Page 81 of It's All About the Duke
“It was my pleasure,” the duke said to him, and smiled at Marlena before walking away.
It always calmed her to look at Rath. Her jitteringstomach settled down. She felt her legs strong beneath her once more as he took hold of her hand and they took the waltz stance just as the music began.
Suddenly they were gliding across the floor in perfect time to the music. The duke’s frame was strong and she felt light, protected; even though many couples swept, twirled, and passed by them, for a moment she imagined she and Rath were the only ones on the dance floor.
A couple bumped into Rath’s shoulder. He paid them no mind but Marlena noticed the lady staring at her. Marlena smiled and the lady’s eyebrows rose. Did she think it wrong for Marlena to dance with her guardian?
Marlena kept her gaze on the people surrounding the dance floor as they moved in a circular motion. Everyone was looking at them. Some were talking behind their hands, some their fans, and others were openly staring—but she felt sure they were all talking about Marlena and the duke’s dance.
“I believe everyone is staring at us, Your Grace.”
“They probably are. I’m sure they are thinking it’s scandalous of me to be dancing with my ward.”
“Is it?”
He smiled and led her into a twirl under his arm. “Not to me. You were looking tense before I arrived, Miss Fast. Almost the way you appeared the first day we met at your door.DisturbedI think is the word you wanted to use.”
The humor in his eyes and twitch at the corner of his mouth told her he was teasing her. “Not only did I find myself in the presence of Lady Sara and two dukes I had never met, this is my first ball, my first dance,and,” she emphasized, “I was looking for Eugenia. I haven’t seen her and I want to make sure she is here and enjoying herself, too.”
“Ah, yes. Miss Everard. I should have known she was your priority.”
“You know she’s delicate and—” Marlena hesitated. “And may not easily meet strange gentlemen.”
“Yes, but I saw her on my way inside the ballroom. She’s lovely in a dress with yellow bows on the skirt and four or five in her hair. She’s quite fetching.”
Marlena’s heart lifted. “Yellow? Good. You didn’t speak to her, did you?”
His eyes sparkled with mischief. “I admit I thought about it but didn’t know whether or not the Great Hall had smelling salts so I decided against approaching her for a dance.”
Marlena laughed. “You are teasing me.”
“About the dance, yes. That I saw her, no. If you are concerned I can discreetly see to it that she is asked for a dance or two.”
“Would you do that for her? Discreetly?”
“Consider it done.”
“I—don’t know what to say other than thank you. I’m grateful once again that you have come to her aid.”
“It is difficult for some gentlemen to approach a timid-looking lady. They don’t want to be turned down. All it will take is a dance or two and other gentlemen will start asking her to dance.”
“I’m thrilled. Thank you. I want her to feel beautiful. Tell me, does the gown fit her well?”
Rath laughed and led Marlena into a twirl under his arm. “Yes. As I said, she is lovely but not as lovely as you, Marlena.” His gaze stayed tightly on hers as they danced. “No one here is as beautiful as you. There is no one,no oneI’d rather dance with than you.”
Her heart fluttered, her abdomen tightened, and his expression told her he meant what he’d said. She wanted to echo his words, started to, but then she remembered she was Miss Truth. She had to keep silent about that and about her feelings for him.
Chapter 21
He could be a rake if he plans a rendezvous with a young lady.
MISSHONORATRUTH’SWORDS OFWISDOMANDWARNINGABOUTRAKES, SCOUNDRELS, ROGUES, ANDLIBERTINES
Marlena opened the front door to her house and Tut ran inside barking as if he’d seen another mouse. She hoped not. That would give Justine reason to stay longer in Rath’s house, and though he hadn’t mentioned it at the ball or any other time, she was sure he was ready to return to his own home.
Tut scuttled down the corridor and out of sight. No use in calling out to Mrs. Doddle, she thought. Tut had announced their arrival in grand style. Stopping in the vestibule to remove her cape, bonnet, and gloves, she wondered how her little dog could have missed home so much when he had such a large patch of ground to scratch, sniff, and explore at the duke’s house.
Unfastening the hook of her new, dark-blue cape, she smiled to herself, thinking how easily she’d adjusted to living at Rath’s home. Justine had also settled into theduke’s house, after an unpleasant start of acting as if she were the duchess moving in. She’d had Sneeds, the duke’s butler, in a huff ever since, making demand after demand. It was time she and Justine moved back to her home.
