Page 81 of The Lyon's Pretty Pugilist

Josie snarled, then quickly composed herself.

“Simply avoid them,” he said. “If they get close, head in the other direction. That is what I intend to do.”

With all of this energy coursing through her, if Lydia approached, she might end up at the end of Josie’s fist. Wouldn’t that be grand? The past few weeks of curtsying and etiquette lessons would be to no purpose. Josie had to keep her temper in check.

Nicolas cleared his throat. “Here comes Agatha with Lady Siddons.”

Helena Siddons approached and kissed Josie on the cheek. “Josephine, Nicolas, I’m delighted to see you.”

“’Tis always a pleasure,” Nicolas said, the epitome of a well-bred gentleman.

“Josephine, come along. I shall introduce you to my nephew.” Lady Siddons clasped Josie’s hand. Leading her away from Nicolas and Agatha, she escorted her through the crowd.

“The Smalls are here with their intolerable daughter.” Lady Siddons swerved and steered Josie around the outside of the room. “’Tis as if they are waiting to pounce on me. That family has been a flock of vultures, even before I had to give Lydia a stern talking to for her behavior at our gathering the other day.”

Why invite the baron and his family if she didn’t like them? Since it was her party, couldn’t Lady Siddons invite whomever she wanted? Josie would never understand aristocrats.

As they approached the far end of the ballroom, Tristan came into view. His ginger hair stood out like a rose in a field of daisies. He towered over the men surrounding him. His massive arms looked as if they might tear the seams of his tailcoat, and his waistcoat buttons strained against the impressive muscles hidden beneath his fine clothing.

His blue eyes twinkled at their approach. “Please excuse me, gentlemen. I believe my aunt requires my attention.” He stepped away from his associates and kissed Lady Siddons on the cheek. “You have outdone yourself, Aunt Helena.”

She surveyed her ballroom. “I have, haven’t I?”

His chuckle was warm and deep, and had Josie not been in love with another man, she might find the duke appealing.

“Tristan, I would like to introduce you to the Davenport’s cousin, Miss Josephine Martin. Josephine, my nephew Tristan Keats, the Duke of Griffendale.”

“Pleased to meet you, Josephine Martin.” His lids hung heavy over his blue eyes as he took Josie’s hand in his. Surely, his lips lingered onher knuckle longer than appropriate.

“’Tis a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace,” Josie said.

“If you are not yet spoken for, may I have the next dance?” he asked.

Josie stared down at the blank dance card hanging from her wrist. In her excitement, she’d forgotten to have Nicolas and Jonathon sign it.

The duke held it up, studied it, and wrinkled his brow. “How is it that the most beautiful woman in the room has no dance partners?”

“Um… I… I just arrived,” Josie said. What an utterly ridiculous response.

Before Josie had a chance to remove her pencil from her reticule, the duke pulled one from his pocket and scratched his name over the entire card.

Josie glared at his signature. “I thought we could only dance two times.”

Egad!Why had she said that out loud? She sounded like an inexperienced miss who had no idea how to behave at a ball except for what she’d been taught at recent etiquette lessons.

Lady Siddons placed her hand on the duke’s shoulder. “Tristan, as utterly ridiculous as the rules are, do behave. While you are dancing, I shall get Josephine a new card.”

“Take your time,” the duke called to his aunt as she strolled away. He held out his hand. “Shall we?”

Interestingly, the duke’s brash manners set Josie at ease. There was no pretense with him. The man was as transparent as a spider web. He was accustomed to getting what he wanted, and at the moment, he wanted her, which was precisely what she needed for their plan to work.

When the next song started, Josie was already in his arms, swirling. His beard scratched her cheek, and his breath blew across her ear as heagain told her she was the most beautiful woman in the room.

Since it would not do to insult him right before she asked him to grant her two favors, she held her tongue and did not mention that his rakish reputation suited him.

Halfway through their dance, she placed her hand on his broad chest and tossed her lessons to the wind. “Your Grace, I find myself dizzy and overwhelmed. Could we find a quiet place where I may rest and catch my breath? Lady Siddons mentioned she has a private study.”

His grin was positively lecherous.