with Lord Finneston.”
Samuel blinked furiously, panic beginning to rise in his chest. “Lord Finneston?”
“Yes.” Lord Crawley frowned. “You need not pretend with me, Dartmoor. I recognise what you are doing there.”
“I am not doing anything. I am not even acquainted with Lord Finneston.” Samuel stepped closer to his friend; his throat tight. “What did you do, Crawley? What did you say?”
A flicker of doubt crossed Lord Crawley’s face. “I—I told her of what you had done as regarded Lord Allington,” he said again. “And I told her that I believed your intentions with Lord Finneston were the very same.”
