Page 23 of A Chance to Dance with the Duke
And then he waited for his own senses to kick in and laugh off those words.Of course I haven’t formed an attachment with the one lady in all of London who wants nothing to do with me.
But…
Hadhe?
His heart slammed and flipped until he had to clutch his poor, battered chest.
Was that…Was this…
He frowned at Albright. “Is that what this is?”
His two friends shared a knowing smirk that made Carver exhale in exasperation. “Fine. Perhaps I’ve developed some…”
“Feelings?” Albright offered kindly.
Carver cleared his throat. “Yes. That.”
Again he waited for Kal to openly laugh at him, but his cousin was staring into the fire, his expression thoughtful.
“If you like her so much, why don’t you just…court her?” Albright asked.
Carver sighed. “Because it’s as you said. She does not care for me. And if I go to her house and declare my intentions…”
“Her father will force her to marry you,” Kal finished. He looked surlier than ever as his fingers tapped the arms of his chair.
“Precisely,” Carver said. Now that they were starting to take this plan seriously, he added, “I’ll admit, I don’t relish the idea of her choosing another when all is said and done…”
And that was the understatement of the century.
His chest grew tight and his blood grew hot at the mere thought of another man holding her in his arms the way he’d done at the Turners’ ball.
It had been improper. They’d caused a minor scandal.
She’d been humiliated, which he abhorred.
But the actual act of holding her…
Having her pressed to his heart, so close he could see the flecks of green in her pale blue eyes. Hearing the way her voice shook with emotion and watching those sweet, full lips quiver when she worked so hard to be so brave.
The girl had spoken to him like no other ever had…
Except for Kal and Aunt Evie, perhaps.
She’d spoken to him like he was a man, not a Duke. She’d met his gaze and hadn’t tried to hide her anger or her insecurities, and that honesty, that sincerity…
It was likely the most intimate experience he’d ever had with another.
Certainly the closest he’d ever felt to a young lady.
And he hadn’t wanted it to end. He still didn’t. And while a little part of him worried that perhaps his plan was too self-indulgent, he hadn’t thought of any other option that could so definitively take her from laughingstock to envied.
Arrogant or not to say aloud, being adored by a Duke could do just that.
To his friends, he said, “It’s already done, you know. I’ve sent flowers and letters to her home. It won’t be long until her mother tells her friends, and those friends whisper.” He met each man’s gaze in turn. “You can either help me to frame this story to put my Miss Taylor in the best possible light or…or you can stay out of my way.”
He’d ended with strength but he waited with a clenched jaw. His oldest friends had always stood by him, and he hoped they would now. Even if they did have some well-deserved reservations about the merits of this admittedly ridiculous plan.
Kal spoke first. “You are aware that you just referred to her asyourMiss Taylor, are you not?”
