Timothy could picture taking advantage of the moment, perhaps brushing his hand against her arm. Under the cover of such a crowd and people pressed so closely together, no one would notice it, yet he did not. For some reason, he didn’t want to be too forward with Lady Rebecca.
“You can dance with me, Lady Rebecca,” he said, finding her eyes with his own. “If I am engaged to dance with another, then I can hardly be compelled to dance with Lady Esther.”
“The poor lady. Do you dislike her so much?”
“I have no ill will toward her,” Timothy said for clarity. “Yet neither do I wish to dance with her. There is another’s company I would enjoy more. If you can bear my company for a little longer.” He held out his hand toward Lady Rebecca, aware that she was drinking her punch, clearly biding her time before she answered. As she lowered the glass down to the table, placing it beside his own, she turned and smiled up at him.
“Very well, but only because I am intrigued to see just how your games will turn out.”
“Then come with me,” he said, putting on a deep voice as he took her hand, aware of how warm her touch was, even through the ivory white gloves she was wearing.
* * *
Rebecca couldn’t explain why her heartbeat had become fluttered, nor why she was feeling the heat in the assembly rooms most acutely. Perhaps it had something to do with the way the Duke of Frampington took hold of her waist as they began their waltz.
“A waltz?” he said with a mischievous smile on his face as he led her into the dance. “Intimate indeed.”
“Are you capable of speaking without trying to charm your listener?” Rebecca found she couldn’t resist teasing this man. Perhaps it had something to do with his obvious attempt to charm her, but she rather thought it had more to do with her feeling more at liberty to do so. He was not so fussed about being proper in conversation, nor going through with the customary pleasantries. It was as if there was no barrier to their conversation; she could say what she liked and be herself. She rather liked that.
“Ha! You think that is what I am doing?” he asked, his smile growing wider. “I’m flattered you think me charming at all.”
His hold on her waist seemed to tighten a little, just as his grasp on her hand did. She was distracted by it, thinking so much about the intensity of that touch, it took her a moment to realize why he had done it. He changed direction in their dance, avoiding a collision with another couple.
“So, you like me after all?” he teased.
“I never said I did not.”
“You were happy to give me that impression.”
“Was I?” Rebecca was rather horrified by the idea. “That is an opinion of your own, I never said I didn’t like you.”
“I am relieved to hear it. For I rather like you too.” His words made her look away, tilting her gaze down to somewhere in the middle of his chest so she could avoid looking at his eyes. “I enjoy your conversation, Lady Rebecca. Is that so awful?”
“No,” she said with finality. “It is startlingly easy to speak to you, though I feel I must clarify something now, before you ask me to dance another time.”
“What is that?” he asked, twirling her across the floor. She was impressed for a minute just how easy it was to dance with him, and how fine a dancer he was too, before her mind drew back to the matter at hand.
“I will not be charmed by you, Your Grace,” she said, lifting her gaze back to his. “I will be your friend, but nothing more.”
“A friend? Then I am happy with that, though allow me to say one thing more on the subject before we change our topic…” He paused and led her around the floor. Their position cramped between other waltzing couples allowed him to lean forward. Rebecca realized too late that his lips were near her ear, whispering to her so no one else could possibly hear them. “I rather like a challenge.”
Those simple words sent a shiver down her spine. She looked back up at him, just as the dance was coming to an end.
“That ended far too quickly. We clearly joined the dance too late,” he said as they separated from each other. “Dance another with me?”
“Not now, Your Grace,” Rebecca said hurriedly. “If you will forgive me, there are friends I must greet.” She stepped away from him, feeling strangely shaky on her feet. He frowned, clearly startled at her quick retreat, but it was not enough to make her falter. She curtsied and hurried away from him, through the guests and across the room, to the far side.
Only when she was completely alone did she pour herself another drink, downing it rather quickly as a thought came into focus. She had declared to him she would not be charmed by him, but it was really all a lie; for the truth was, she was already charmed by him.
How can I like him? The Duke is a rake!
* * *
Timothy was still searching for Lady Rebecca. He had done as she had asked and had given her time to greet friends, but now he was longing for another dance with her, but he was not making fast progress in discovering her. As he searched gathered groups of guests, he heard someone calling to him.
“Your Grace?”
He looked round to see Lady Esther was hurrying forward. She was dressed finely tonight, and was certainly pretty, but she lacked something Lady Rebecca had.
