Page 16 of The Duke's Gamble
“Wait a moment, I understand the reason for your hesitation.” The gentleman held up one hand, palm out towards her. “You are, of course, being quite proper and I, consequently, am lacking in propriety, am I not?” Smiling, he bowed his head. “We have not yet been introduced, and here I am, asking you for your dance card! You must think me most improper. Forgive me. I confess, when I see something I want, propriety can be damned in my mind!”
Florentina started at this, and immediately the gentleman began to apologise. It was not his language that had made her jump, however, but more the fact that he had considered her, it seemed, assomething he wanted.
“Whilst my friend continues to make a mess of the situation, might I have your dance card also?” Sending a jaunty grin in the direction of the gentleman who had just arrived, Lord Barlow held out his hand expectantly, and Florentina quickly handed her dance card to him.
“You need to not bequiteso frustrating.” The gentleman shot a dark look towards Lord Barlow, though he smiled quickly thereafter. “I have already admitted to my lack of propriety, have I not? Mayhap you might be as good as to introduce me?”
Lord Barlow chuckled as Florentina and Christina exchanged a glance, Christina’s cheeks quite pink. Was that solely because of Lord Barlow’s attentions?
“I could introduce you but mayhap I shall keep the acquaintance of these two lovely young ladies entirely to myself!”
Florentina flushed at this, her cheeks now matching the colour of Christina’s. Never once had she considered herself to be of any such importance to any gentleman though Lord Barlow’s words were very flattering indeed.
“You are a rogue, and I am sure you are aware of it!” the unintroduced gentleman exclaimed, chuckling now. “Do me the honour, my friend otherwise I shall have mortified myself for nothing!”
“Shall I, Lady Christina?” It was not to Florentina that Lord Barlow requested such a thing but instead, only to Christina, a twinkling grin on his face. “Ought I do so?”
Christina laughed lightly, her eyes sparkling. “I am sure that we are always grateful for new acquaintances, Lord Barlow.”She looked at Florentina who smiled gently. “Is that not so, Florentina?”
“It is,” Florentina agreed, seeing the way that the other gentleman grinned broadly. “As my sister has said, we are truly grateful for any new introductions.”
Lord Barlow sighed heavily, though a smile still quirked his lips. “Very well. Despite my desire to keep your acquaintances to myself, I shall do so.” He gestured to the other gentleman. “Lord Allington, might I introduce Lady Florentina and Lady Christina, daughters to the late Earl of Haddington. Lady Florentina, Lady Christina, this is the Marquess of Allington.”
Florentina dropped into a curtsy, a little surprised to know that this gentleman was a Marquess, who, it seemed, was very eager to be introduced to both her and her sister. To her mind, any Marquess or Duke would be very cautious with their acquaintances, given their high titles. “How very good to meet you, Lord Allington.”
“The pleasure is mine, I assure you.” Lord Allington swept into a bow. “And now that we have been formally introduced, might I again ask for your dance card, Lady Florentina? And yours also Lady Christina?”
Still a little overcome with the handsomeness of the gentlemanandhis clear desire to dance with her, Florentina blinked quickly but then handed her dance card to him without a moment of hesitation. Lord Allington took it immediately, his eyes holding hers for a moment before he dropped his head to look at her available dances.
“I am very fortunate indeed, it seems,” he murmured, dotting his name down on not one but two dances. “I did hope that you had only just arrived at the ball so that I might secure a dance with you before they were all claimed.” As he returned it to her, his fingers brushed hers and Florentina started slightly withthe surprise of his touch. Swallowing, she glanced away from him.
“You are very kind, Lord Allington,” she murmured, gesturing with her eyes to Christina, who quickly handed her dance card to Lord Allington also. Looking down at her dance card, her heart clattered in her chest as she saw that he had not only taken her cotillion but also the waltz.
I have never danced the waltz with any gentleman. Her face flushed. Yes, she had danced it many a time with the dancing master but never before in the arms of a gentleman!
Lord Allington let out a contented sigh as he handed Christina back her dance card. “I am most satisfied.”
“That is good.” Lord Barlow turned to Christina, his eyes bright. “I believe that we have our first dance, Lady Christina,” he said, a smile in his voice. “Might we step out?”
Christina glanced at Florentina, clearly a trifle concerned that she was to be left alone in the company of Lord Allington but, with a quick tilt of her head, Florentina reminded her sister silently that their mother was only a few steps away. There would be nothing improper about leaving her to stand with Lord Allington alone given that their mother was nearby.
In an instant, a smile swept across Christina’s face. “I should be glad to.”
Lord Barlow beamed at her and, as Florentina watched, led Christina out into the middle of the dance floor. Florentina, forgetting about Lord Allington for a moment, clasped her hands in front of her as she smiled.Perhaps it will not be as trying a Season as I first feared. It may be that Christina finds herself a match very soon.
“Do you have many sisters?”
Florentina started in surprise, turning to see the warmth in Lord Allington’s gaze a little overwhelming. “I am the eldest of three, though I do have an elder brother.” Her stomach suddenlytumbled to the floor as she saw a flicker of awareness in Lord Allington’s eyes. Was he already acquainted with her brother? And if he was, did he know what Henry had done?
“I am acquainted with your brother, Lady Florentina,” he answered, confirming her fears. “And to make matters quite clear, I am also aware of his foolishness of late.”
Florentina sucked in a breath, one hand pressing to her stomach as she stared into Lord Allington.
“I can see the fear in your eyes but you need not be so,” he continued, coming a little closer to her though Florentina felt herself frozen in place, feeling panic begin to draw through her veins. “I was present at the time, though you need not fear that I shall spread the news of his bet.” He shook his head and sighed. “In addition, the Duke of Dartmoor was greatly pleased with his winnings and, inconsiderately so, has told fair few gentlemen of it.” Much to Florentina’s astonishment, he reached out one hand and pressed her hand for just a moment. “It must be a very trying situation for you. Had it been that I was in the Duke’s position, I can assure you that I would not even have accepted such a bet!”
Florentina hesitated, for within her was a desire to speak poorly of the Duke and to express her anger at his actions. However, the look on Lord Allington’s face gave her pause, seeing what she believed to be a genuine earnestness there, a desire for her to speak openly and yet, even that made her hesitate. It would be best not to speak of the situation at all, given that rumors would quickly abound were she not careful. “It appears to me, Lord Allington, that the Duke of Dartmoor was entirely unaware that my brother had dependents still residing in his manor house.”
Lord Allington shrugged. “Be that as it may, it was still an unbecoming wager to accept. It was clear to all that your brother was rather foxed when it came to placing that bet. No doubt hewas not thinking clearly. As I have said, I am sorry for the trial that must have brought you all and I can assure you that I myself am not at all influenced by your brother’s foolishness. It will not push me from your acquaintance. Indeed, it will only encourage me towards you.
