Page 25 of The Scarlet Lady's Duke of Desire
When James followed her gaze, he found her father watching them both, and as he watched the earl raised a glass. There was an odd expression on the older man's face, one that suggested James wouldn't like what came next.
"He asked that I offer myself as a dance partner in exchange for stealing your previous one," Lady Florence explained and James' stomach clenched. The way she spoke, her volume, made it next to impossible for him to decline.
If he were to reject the daughter of the host for a dance, he would be seen as the rudest guest of the evening and he thought that he had caused enough trouble for one night. He still felt a stab of guilt when he thought of how Miss Thornton had been treated.
Through gritted teeth, he forced himself to say, "I would be honoured, my lady."
With a clenched jaw, James offered his arm to the lady and led her out onto the dancefloor. A glance in the host's direction saw the nobleman smirking with satisfaction at the development and James noticed several other guests looking in their direction, offering comment.
I should have gone home when Miss Thornton did,he thought though he knew one thing at least, having to dance with Lady Florence was an opportunity to learn a little more about her.
Waiting until the dance was in full swing to speak, James couldn't stop from thinking of the cousin who had already left. Nothing at all like Lady Florence, he would have much preferred to have been in her company.
He struggled to even meet the gaze of the earl's daughter as he asked, "After all these years, why does your family still insist upon this brothers' feud?"
"Excuse me?" Lady Florence exclaimed, her green eyes blazing.
"Was it not the late earl who disowned his son?" James continued, shaking his head. "I would have thought some brotherly connection might have overcome the situation by now."
Lady Florence scoffed at that. "Clearly, Your Grace, you have no siblings."
James' stomach twisted.
"I do not but I do have cousins and though we argue like cat and dog sometimes, I love them dearly," he explained, thinking of Edward and his aunt. Though he would have liked some distance from time to time, he could not imagine ever treating them the way that Lord Faversham had treated Miss Thornton.
Just remembering how the host had looked at her with such hatred in his eyes when he had come to drag her from the dancefloor made James feel sick.
Again, Lady Florence laughed, and James got the distinct impression that he would like her next words even less than the ones before. "Do not tell me you are concerned for Miss Thornton? The woman does not deserve to bear the surname. She is a maid's whelp and undeserving of your concern, Your Grace."
The bile in James' throat thickened until he believed he might choke. Clearing his throat, he stated, "She appears a fine enough woman to me." It was clear from the way her gaze darkened and her lips pursed that Lady Florence did not appreciate his comment and he suddenly could not wait for the dance to end.
He wanted to cut it right then and there but again he was reminded by his more sensible side that if he did so he would be spurning not only the woman before him but also the earl himself and that was just plain bad for business, especially in front of so many people.
"You would do well to stay away from the likes of her, Your Grace," Lady Florence warned. "You never know what trouble might befall you or your reputation in her presence. Just look what the mother did to an otherwise noble family like our own."
It took everything that James had in him not to curse the woman then and it took every fibre of his will not to stop the dance immediately.
As soon as the musicians playing came to an end, James wasted no time in breaking away from the lady, offering a curt bow before he hurried off towards the nearest exit. Even the call of his cousin coming from close by would not stop him from leaving.
He had had quite enough of the pompous and arrogant nature of the evening. Again, he wished he had followed Miss Thornton into her carriage and insisted he escort her home. She was far more deserving of his attention than ten of those standing all around him.
Chapter 12
The day after the Faversham Ball Melody would have much preferred to be left alone, but it seemed that was not meant to be. Though her morning had been quiet and peaceful with her mama and papa both out on separate business it appeared that she would not find herself alone in the library for too long.
When Mr Jenkins knocked upon the library door, Melody sensed that her time of peace was over. Ordinarily, the butler would not come and disturb her unless something was wrong, or someone had come to call.
She had been so lost in thoughts of the night before, remembering the duke’s lips upon her own, and trying not to think of her uncle’s unhappy treatment of her that she wasn’t sure whether she had heard any knocking upon the townhouse door.
Probably best not to think of last night at all,she thought even as she called to the butler, “Enter!”
When the door opened and the man bowed before her, Melody felt her stomach churn. She already got an odd sense that they weren’t alone.
“Mr Colton for you, Miss.”
Can I not go a single day without discomfort?
With gritted teeth, Melody forced a smile and said, “Please, send him in.”
