Page 82 of Falling Into Bed with a Duke
“I enjoyed the dance, Miss Dodger,” Edward said as though he hadn’t already thanked her or was trying to convey some message to Ashe.
“Thank you, sir.”
Then Ashe was taking her hand and leading her onto the dance floor. They were positioned before the first tinkling of music reached across the salon.
“Why were you dancing with him?” Ashe asked as he swept her into the circle of dancers.
“He asked.” She furrowed her brow. “He is more family to you than friend. Why are you upset?”
“Because I know him, and he’s always up to no good.”
“Are you jealous?”
He scowled, and she thought a lesser woman would be intimidated, might even swoon. She couldn’t stop her smile from spreading. “I’ve never had a man be jealous where I was concerned. I’m very flattered.”
“I don’t like seeing you with other men.”
“And yet I’m forced to see you with other women.”
He groaned. “I wasn’t enjoying their company. I was simply being a pleasing guest.”
“Are you dancing with them?”
“No. Tonight I shall dance only with you.”
Pleasure sluiced through her. He always knew the right thing to say to bring gladness to her heart. “Well, then, I suppose I can forgive you.”
She so enjoyed being with him. She enjoyed the way he held her gaze, not looking around as other men had done. The way his eyes glinted with pleasure as though he found it pleasing to have her in his arms. The way he held her firmly and a little too closely to be entirely proper. The way he made her not care.
All too soon, the music faded and they were left standing in the middle of the dance floor.
“Take a turn about the garden with me,” he said, not so much request as command, and maybe with a little desperation as though he couldn’t bear the thought of not having another minute in her company.
With a small nod, she wrapped her fingers around the crook of his elbow. As he escorted her from the ballroom, she realized she’d never anticipated a visit to the garden with quite so much excitement. It was a little frightening to acknowledge that she would go anywhere he asked, to let him have such power over her when she’d never allowed any other man to have it. Yet he never made her feel as though she were not in control. With him, she had a sense of equality that she had never experienced with anyone outside of her family and closest of friends.
They stepped out onto the terrace where other couples were already mingling. The drone of their whispers reminded her of the Nightingale. Was what happened out here so very different? People striving to take their flirtation to a level that required shadows. Striving for the appearance of all being proper when she suspected—knew now—that a good deal of it wasn’t proper. That some ladies were fortunate enough to be courted by a gentleman who wanted to do improper things with them.
Before Ashe, she’d not been that fortunate. Her walks with gentlemen had been more about exercising her legs rather than exercising her fantasies.
“Claybourne doesn’t have a pond,” she said, as they took the steps down to a dimly lit path.
“Pity. But we’ll make do.” His free hand covered hers where it rested on his arm. Glove to glove when she longed for skin to skin. Before him, there had been no gentleman who made her wish that gloves had never been invented.
“Is there some gentleman who will be disappointed not to find you in the ballroom?” he asked.
“Langdon, but he’ll make do.”
“As close as you are, I’m surprised he didn’t courtyou.”
“One does not court one’s sister.”
“You’re not related.”
“Not by blood, but I’ve always thought of him as a brother. I assume he viewed me as a sister.”
“Fortunate for me then.”
She laughed. “As though the Duke of Ashebury could have competition among the mortals.”
