Just as the moment settled, Lord Jones spotted Lady Hannah in the crowd. “Pray excuse me, dear friends,” he said, his eyes brightening. “I must greet Lady Hannah. She is to meet my close family friend, Lord Thornbush.” With a quick bow, he vanished into the throng of guests.
James stared at Clarissa once again. “Well, now that introductions are made, may I inquire about the gentlemandancing with my cousin? I noticed he was standing next to you a short while ago, so I assume you two are acquainted.”
Clarissa regarded him with ameasure of suspicion. “If it is indeed thegentleman I entered with, then that would be my brother, the Duke of Ryewood.”
Lord Abney looked back at those dancers, frowning deeply. “The Duke of Ryewood…” he said, clearly to himself.
“Is there an issue?”
“What can you tell me about him?”
Clarissa let out a breath of frustration. “What business do you have with my brother, my lord? Whatever it is, you shall not meet your goal by pestering me with questions.”
“I have no business with him—yet. However, if he persists in this manner…”
She waited for him to finish his sentence but he simply trailed off, his expression deepening into a frown.
Just as she was about to simply give up and walk away, he turned to face her once more. “Would you care to dance with me?”
Clarissa’s eyes widened. She had not anticipated such a proposal. “Dance with you?” she echoed dumbly.
“Yes.” The frown had vanished, and with a slight bow, he extended his hand. “It would be an honour.”
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Are you certain you aren’t asking to dance simply to question me further on my brother?”
“It is part of my motivation, yes. But I am also hoping that sharing a dance may clear your mind of whatever ails you.” When she frowned at that, he added, “It is obvious that something is bothering you, my lady. Allow me to set your mind at ease, if just for a short while.”
Slowly, she reached out to accept his hand, even though she kept staring at him as if he was about to pounce on her at any moment. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“I am a kind person,” he said simply.
Laughter bubbled up her throat before she could stop it. “And you are clearly an arrogant one as well.”
The moment their hands touched, Clarissa felt a jolt go through her body. Though she wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with his touch or the broad grin that lit his handsome face. She should not have said yes to this. His appearance aside, his crude behaviour should have been off-putting. But she was drawn to him and she couldn’t understand why.
“That, my lady,” he purred as he guided her away. “I cannot deny.”
Clarissa simply smiled.
***
Elaine couldn’t believe what was happening to her.
In a matter of seconds, the night took a sharp turn for the better. She’d gone from dancing with a man who looked twice her father’s age to doing so with the most handsome gentleman she’d ever laid eyes on. And his voice! It was smooth and deep, the sound sending thrills throughout her body. When his fingers brushed against her elbow, she felt as if she might melt to the floor.
This was what she’d read about in her novels. This instantaneous spark, theattraction that ran through her bones and shook her to the very core. She desperately hoped she hadn’t ruined it with her embarrassing rambling.
“May I confess something, my lady?”
She still could not get used to his voice. Standing this close to him, she felt it reverberate through her chest. How she managed to keep moving to the music was a mystery to her.
“If it will set your mind at ease, Your Grace, it would be an honour to help you.”
“How kind of you to say,” he replied softly, “when you do not yet know what I intend to confess.”
She braced herself before peering up at him. She expected her body to react to the sight of his handsome features so close. Yet she had not anticipated the sensation to hit her like a punch to the gut, knocking the breath from her lungs, when their eyes met.
Somehow, she found her words. “I trust that you will not say anything untoward or unlawful. I do not wish to be an aide to any of your offences.”
