She couldn’t help but chuckle as she watched people scuttle away from him. At that moment, though, Morgan turned in her direction and their eyes met.
Selina froze for a second, her laughter still on her lips as she and Morgan stared at each other. She tried to fight her expression and look away but Morgan had caught her already. Now, he changed his path, and cut directly through the crowd towards her.
Oh drat!Selina swore under her breath. The last thing she wanted was another argument with Morgan. Tempers seemed to flare every time their paths crossed.
Morgan cut a striking figure as he finally got to where Selina was standing. “Hello, Ms. Knight,” he said politely, his voice rumbling like a waterfall. “You look very lovely tonight.”
Selina assumed he was just being polite after he caught her laughing, seemingly at him. Knowing him, he was probably upset with her for it.
Selina curtsied in turn. “As do you, Your Grace.”
She thought about it and realized that she meant it. He did look great. His entire outfit seemed like it had been tailored to him.
He had on a dark green coat, with a white shirt underneath. His grey breaches were tucked into his knee-high, black military boots. His black top hat sat in the crook of his elbow, and a dark green cravat around his neck finished the look expertly.
“Thank you, Ms. Knight,” Morgan replied, maintaining the air of formality. “You’re most kind.”
“Pleasure, Your Grace,” Selina replied, taking another sip from her glass.
Morgan watched her quietly as the silence between them stretched uncomfortably. He cleared his throat and Selina turned to him. “I noticed that you have not danced at all since you arrived.”
Selina looked over Morgan’s shoulders towards the room behind him. “Unfortunately, I don’t know anyone with whom I would dance, as I’m new here.”
Shockingly, the duke offered Selina his arm. She looked at the proffered arm in genuine surprise, then up at Morgan, her confusion glaring.
“Your Grace?”
“Well, it so happens that you knowoneperson here. You know me.”
Selina glanced at Morgan’s hand again, then back at his face. She eyed him suspiciously. Why would he want to dance with her?
“Moreover,” Morgan continued. “I suppose this is as good an opportunity as any for you to showcase those skills you said you could impart to my sister.”
Selina smiled.Of course, that’s what this is about, she thought to herself. She took the proffered arm that Morgan had offered.
“In that case, it would be my pleasure, Your Grace.”
Morgan smiled and then led her off to the dance floor.
CHAPTER13
As he led Selina to the dance floor, Morgan realized he had not quite thought about what to say to her.
He had been very apprehensive about going to the party at all. The only reason he had acquiesced to his grandmother’s persistent request for him to attend was because Selina was going.
Well, that and his grandmother’s compelling argument.
“My dear boy, if left to your own devices, you’d slip through the cracks of society. One day you would realize you’re an old man with only Arthur present. You don’t socialize enough, my dear.”
She had a point, of course, but had Selina not been going to Lady Alice’s party, that point would not have been enough to convince him.
Before he came forward to ask for a dance, he had been gaping at Selina from where he’d been standing, brooding against a wall.
She looked absolutely stunning in the pastel pink dress she was wearing. She had on a set of pearls that sat beautifully on her elegant neck, and long jeweled earrings that sparkled in the sun completed the look.
Looks like their trip to the dress shop was worth it, after all.
While Selina seemed oblivious to it, Morgan noticed that almost every man turned to watch her as she walked past them. Both men and women followed her with their eyes, and Morgan could see the stunned look of attraction on each admirer’s face.
