Page 25 of The Duke's Reluctant Muse
With a smile on her face, she turned to Jonathan who hastily offered her his arm also. When she took it, a flash of heat raced right though him, his breath hitching. “I am sure I shall.”
Chapter Thirteen
Last evening was quite wonderful.Barely paying the least bit attention to anything Lady Annette was saying, Elizabeth meandered slowly down the London street, her thoughts lingering on all that had occurred. The ball had been a wonderful occasion, but the end of it – the waltz and the supper thereafter – had been very pleasing indeed.
When the Duke had asked her to dance, Elizabeth had been a little surprised but had, in fact, been quite delighted at the prospect. No-one had asked her for the waltz that evening and, had she been truthful, she would have been a little disappointed to have missed out. Indeed, she could have been seated with her brother for the supper but given how much he had been in conversation with Lady Annette, Elizabeth was sure she would have had very little opportunity to converse!
“I do hope that you do notmindthat I spend so much time in your brother’s company.”
Elizabeth glanced in surprise to Lady Annette. “No, not in the least. Why should you think so?”
Lady Annette lifted her shoulders, pink in her cheeks. “I know that I am not the most proper young lady. I do not do as I should when it comes to gossip, I do not reject it as forcefully as I ought. Nor do I have a brother who treats me as he should, making the proper introductions and chaperoning me as he is meant to. I can be a little too talkative, I can speak with too much candour and I am not always as considerate as a lady ought to be. You know that I greatly value our new friendship and I would not want to do anything to endanger that.”
“You are not.” Elizabeth smiled and then slipped her arm through Lady Annette’s. “And I certainly do not have any criticism of you.”
Lady Annette’s eyes searched hers. “Truly?”
“Truly,” Elizabeth replied, slowly becoming aware that the reason for her friend’s concern was because of her interest in Elizabeth’s brother. That much, Elizabeth was already aware of given all that Dennington had said to her before. She smiled, her heart lifting as she realized that her brother’s inclination towards Lady Annette was clearly returned. “It is not your fault that your brother does not do as he ought and certainly, avoiding gossip is a difficulty that every lady and gentleman in London struggles with, I can assure you!”
At this, Lady Annette let out a breath and smiled, relief washing through her expression. “Thank you, Elizabeth. I am very glad to hear you say so.”
“But of course.”
They continued walking, only for Lady Annette to tilt her head towards Elizabeth, her eyes twinkling. “You were enjoying the Duke’s company last evening, were you not?”
A little surprised at her friend’s remark, Elizabeth nodded, seeing no reason to deny it. “Yes, I was.”
“I have not seen him waltz with anyone as yet,” Lady Annette continued, her voice a little softer now, a light jesting there. “Could it be that he has an interest in you?”
At this, Elizabeth laughed softly and shook her head. “No, not in the least, I am sure! He has been acting as my chaperone on occasion, remember? It is only because I was to be quite alone for the waltz and then to sit with my brother thereafter that he offered to dance with me. Though it was very kind of him, I must say.”
“Are you sure that was all that was in his request?” Lady Annette’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I am sure that I saw clear delight in his expression when you stepped out together, though you appear to be quite determined to ignore such a thing!”
“I am not determined!” Elizabeth declared, heat beginning to rush up her chest and into her neck. “I would not – could not – let myself think of him in such a way. There is a good deal of struggle and difficulty for the Duke when it comes to society and I do not want to make things any more troublesome for him by suggesting things that are not there.”
Lady Annette’s eyes twinkled. “But what if thereissomething there? Something that you are not yet willing to admit?”
Elizabeth’s heart squeezed as she glanced at her friend but chose not to say anything in response, aware that there was, in fact, an interest in the Duke’s company that as yet, she had been trying to ignore.
“Look! There he is approaching you!”
Her breath hitched as she saw none other than the Duke himself, the very gentleman they had been speaking of, coming towards them. How altered his appearance was now! Instead of frowning, instead of heaviness in his expression, there was now a warmth there, a gentle smile on his lips and a clear happiness in his eyes which practically shone out towards her. Why did her heart betray her so? Why did she seem so thrilled to see him again when she had only just been in his company the previous evening?
“Good afternoon, Miss Jeffries, Lady Annette.” The Duke bowed, his smile ever increasing. “It is a fine day, is it not?”
“It is, indeed,” Lady Annette replied, glancing towards Elizabeth. “We were just speaking of the ball last evening, Your Grace. Did you have as pleasant a time as we?”
The Duke nodded, his gaze lingering on Elizabeth, making her heart quicken. “I certainly did. It was the first evening in some time where I have danced almost every dance! It seems that society does not view me with such disinclination any longer. Something that I am very grateful for.”
Elizabeth clasped her hands together at her heart, glad to see the Duke appearing to be so happy.
“We were just about to go to the bookshop,” Lady Annette told him, as a few others from thebeau mondewalked around them, each on their own errands or simply out with friends as Elizabeth was. “Tell me, Your Grace, are you inclined towards reading?”
The Duke chuckled. “In truth, Lady Annette, I have done very little other than read the last few years, given my absence from society. I spent my time pursuing my duties and responsibilities to the estate and to the title, reading a great deal and on occasion, going out to ride through the grounds of my estate.”
“So you enjoy it, then?” Elizabeth wanted to know, only for the Duke to shake his head, a grin still pulling at his lips.
“I am afraid that I do not, not anymore,” he said, his shoulders lifting slightly. “I read so much that I became quite dulled with it all.”
