Page 10 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
‘I am interested in all matters affecting our country. Would you care to dance, Countess? I believe we are to be treated to a waltz. Isn’t that right, Lady Cowper?’
Lady Cowper looked startled.
Aunt Lenore tugged an apparently wayward ringlet at her temple into place.
Barbara narrowed her gaze on the severe expression of the Duke. What was Derbridge playing at? Was this a good thing or a bad thing?
Bad. It had to be for Lady Cowper to look so frazzled.
Excellent.
‘L-let me check with the orchestra.’ Lady Cowper bustled away.
The Duke stared at Barbara. The sort of critical inspection one might give a horse at a fair.
She lifted her chin. ‘Well?’
He blinked. ‘Well, what?’
‘Do I pass muster?’
Aunt Lenore gasped.
The Duke looked bored. ‘It depends on one’s expectations.’
‘Mr Elton believes geranium will become all the rage by next week,’ Barbara said carelessly.
He glanced down at her gown. ‘Then no doubt you will be certain to wear primrose, or gentian.’
This man was frighteningly perspicacious. ‘Shall I take that as your advice?’
The band struck the opening chord of a waltz.
She gave him an arch smile. ‘It seems you are also gifted with foresight.’
His lips twitched.
A smile? Surely not.
More likely irritation.
Or a figment of her imagination. Likely the latter the gentleman did not seem prone to showing any sort of emotion, except disapproval.
Such a lovely tall gentleman, too. A rare find.
She took his offered arm and they strolled towards the dance floor.
Barbara kept her face equally impassive.
Why on earth had heasked her to dance?
Why on earth was she pleased that he had asked her to dance?
It wasn’t hard to imagine the glee with which Aunt Lenore would relay the information to her father.
It had all the makings of a potential disaster. Which she could use to her advantage if she was clever.
If it wasn’t all too good to be true.
