Page 8 of Her Duke in Shining Armor
“My lady?”
She forced a smile on her face. “Lord…um, forgive me, Greenville was it?”
He nodded.
“I am a bit fatigued,” Eleanor said. “Would you mind if we sat this dance out? I know it’s the last one and if you are set on dancing you are free to choose another partner if you’d like. I wouldn’t mind.”
“No, no,” the lord’s hazel eyes were genial. “I am rather tired myself. Would you care for a refreshment, my lady?”
“Yes, thank you,” she held out her hand and was graciously helped up. Crossing over to the refreshment table, Eleanor spotted Duke Oberton who was flashing a dazzling smile at some blonde-haired lady.
Turning away, she shook off the soft pang of disappointment and followed her escort to the room. She took a seat and smiled bleakly when the lord poured her a glass of champagne.
* * *
For a man who was trained to act strategically, Aaron wondered if he had gone temporarily insane by giving Lady Eleanor’s chaperone the card with his name on every line. What had he been thinking?
It was an act with no solid reason behind it and in the last two hours, he had failed to come up with one. Now though, as the last dance was about to begin, and he saw her go into the refreshment room with some lord, he was regretting his actions.
Knowing their history, the lady must think him jeering and tasteless. Why had he sent the card? Why?
“Your Grace?”
The quizzical brown eyes of Lady Smith—or was it Smithson?— peered at him. “I am sorry, My Lady, my inattention is not your fault. Our conversation was lovely but please excuse me.”
She looked put off but nodded. He bowed to her, and Aaron went to the refreshment room. As Lady Eleanor was turned toward him, she saw him first but did not acknowledge him.
Curses.
“Ahem,” Aaron cleared his throat. “Lord Greenville, I apologize for interrupting you so callously, but may you give me a moment with Lady Eleanor?”
The lord’s eyes darted between Lady Eleanor and the Duke but then did the sensible thing, “Is it acceptable to you, my lady?”
Eleanor's lips were pressed, “I will accept it, but only for a moment. Please do not be far, Lord Greenville. I do not expect this to take long.”
“Very well, my lady,” he bowed and walked out while leveling a warning eye at the Duke. Aaron’s left eyebrow danced up in incredulity—did the man think that kitten glare was somehow intimidating?
“Lady Eleanor, I believe I have left you with the wrong impression when I gave you the card.” Aaron approached her but stopped merely two feet in on account of her expressionless look.
“No,” she replied coolly. “I know exactly what you meant. I know that I have made a name for myself among the ton. That I am snobbish and disdainful. When I dance it is only once and there are no callers the next morning. Clearly, you were mocking me.”
Aaron frowned. “No, I was not.”
She did not answer him instantly but then circled the table to get to the glass of punch. It did not escape Aaron that by doing so, she was also putting a barrier between them. She was distancing herself from him like she had been doing to everyone else the whole night.
Her eyes were down and strangely, Aaron's eyes latched on her slender fingers which were delicately clasping her glass. Those were pianist's fingers.
“What was it then?” her tone had gone from cool to icy indifference.
His eyes clenched tightly, “I cannot tell you.”
She sipped her drink, “Why, because it is not appropriate or are you afraid to admit I was right? That you were truly mocking me.”
“I—” he grimaced.
“I was right then,” Lady Eleanor said unemotionally before she scoffed. “Is that much damage to your ego when you’re proven w—”
“I cannot tell you because I don’tknow,” Aaron admitted harshly. “I don’t know why I gave you the card so I can’t explain it.”
