London
The seaof pastel gowns and black tailcoats eddied and ebbed as Maria observed. Her thoughts wandered as she curiously watched a woman adjust her bodice when she thought no one was looking. It was both freeing and insulting that the wallflowers were invisible to thehaut ton. At this ball, there were four of them; two of which were Maria and Heather.
She missed Juliana, who usually claimed a spot with them along the wall. Her friend, however, had recklessly fled home in the middle of a snowstorm.
London was veritably glacial during the little season, and most of society had remained at their estates. There were but a few of them in town with the Lords while parliament was in session.
“Look lively, Maria.” Heather discreetly nudged Maria’s arm with her glove-clad elbow. “Your man is here.”
Maria’s stomach swirled uneasily and her throat tightened as she followed her friend’s gaze. There he was at the entrance of the ballroom, scanning the small crowd with his half-blue, half-brown gaze. His black hair was dishevelled, and the bottom half of his handsome, angular face was shadowed with a hint of black beard.
“Lord above, why is he here?” Maria pinched her cheeks and fanned herself inelegantly with one hand. “He ought to be back in the country.”
“For pity’s sake, Maria, piece yourself together.” Heather frowned at her.
She slanted a glare at her friend. “I ordinarily can, Heather. I was merely unprepared to encounter him this evening.”
Heather clucked her tongue. “He’s likely here in search of Juliana, not to continue his benign flirtation with you. Now, you recall that she requested our silence on the matter, yes?”
“Yes, of course,” Maria replied hastily.
“Very good. He has spotted us. Don’t fall in love with the bastard. I’ll fetch us some refreshments.”
“Don’t leave me!” Maria hissed to Heather’s retreating form.
Another quadrille began, and the dancers took their places. Her eyes widened, and a flash of panic ignited in her, the force of it wobbling her legs. Maria focused on the sea of colours in an attempt to distract her nerves.
“Miss Roberts,” Jasper Sinclair, the Duke of Derby murmured, bowing shortly in front of her.
“Your Grace.” Maria dipped in a curtsey, then clasped her trembling fingers behind her back.
He will ask you to dance, Maria,she reminded herself,and you must refuse him. You mustalwaysrefuse him.
“Might I claim a waltz with you?” he asked brusquely.
Maria fought a frown. She realized that it had become a game for him—to request a dance even though he knew she would refuse him. But he could at least pretend to wish for one. “No thank you, Your Grace. I have an engagement elsewhere.”
She moved to step past him, but he stopped her with a touch to her forearm and a helpless, pleading glance.
“Please, Miss Roberts. Imustspeak with you. Might you take a turn about the gardens with me?”
“Are you mad?” she asked in an incredulous whisper. “It is snowing, and I am in a gown that reveals all too much of my skin. I would freeze to death in a trice!”
His gaze lowered to her décolletage, and heat prickled behind her ears.
“Quite right,” he murmured. He glanced around the ballroom and grunted in frustration. “What I have to say I don’t wish to have overheard, but it seems as though everywhere I go, there are eyes following me.”
Heather had been correct. The Duke was here to discuss Juliana’s flight. Had she lefthima letter, as well? If not, then Maria supposed it was not her place to interfere with their familial quarrel.
“I should think that you would be accustomed to that by now, Your Grace. Most of the young ladies in attendance are unmarried and looking for a husband; I’m certain that they’re all waiting for you to seek a place on their dance card.”
“But not you.” His gaze was sharp on hers.
She clasped her hands tighter behind her back, steadily meeting his gaze and silently admiring his uniquely coloured eyes and the shape of his handsome features. “No, Your Grace. Not me.”
The Duke shook his head. “I cannot elaborate on it now, Miss Roberts, so I beg that you and Miss Morgan would call on me at your earliest convenience. But the truth of it is…Juliana is in danger.”
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