Page 7 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
Now, who on earth could he be, to be so overtly disapproving of anyone?
They returned to their respective places in the set and moved down the line. She sent him a teasing glance.
His shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly. She stifled a giggle. He really did not like her.
Of course, she did not look at him again during the dance. That would have been too obvious. But she was aware ofhisglance from time to time. His haughty, disapproving glance was like a physical touch brushing her cheek. Or her shoulder. A tingle ran down her spine. Very odd, since obviously he was a man who thought his opinion counted for a great deal.
Perhaps she could find a way to use him to her advantage.
Now, wouldn’t that be perfect?
Chapter Two
Xavier deftly relieved a footman of the two glasses of ratafia he had promised to fetch for his last dance partner and her duenna. The girl had turned out to be the best of the bunch, so far. Quiet and calm, if a little shy and rather plain as far as looks went.
And not dressed in red.
‘I know who she is,’ Julian said, over Xavier’s shoulder at the refreshment table.
Xavier’s heart skipped a beat. The glasses of ratafia wobbled.
‘Who?’
Julian nudge his arm and Xavier cursed under his breath as he once again barely saved the nasty sticky stuff from spilling.
‘You know who,’ Julian said.
He glanced at his friend. They’d been friends for years. Since school, where Julian had been small for his age. As had Xavier. They had stuck up for each other and fought for each other against bigger boys. Julian was the only person who knew how Xavier had feltwhen his parents died. Right now, Xavier considered planting him a facer. Fortunately, he had his hands full.
‘Very well, I know. So?’
People cleared a path as Xavier carried the drinks across the room with Julian on his heels.
Close on his heels.
Julian chuckled. ‘She is the Countess of Lipsweiger and Upsal.’
‘A foreigner. That accounts for it.’
‘No, no. She only married a foreigner. Two of them. Did away with them in pretty short order too. At White’s they have started calling her the black widow.’
She sounded as dangerous as she looked. ‘Never heard of her.’
‘Yes, you have. She’s Ambassador March’s daughter. Barbara. The fellows at White’s are taking bets on who will be her next victim.’
While not foreign, she clearly didn’t give a damn what people thought. Reckless in the extreme.
He handed a glass to the petite blonde Miss Simon and another to her mother. ‘As promised,’ he said with a bow.
Both dipped curtseys and expressed their gratitude before he moved on to watch the dancing.
It would not do to show too much interest in the Simon girl. Not until he had met all the young ladies on the list. It wouldn’t be fair to get anyone’s hopes up until he had come to a decision. Lady Cowper had been right though. She seemed like a verygood prospect indeed. Reasonably good family. Reasonably good-looking. Reasonably well-mannered. Reasonable.
Unlike the lady in red.
‘Would you like an introduction?’ Julian asked, his grey eyes twinkling. Clearly teasing.
‘Why not? Obviously, you are not going to be happy until I meet the wench.’ His pulse picked up speed. Damn it. He wanted to meet her.
