“There, a smile.”
“Was that all you were going for? One smile?” she asked, feeling her stomach knot with disappointment.
Do not stop.
The song was coming to an end. They both stopped dancing, facing one another as he still held onto her hand as they bowed.
“One smile is never enough, lass,” he whispered playfully. As he stood straight again, he looped her arm through his. “Come, let me introduce ye to a friend of mine that I have made in this crowd. If ye can put up with me uncouth and ruffian ways –”
“You are no ruffian,” she insisted, gladly walking away with him.
“Ah, ye are back to complimentin’ me, are ye? Wonderful, then I can tell ye how beautiful ye look in that gown without feelin’ ashamed to do so.”
She blushed deeply, feeling as if there were two fires which had been set alight in her cheeks.
He thinks I look beautiful?
“Come, meet me friend, but as I said, ye’ll have to put up with our… unorthodox manners.” As he led her toward Viscount Compton who was smiling and waving at them from the drinks table, Charlotte glanced away across the room.
She caught sight of her Aunt Susan, gesturing at her. Susan seemed intent on coming to fetch her, and even stepped away to do so, though Margaret shook her head. Susan took two steps before David caught her arm and steered her away. Much to Charlotte’s amusement, David took Susan to dance, meaningshe couldn’t refuse without making something of a scene—something that Susan would never risk.
“Aye, Jeffrey, meet Lady Charlotte properly at last.”
“Lady Charlotte.” Jeffrey bowed to her, looking a little awkward and duck-footed as he did so, though his smile was great. “It is a joy to meet you properly. After how much Gerard here talks of you, I feel as if I know you myself.”
“He talks of me a lot?” she murmured, feeling her heart tremble in her chest, one beat not discernible from another in her excitement.
“Ahem,” the duke cleared his throat pointedly.
“Well, just a bit,” Jeffrey corrected himself, though he was already laughing.
Charlotte looked up at the Duke of Rodstone, feeling a certainty settle on her chest as she stared at him.
He was not the man she had expected to stir her heart, and yet how wrong she had been. The once intimidating and frightening man had something soft inside of him. He was the one in that room she had longed to see, the one that made her feel safe, and ultimately, the one man who could make her smile when she was feeling down.
It would seem I am in danger of giving my heart to the Duke of Rodstone.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“So, how about it then, Gerard?” the viscount asked, passing a glass of wine to Charlotte first, and then another to the duke. “Do you feel more at home in this crowd yet?”
The duke winced and looked down at his wine.
“I might feel more at home if I was allowed to drink an ale once in a while,” he said with a chuckle.
Charlotte blinked, struggling to concentrate on their conversation at all. She was consumed with thoughts of the duke, thinking of how her heart was hammering against her ribcage, as if it was trying to break free from her body.
How is this possible? How is it I wish to give my heart to him? This was not part of the plan!
“I understand that my friend has been coming to you for lessons, Lady Charlotte,” the viscount said with a smile. She flinched,realizing she had to start concentrating on their discussion. “How are your lessons progressing?”
“Well enough,” she murmured tightly.
“Ha! Well enough?” The duke laughed loudly, in a practical bark. She supposed she should have corrected him for laughing so much, but she didn’t. Instead, she just stared at him, her eyes wide. “Aye, I make mistakes. Frequently. I think she is just startin’ to put up with me more.”
“Society has learned to put up with me,” the viscount added with a laugh of his own. “You don’t need to become one of them, Gerard. You know that, don’t you?”
“I ken.” The duke nodded slowly.