Page 61 of Last Night with the Duke
“Delighted,” she answered with a smile.
“And this will be the last dance of the evening,” Griffin said. “We’ll meet you at the entrance with your wraps in hand.”
“Griffin, surely not.”
“Yes, Vera. There will be more dances tomorrow night and the night after.”
After the two couples walked away, Griffin said, “That was a clever way for you to retaliate against the duke for his insistence you dance with him.”
“It was no such thing,” Esmeralda prevaricated. “I wasn’t retaliating for his poor judgment in asking me to dance.”
Griffin chuckled. “I find it utterly enchanting when you so earnestly deny what I know to be truth.”
“Perhaps his insistence did get the better of my good nature,” she offered innocently.
“You know, he’s the one who first called us the ‘Rakes of St. James.’”
“No, I didn’t know that, but I can now understand why it’s an apt title.”
“I never thought it fit us.”
“That’s surprising.”
“We always had a rule. We don’t touch innocents.”
Esmeralda gave him a doubtful look, and he knew further explanation was needed. He didn’t mind telling her.
“Don’t look at me like that, Esmeralda.” His expression turned rueful. “Not because of some high and lofty honor. It was much more selfish than that. We were all afraid of being caught in a parson’s mousetrap and leg-shackled. None of us wanted that, so we stayed to our mistresses—as most gentlemen do.”
Her face softened. “I believe you. Thank you for telling me that. Hearing it does make all of you seem less of a rake.” She hesitated. “Well, perhaps except for the Duke of Rathburne.”
Griffin laughed.
“Your Grace, Miss Swift, excuse me for interrupting.”
Griffin turned to see the dowager countess he’d spoken to earlier in the evening. “Yes, of course, Lady Norwood.”
“I forgot to inquire as to the health of Lady Evelyn and whether she’s accepting visits.”
“Not at this time.”
“Such a pity. We were all sorry to hear she’s missing your sisters’ debut after she’s looked forward to it for so long.”
Griffin listened to the countess with a skeptical ear. She said all the right words, but he didn’t hear a hint of concern for his aunt in the woman’s tone. No doubt she was only after gossip to spread to the other widows sitting around the hall in hopes an older bachelor would ask them for a set.
“Yes, she has looked forward to the twins’ Season. She gains strength every day. Just this week she was up and sitting by the window in her room, looking to see how many of the flowers had bloomed in the garden.”
“And such a lovely garden it is you have in Mayfair.” Lady Norwood sniffed into her lace handkerchief. “Glad to hear it. Do tell Lady Evelyn I asked concerning her welfare.”
“I’ll be sure to.”
She turned to Esmeralda. “I was hoping I might have a word with you, Miss Swift, about something that’s been puzzling me greatly since we met.”
Griffin was about to excuse himself so the ladies could talk in private, but hesitated when he glanced at Esmeralda. There was an unusual, wary expression on her face. That stopped him. Something was wrong. For some reason, she felt threatened by the countess. A primal need to protect her rose up in him.
Instinctively, he moved closer to her side.
“How can I help you, Countess?” Esmeralda asked quietly.
