Page 19 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Graham gave Baron Beasley’s arm a pat as he walked away. They had only served together briefly before Baron Beasley was injured and returned home. Graham never did know what exactly the injury was, but he was glad to see no residual effects on the man. Perhaps his injury was more one of paying money to the right people to simply get out of the war.
The sound of the musicians drew Graham’s eye. It was unusual enough for there to be so many playing, but the combination of violins and violas intrigued him for a long moment. He made a note to find out where Lord Tennison had hired the musicians. His revelry was interrupted as someone came to stand near him.
He turned his gaze to the striking woman to his right. A smile crossed his lips. “Your Grace.” Graham gave the red-clad Duchess of Windham a bow.
The raven-haired duchess curtseyed to him in return. Her graceful movements drew the eyes of all the men near her. Her eyes, however, stayed on Graham. “Lord Easterly,” she replied.
“Rather enthralling music, is it not?” Graham said with a small gesture at the musicians.
The Duchess of Windham smiled and turned her eyes toward the musicians. “They are splendid. If only it were suitable to dance just yet.”
Graham and the duchess fell into companionable silence as they listened to the musicians. The two of them had struck up a friendship quite by chance after his return from the war. The duchess had been a friend of his wife’s and Graham had been grateful for the woman’s gentle presence.
He knew it was rumoured that she was his intended bride, but Graham did not see her that way. Any other man would think him a fool for not taking the opportunity to woo such a lady, but Graham was not interested in the duchess’s fortune or title, which had been bestowed upon her by the king as she was a favoured cousin.
Lord Tennison drew everyone’s attention to him as he walked to the centre of the floor. “I am honoured that all of you have chosen to attend us tonight. We will begin dances soon.” He turned and gave a bow to the musicians, who fell silent.
“Shall you accompany me?” The Duchess of Windham’s smile was teasing and light.
Graham inclined his head and held out his arm for her. “It would be an honour.”
She put her hand lightly on his arm and he guided her towards the floor, where those of higher rank were forming up to begin the first dance. The Duchess of Windham nodded to one of the other ladies who nodded back at her with a smile.
She settled into Graham’s embrace. The music swelled up and they waited for the beat that they would signal for them to dance. The dancers began and Graham and the duchess moved as one around the circle.
Graham shared a smiled with the duchess. The dance was a country dance that Lord Tennison favoured. Graham was not surprised that the man had included it.
The country dances were always rousing events and the duchess seemed to be enjoying herself. Graham had to admit that he was having a good bit of fun himself. The woman was easy to dance with and she followed his movements with no trouble.
The music slowed and Graham took the moment to whisper, “I think Baron Beasley almost tripped on that last round.”
The Duchess of Windham bit down on a smile. Her eyes cut over to the Baron and his wife. She leaned slightly toward Graham and whispered, “Perhaps he has started at the punch early.”
Graham chuckled and they fell into silence as the dance picked up its pace again. Around the circle they flowed as the duchess moved in and out of his arms with the dance. Every time she returned, she smiled at Graham with a soft invitation, that he politely paid no attention to.
*
The music and the twirling dancers mesmerised Charlotte. She had never seen anything so beautiful, the shimmering gowns and candlelight putting even her most ethereal dreams to shame.
Lord Easterly was easy to find amid the crowded dancefloor. He moved with such grace that Charlotte could not stop her eyes from following his every move. He wore no frills, but simple straight lines, his grey jacket swishing with his dance.
He held the Duchess of Windham with such tenderness that Charlotte felt a soreness in her chest. She frowned down at her hands before looking back at the dancers. The duchess was smiling at Lord Easterly, her ruby lips moved as if she were speaking to him. What was the duchess saying, Charlotte wondered?
She silently chided herself for being so fascinated by the man. She had thought herself quite over her passionate infatuation for him, yet at odd moments she found that she was still drawn to him in the most devilish of ways. Should she not have left behind this old childhood fascination with a man who was out of her reach?
She had certainly thought she had grown beyond such things. Yet here she was wishing that she was the Duchess of Windham. Oh, if only she were such a regal creature as the duchess, then she might be worthy of Lord Easterly. She closed her eyes behind this ridiculous mask that Amanda had picked out for her.
Charlotte tried to ignore the gossip from the ladies around her. The spinster women had little to do but share titbits with each other. Soon enough Charlotte, quite against her will knew the gossip regarding each dancing couple.
When the dance came to an end, she lost sight of Lord Easterly. She sank back into her chair and scanned the room. Amanda was still holding court and looked to be having a wonderful time.
Charlotte had to admit that the balls were much as Amanda had described. She was surprised that no one much had talked to her. She had no idea what she would say if someone did talk to her, and she supposed that it did not really matter as long as she did not link herself to the Easterly family.
After all, no one here knew anything about Charlotte or her family. They would just think her some random lady they had not been acquainted with. With no one to introduce her, Charlotte wagered that she would spend the entire ball with the spinsters.
She was resigned to that, and really at least she had been able to see society in all of its glory. It was more than this poor vicar’s daughter had dreamed she would achieve. Charlotte looked down at her hands.
“May I have this dance?” A warm, deep voice asked the question and Charlotte looked up in surprise to see Lord Easterly standing before her with his hand outstretched.
