Page 15 of The Duke's Scandal
Isobella blinked in surprise, for everything she had just said and thought was now ripped up and thrown aside at the Duke’s words. He had, despite her belief he would not, come to see if shewoulddance after all! This time, at least, it was not only her who would be standing up with him, although Isobella was sure thetonwould still take note of her standing up with him again.
“How very kind of you, Your Grace. I should be delighted.” Lady Amelia slipped off her dance card and handed it to him, throwing a wide-eyed look towards Isobella. She swallowed hard, aware that she could not easily refuse and, after a moment, handed her dance card to the Duke.
“Wonderful!” The Duke smiled broadly as he took the dance card from her and, as he did so, their eyes meeting, Isobella’s stomach began to swirl with a gentle, soft warmth. A warmth that she had felt before, albeit some years ago. The Duke was handsome, of course, but it was the kindness of his smile and his sincerity that began to tug at her heart.
And I cannot let it.
“I must hope that you will let me sign your dance card thereafter, Lady Isobella?”
Astonished at the arrival of yet another gentleman, Isobella’s eyes rounded as Lord Preston came to stand beside them, his gaze going to Lady Amelia. “Lord… Lord Preston,” she said, a little overwhelmed by not one but two gentlemen now seeking to dance with her. “Are you acquainted with Lady Amelia?”
“I am, in fact,” he said, as Lady Amelia smiled at him. “I am acquainted with Lord Broughton who has given me the great pleasure of being introduced to his betrothed.”
“A good evening to you, Lord Preston,” Lady Amelia said, with a smile. “A pleasure to see you again.”
“I hope you are dancing also, Lady Amelia?” Lord Preston asked, as the Duke returned the card to Isobella, no smile on his face now as his gaze flicked towards Lord Preston. “I should be very pleased to stand up with you both.”
Isobella glanced at the Duke, then back to Lord Preston. “Might I ask if you are both already acquainted?”
Lord Preston smiled and then nodded at the Duke. “Yes, we are, although it was many years ago when we first made our acquaintance!”
The Duke blinked and frowned, only for his eyes to flare. “In Eton, I think.”
“Yes, precisely!” Lord Preston grinned, then took his gaze to the dance card. “Many years ago now. It is good to see you again, Your Grace.”
“And you also,” came the reply, but there was no easy smile to accompany those words. “I shall take my leave now and leave you to your conversation.” He smiled quickly in Isobella’s direction. “I look forward to our dance, of course.”
She smiled back at him, then took the dance card fromLord Preston’s fingers, searching for where both gentlemen had chosen to sign their names. Lord Preston had taken the cotillion, but to her utter astonishment, the Duke of Exeter had chosen to take the waltz. Her stomach dipped, her breathing quickening as Lady Amelia and Lord Preston continued a conversation around her. Why had he taken the waltz? Had he no understanding that thetonwould speak all the more of a connection between herself and the Duke, one that was not there? Or was it that he simply did not care?
There cannot be any real interest there,she told herself, firmly.And if there is, I cannot let myself respond to it. I can never trust him, I can never again let my heart be free… not even if the gentleman in question is a Duke.
Chapter Eight
Amos glanced around the room, taking in everyone present in the drawing room, at least. His lips twisted in frustration. As yet, he could not spy Lady Isobella, and he had been very much hoping she would be present.
“She is not here, then?”
Glancing at Lord Galbraith, Amos shrugged. “I thought she might be, so I could continue my study of her, but alas, I fear not.”
Lord Galbraith grinned at him, his eyes twinkling. “You are pursuing the lady with a great deal of intensity, my friend – and that even without courtship!”
Again, Amos shrugged. “I must. If I am to find an appropriate young lady, then I must do all I can to find out whether someone I am considering could be suitable – and thatbeforeI suggest courtship. As you yourself have said, I do not want to have thetonwhisper about me or the lady in question before it is decided how one should proceed.”
“Indeed, you are very wise,” his friend agreed, albeitwith a gleam still lingering in his eyes. “Thetonstill speak of you all the same, however.”
Amos grimaced. “I am sure they do, and I am all the more certain that they shall continue to do so regardless.”
“And you are still interested in Lady Isobella?”
He nodded. “Yes. We danced at Lord Murton’s ball some two days ago now, and we did manage to have a short conversation thereafter. She introduced me to her brother who suggested I might like to come to call one afternoon – much to Lady Isobella’s embarrassment, I might add.” Chuckling at the memory of Lady Isobella’s face beginning to turn a deep scarlet, he reached out to take a glass of brandy from the passing footman. “I am determined to spend a little more time in her company before I decide whether to do such a thing or not. I do not want to add to her own embarrassment for I am sure that theton’s whispers have affected her also.”
Lord Galbraith snorted. “I do not think she will be in the least bit concerned about that.”
“No?”
“Any young lady would be glad to have whispers spoken about herself and a Duke, I am sure!” With a sip of his brandy, Lord Galbraith spread out his other hand, gesturing to all the young ladies in the room. “They all require a good match, do they not? What better match than a Duke! If society begins to push a young lady and a gentleman of high standing together by their gossip, then what trouble does that bring to her? It can only be a good thing.”
Hoping that Lord Galbraith was right, Amos set aside any concern he had over Lady Isobella. “Do you recall Lord Preston? He was also eager to dance with Lady Isobella.”
