Page 16 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“I do not know much of desire,” she admitted.Other than the way her body tingled when she was near the Duke of Hereford, but she was not going to think about him right now.“And there are many kinds of love.I do not know if one can require a specific kind for marriage.The ability to be together and enjoy each other’s company would be the most important qualification, I would think.”
“I see.”
The Duke of Montagu was looking at her now as though he’d never seen her before, a strange light in his eyes.Kalina did not have the chance to try to find out what he was thinking, because the music ended.They separated, and he bowed as she made her curtsy.
“Christian, Miss Little, Lady Kari and I thought to trade dance partners.”The Duke of St.Albans and his partner had turned toward them.Lady Kari clung to his arm, her gaze flitting back and forth between Montagu and Kalina with fascinated interest.
“Of course.”The Duke of Montagu’s breezy, lackadaisical manner had returned.He held out his hand.“Lady Kari.”The young lady looked thrilled as she stepped forward to take it, releasing her hold on the Duke of St.Albans, who reached out his hand to Kalina, bowing as he asked her to dance.She smiled as she took it, wondering if this was what Montagu had meant by her gathering all the attention.
Though she rather thought it was Lady Kari’s desire to dance with the Duke of Montagu that had prompted the trade, rather than any desire on St.Albans’ part to dance with her.The handsome duke seemed genial and rather relaxed, as though he was just there to enjoy the moment.His charcoal black suit was set off by a mauve and grey waistcoat and a lacy white cravat that emphasized his strong jawline.
It really was unfair how attractive all the attending dukes were… and yet none of them stirred her attention the way the Duke of Hereford did.
“Miss Little.How are you enjoying your evening so far?”St.Albans asked, getting into position beside her as Lady Astrid began the next song.
“Very much.Are most house parties like this?”she asked, following him in the steps and mentally blessing her father for the dance instructor he’d hired the first day they’d landed in London.Her body went through the movements by rote, allowing her to move while focusing on the conversation.
St.Albans laughed.
“Not at all.Lady Collette’s suggestion of dancing tonight was inspired; it’s already livened things up in a manner that usually takes days to achieve.I am glad Lady Astrid accommodated her.”
“I see,” Kalina replied, smiling, even though she was not sure that she did.After all, she had nothing to compare it to.
As they turned and St.Albans put his arm around her, her gaze moved across the room, and she sucked in a breath as the Duke of Hereford’s dark look crashed into her.He was glaring at her for some reason.
Quickly, she looked away, her heart beating rapidly in her chest as she mentally ran through her actions, wondering where she had misstepped.
6
Nathanial
Watching Miss Little dance with Christian was pure torture.It also made him a terrible dancer as he trod on Lady Nichole’s toes more than once because he was too distracted by the way Christian leaned into Miss Little… the way he held her hand… the way he laughed at something she’d said.Christian never showed his true self to the ladies he flirted with, but he’d laughed for Miss Little.
Actually laughed.Not the artificial laugh he normally reserved for the ladies he interacted with, but a laugh of real, surprised humor.
And then been arrested by whatever she said next in a manner that Nathanial had never seen him engaged in before.That was when he’d trodden on Lady Nichole’s toes for the third time, then forced himself to focus, though she batted her lashes and smiled at him through his apologies, regardless.After all, one did not take a duke to task, no matter how poorly he danced.
But he felt rather bad.
“Do you think he is courting her?”Lady Nichole asked, apparently reaching the end of her patience with pretending she did not see his distraction.
“Who?”
“The Duke of Montagu.Do you think he is courting Miss Little?”Impatience tinged her voice.Despite his station, the lady was becoming annoyed with him, and he could not blame her.
“No more than he is any other lady of theton.”Nathanial forced himself to chuckle at the jest, even though he was wondering the same thing now.In truth, he was not sure why Christian had singled out Miss Little for the first dance, nor why he’d been so blatantly flirtatious with her.The man’s motives were often a puzzle to him.
“They make a very striking pair,” Lady Nichole said thoughtfully.“It would certainly be a coup for her if he were to court her for a bit.”
Nathanial made a noncommittal noise, gritting his teeth against expressing how he felt about that notion.
The situation did not improve when the dance ended.
Rather than being able to make his way across the room to where Miss Little and Christian were—he only wanted to dance with her to discover what she’d said that had so amused Christian, of course—he’d been almost immediately halted by the Duke and Duchess of Clarence.
“Lady Nichole, would you do me the honor of a dance?”Gregory asked, smiling at the young lady.“And Nathanial, you’ll dance with Tiffany.”
It was not a request.
