Page 1 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke
Chapter 1
An Affair of Honour
The yearly Wellington ball was the biggest and most popular ball in the country. It was the first ball of the season and had royalty and important people showing the best attires and looks, in an attempt to set a trend for the new season. The Duke’s house was decorated with the best flowers and ribbons to show the commencement of the season. The garden in Wellington was large, and different flowers in variant colours had been grown to bloom exactly in time for the ball. There were hyacinths and roses, hibiscuses filled the garden and were used to decorate the dancing hall. The wardens were delighted that the ball was happening as they saw it as their chance get to meet influential people and folks of high station.
The hall was wide - spreading far with the roof bending in at the ends - and long. When it was built the Duke of that time had just come back from a trip to Greece and had ordered the construction of Corinthians fences at particular ends of the hall; it was not really the typical English design but an architectural appetizer all the same. The hall had cream walls with drawings of popular English wars on them. The room in itself was enticing to look at. It was a work of art.
William, the Duke’s son had also been preparing for the ball for a long time and had requested for an expensive but fitting attire for it. His best friend, Lord James requested the same attire so they match. They did almost everything together and were found with each other most of the times even though the Earl’s house was a good distance away from the house of the Duke.
When the ball started, the two friends had picked the Charlett twins as planned; asking each of them for a dance. As William was walked hand in hand with Meredith Charlett, the first twin sister, he saw Duke Nicholas, Duke of Buckingham and Chandos request his sister, Regina, for a dance and she had obliged him.
William looked back at Meredith. He couldn’t read minds but she seemed delighted to have the dance with him. She just wouldn’t stop grinning. William turned her sharply and pushed her close to him, rubbing her breasts on his chest. He heard her gasp.
“Is there something wrong my lady?”
“No, I was surprised at the type of dance step.”
William smiled. He knew she didn’t see the smile because his face was directly above her shoulders now. William turned his face to the side of her neck and drew in air, running a small current of air from her neck up to her ears. He was sure she felt it as a soft tingling sensation. He felt her grab tighter to him. Her nails bit into the flesh of his palm. But he was not done; he had much more designs for Meredith. He had promised his friend he would flirt with her during the dance, make her expect more then leave her asking for him; he was doing all that just for the fun of it too. He was still at the flirting part.
He turned her around, turning with her. He saw the steward to his father’s room standing behind them.
He obviously wants something.
William moved backwards from Meredith and held her still. He bowed to her and signaled that he needed to attend to the steward behind them. Meredith said nothing.
“Is something wrong?” William asked his impatience making him speak rapidly.
“Yes sir, the Duke has been in so much pain,” the steward replied.
“Then give him his draught,” William answered him.
“I cannot find it sir. Miss Regina gave him this morning; I was hoping you could get her to find it.”
William turned back to look at his sister. She was fully concentrating on her steps with the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.
“I’ll get her,” he told the steward, dismissing him.
William knowing the custom of dances waited till the end of the first dance before going to fetch his sister. Immediately the first tune died, William walked briskly to the Duke and her, before the next tune started.
“Your Grace, I request that you give leave of my sister. She is required in the inner chambers with utmost urgency,” William said, upon drawing near to the dancing couple.
His request drew a look of disdain, etched markedly across the Duke’s face. William wondered if he had done something wrong. The Duke sneered at him and faced his dancing partner, still speaking to her like no one was addressing him. William was surprised and spoke again but the Duke did not respond.
William could see his sister was at loss with what was happening. She looked torn between being rude to the Duke by leaving him or staying with him and disregarding her brother’s request. Due to the lack of a response from the Duke, William was starting to wonder if something was wrong in his manner of approach.
“I only ask that you give grant of her leave. Her presence is required in the inner chambers.”
“And I reject your offer. I don’t think the fair lady is willing to take leave in the middle of this dance,” the Duke replied icily.
William shook his head in disbelief. The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos was proving to be harder to deal with than a panicky horse.
“Your Grace, I ask that I be permitted to take my sister away to look for something important,” William repeated.
The Duke didn’t respond and continued speaking with Regina, completely disregarding William’s presence and request.
This is an insult; a cut direct, in the middle of the dancing hall. I can’t wait here for this man as he is stubborn and he doesn’t look like he’s listening to me.
He held his sister’s left hand at her wrist and drew her away from the discussion, very gently. The Duke said nothing but looked terribly incensed, his brows arched together, almost touching each other. William led his sister out of the hall, feeling the angry gaze of the Duke on him.
