Page 47 of Last Night with the Duke
“That’s just excitement and nerves,” Esmeralda reassured her. “After the first dance, you’ll be fine.”
“I’ve never actually danced with a man. Have you, Miss Swift?”
“No,” Esmeralda answered, sounding a little more wistful than she’d intended. She wouldn’t be dancing at the ball, but she was looking forward to watching all the beautifully gowned ladies being twirled across the dance floor by splendidly dressed partners.
“Our dance tutor was a woman,” Lady Sara offered. “She was very good. Auntie Eve assured us it will be different when a man is our partner and he takes our hand and leads us through the steps of the waltz or when we hold hands and make a canopy for the other dancers to sashay underneath.”
Esmeralda thought of the duke’s hand on her cheek, his thumb on her lips. It was as if the breeze had stilled as his warmth enveloped her. Oh, yes. She could attest to the fact that it was a very different feeling when a man touched you.
“I do hope Lord Henry asks me to dance,” Sara continued. “And I want to be the first lady he asks.”
Lord Henry?
Oh, no. This couldn’t be a good thing.
What was Esmeralda going to do? Maybe Lady Vera was wrong and Lady Sara had no interest in Lord Henry. How had it happened that both young ladies wanted to catch the eye of the same young man?
She wondered if Lady Evelyn suggested that they both set their caps for the Earl of Berkwoods’ son in hopes one of them would win his favor. Could it be that they both simply wanted him because Lady Evelyn pronounced he was the most handsome? No, Esmeralda quickly convinced herself, that couldn’t be the case. The twins weren’t that shallow. Perhaps it was simply because they were twins. If they looked alike, they probably thought alike and had the same feelings. Maybe it was natural for twins to be attracted to the same man. Whatever the case, Esmeralda couldn’t see this as ending well.
“I’m sure most of the eligible men will ask you to dance. There should be enough time for you to accept each one.”
“Auntie Eve said she used to attend balls where everyone danced until dawn, so I should have opportunity to dance with them all.” Lady Sara sighed. “But Auntie said Lord Henry is the one who makes all the young ladies swoon each year, and I really want to know what it feels like to swoon.”
Esmeralda smiled. She knew exactly what it felt like to swoon. She had thought she might faint when the duke was so close to her she could almost feel his lips on hers.
“Since you haven’t met him, you know there’s the possibility you will see someone you are attracted to more than the earl’s son. Handsome is not the only thing that attracts a young lady to a gentleman. You’ll want him to be kind, have a good wit, and be affable too.”
“Aunt Evelyn says he must also come from the right family, have a plump allowance, and not be given to too much wine or gambling.”
Esmeralda’s spine stiffened. Yes, first and foremost, the right family. How could she have forgotten? That was the mistake her mother had made. Apparently, the twins didn’t intend to fall into the trap of loving a man their family disapproved of.
“Have you thought about the possibility he may not be ready to marry? At twenty-four, he’s still quite young. I don’t want you to be disappointed if he’s not ready to make a match.”
Lady Sara frowned. “Oh, but I will,” she said earnestly. “I’m the daughter and sister of a duke. Auntie Eve said I should have my pick of all the gentlemen, and he’s the one I want.”
Oh, dear.
If there was yelling and a shove when they both wanted to play the pianoforte, what would happen when they both started vying for the same young man’s attention? That was a road Esmeralda didn’t want to go down until she must. She would hope that one of the twins would be swept off her feet by a different bachelor and avoid the fight that was sure to come if their expectations didn’t change.
“Look over there, Lady Sara. A crowd is gathering. What do you say we get your sister, Josephine, and Napoleon and go see what everyone is watching?”
“I think it’s a juggler. Did you bring some coins we can toss to him?”
Esmeralda smiled and opened the black knitted reticule that swung from her wrist. “I believe I do have a coin or two in my purse. I’ll give it to you and let you take care of tossing it in the man’s hat.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful, Miss Swift,” Lady Sara said, smiling from ear to ear and taking the coin. “Auntie Eve would never let us get near someone like that. I knew I was going to enjoy you being our chaperone.”
A few minutes later they were standing on their toes behind about thirty people. They moved from side to side, twisting their heads this way and that, trying to see through the throng to watch a man throwing six balls into the air while another man was off to the side setting up a puppet tent.
“It’s not fair,” Josephine complained as more people crowded around them. “I can’t see.”
“We can’t break in line,” Esmeralda told her. “Do you want me to see if I can lift you up high enough to see over their heads?”
Josephine folded her arms across her chest and pouted. “I’m too heavy for you to hold.”
“Maybe not. We won’t know unless we try. Here, jump up into my arms and let’s see.”
Lady Vera took hold of Napoleon’s leash and pulled it from Josephine’s hands. “That’s nonsense. There’s no reason all these adults should stand in front of a child. Come with me, Josephine. I’ll walk you up to the front and find someone to let you stand in front of.” She looked over at Esmeralda, smiled, and in an authoritative tone said, “Napoleon will lead us. Everyone likes dogs. And we won’t be breaking in line; someone will step aside and let us in. Watch.”
