Page 31 of Cinderella's Charade With the Duke
Hattie wrung her hands. ‘How many dances are there to learn?’
‘Really only two, Miss Potts. The quadrille and waltz are too scandalous…for now.’ He winked at her.
‘Scandalous? Why?’ Hattie asked, laughing.
‘Too intimate, my dear,’ Lady Buchanan said. ‘To have a man unknown to you clutch you at the waist and dance so closely isn’t deemed civilised…until those at Almack’s say otherwise, which will probably be soon. The world is changing after all. Must keep up with the times.’
‘I have seen you waltz, Cousin,’ His Grace teased.
‘Yes, you have, and let us leave it at that,’ she replied, sending him a sharp look.
He held up his hands in supplication. ‘I shall say no more.’
Soon a joyful tune resonated through the large empty room. ‘Now, imagine the room is filled with other couples.’ She ceased playing. ‘This will not be helpful to her if there are not others to be dancing around,’ she said, frowning. ‘I had not thought of it until now.’
Hattie’s throat dried. ‘Perhaps I could learn them before we add others. To limit some of my humiliation,’ she added.
Lady Buchanan began the music again. ‘Right you are. One thing at a time. But there is no humiliation, Miss Potts. His Grace will guide you. It is his job as the lead. Is it not, Cousin?’ She lifted her brow and he nodded.
‘Yes, of course. If you struggle, I am to blame, if that puts you at ease.’ He flashed her a smile and stretched out his hand. ‘Let us begin before my cousin finds yet another reason to chastise me.’
Hattie returned his smile and stepped forward. She slid her gloved hand into his and the moment his warm, strong fingers wrapped around hers she felt safe in a way she hadn’t expected. He squeezed her hand in encouragement and his eyes were warm and full of belief. ‘Mirror what I do,’ he said, moving in step with the music.
She hesitated.
‘You shall be wonderful, Miss Potts, as you have been with everything else you have encountered here,’ he encouraged. ‘This shall be no different.’
She nodded and a shiver ran down her spine. How long had it been since anyone other than Trudy and Ophelia had believed in her so? Emotion tightened her throat as she followed his movements and mirrored them as best she could. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to start believing this ruse of theirs.
‘Well done,’ Lady Buchanan called. ‘Keep going.’
His Grace picked up speed with his movements as she progressed and soon their steps and turns were in time with the pace of the music. She tripped at a turn and he clasped her at the waist to prevent a fall.
‘I’m sorry,’ she stammered, staring up into his blue eyes, so close due to his hold along her waist.
‘No apologies needed, Miss Potts,’ he replied in a low tone. It sent a trill of vibration through her.
His Grace righted Hattie and released her. She patted her eyes, trying to regain her focus and composure as she smoothed her dress. She turned to face Lady Buchanan as the music had ceased and the woman stared upon her expectantly.
Blast. She had missed the woman’s question. Hattie smiled in hopes the enquiry might be repeated.
‘That is why the waltz is so scandalous,’ Lady Buchanan called out to her with a wink. ‘It dashes your reason. Shall we try again?’
Hattie’s ears warmed and she nodded. The woman was right. Hattie hardly knew where she was. She breathed deeply, squared her shoulders and accepted His Grace’s hand. But this was just a taste of what Saturday would be. All eyes would be on her. She needed to stop being Hattie Potts and start living like Lady Penelope Denning, who wouldn’t be nervous around anyone.
Not even her fake betrothed, the dashingly handsome Duke of Wimberley.
Stop it, you cad.
William adjusted his grip on Miss Potts’s gloved hand and turned them. What was wrong with him? He had no right feeling anything towards Miss Potts. It didn’t matter how lovely she felt in his hold, or the way her soft blush warmed her cheeks, or the sweet floral smell of her as she twirled by him. She was his employee, his daughter’s governess, and doing him the favour of a lifetime by attempting to be his fake betrothed. If he wasn’t careful, he would ruin everything before the charade had even begun by feeling something for this woman.
Fool, he cursed himself.
He could no longer trust his judgement when it came to women and he would do well to remember Cecily and his initial burst of feelings towards her. The thought of his late wife and her betrayal cooled his veins. His initial passion and attraction towards her had set him in motion to where he was now and he needed to temper whatever emotion and impulses he felt for his new governess and focus on the task at hand.
Miss Potts turned and faced him again and offered a timid smile, which he returned briefly before chastising himself.
Stop it.
