Page 27 of When a Marquis Chooses a Bride
What possessed his mother wanting to come here when there was Aliesbury’s ball? At least there he would be around his own friends, and he would not be subjected to the sight of Thea dancing with others. Dom forced his attention back to Miss Turley. What was her first name? He had been considering her as a wife and hadn’t even bothered to find out.
After returning her to her cousin, Dom pushed his way through the crowded ballroom to Thea, interrupting another gentleman about to request a dance. “Miss Stern?” She glanced at him from beneath her long black lashes and smiled. He sucked in a breath.
To hell with duty.
“Are you still free for the supper dance?”
“I am, my lord.”
“See here, Merton,” Mr. Garvey said, “I was about to request the same set.”
Dom wanted to cheer, as if he’d won a battle. Instead he raised his quizzing glass. “Next time you will have to be faster.”
Garvey’s scowl made Dom want to laugh. He and the man had been friends when they were young, but after Dom’s father had died, Garvey never came around anymore.
Thea’s eyes sparkled with pleasure, and Dom’s heart buoyed as if he’d won some sort of prize. Never in his life had he felt like this. Tomorrow he would deal with finding an appropriate woman to wed. For now, he was going to enjoy having Thea in his arms.
* * *
Dotty glanced only for a moment at Merton’s retreating back, before she realized Miss Meadows was speaking to her. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
The young lady placed her hand consolingly on Dotty’s arm. “You poor dear. It is such a shame Mr. Garvey spent so much time greeting you rather than asking you to dance.”
She almost gaped at the young woman. “I am sorry, I do not understand you.”
Her eyes widened at Dotty’s confusion. “Why, having to stand up with Lord Merton of course.”
“Indeed.” Miss Featherington nodded. “He is a very good dancer, but has no conversation at all.”
“As far as I am concerned”—Miss Smyth raised a brow—“one is allowed to be dull when one is a marquis, and he is very good-looking.”
How could they say such mean things about Merton? Anger burbled up inside Dotty, but she maintained her calm mien. “I do not find him dull or without conversation in the least.” All three ladies stared at Dotty as if she’d gone mad. “I think he is very charming,” she said, warming to her topic. “In fact, just yesterday, he helped me rescue kittens from some boys who would have drowned them.”
This time Miss Meadows’s jaw dropped. “If anyone else would have told me that story, I would not have credited it.”
“Admirable indeed, but what pray do you discuss?” Miss Smyth asked.
“All manner of things.” Or rather, now that Dotty thought of it, she had spoken of a wide variety of issues, Merton merely nodded at the appropriate times, except for the once or twice he had paled slightly. “And he’s a very good listener.”
Nowthatwas the absolute truth.
“I think he is taken with you, Miss Stern,” Miss Featherington said. “For he rarely says a word to me when we dance.”
“Perhaps heisshy,” Miss Smyth added. “I suppose even a marquis can be uneasy around others.”
Whatever it was about Merton, he fascinated Dotty. She enjoyed speaking and dancing with other gentlemen, but when Merton’s gaze met hers, his eyes warmed and there was nothing boring about him. Her next partner arrived to claim his dance. The evening seemed to drag on forever before Merton finally was bowing to her to claim his waltz.
“Miss Stern?”
She relaxed into his arms, never fearing he would miss his step or trod on her toes. This time she decided to allow him to speak first.
The silence stretched for several minutes until he finally asked, “Are you interested in how the kittens are doing?”
“Yes. I would love to hear about them.” How happy she was he had brought up the subject. By the end of yesterday afternoon, she’d convinced herself he had been trapped into taking them.
His expression was stern, but his eyes twinkled. “My mother took it upon herself to name them. The female is Camille, which means of unblemished character. I’m certain that is currently the case, yet one wonders for how long. The male is Cyrille, which means lordly. I think Mama could have used a little more discretion in naming him. He seems to have taken it to heart and has already cowed my footmen and entranced the maids. Although my butler still seems to have the upper hand with him, for the moment at least.”
Dotty was unable to hold back a giggle. “Oh dear, I hope he is not causing too much disruption?”
