“Harris?” Evan called out suddenly.
Augusta shifted her gaze from her sister to follow the line of her brother's sight, trying to identify the person he was referring to. She shot him a glare as he approached, looking every bit as majestic as he’d been the first time she’d seen him.
Too bad his personality is not as charming.
Eyes followed his every move as he walked towards them but he paid them no mind, stopping in front of her family.
“Curtis, it is nice to see a friendly face here,” he responded gracefully, the slight pitch in his voice being the only indication that he was shocked to see Evan.
“Good heavens. You are the last person I expected to see in a gathering like this,” Evan said.
"I wouldn't be here, but my sister has just been introduced to High Society. My mother and I accompanied her," he said in the same calm tone.
“Ah, of course. My sister has only just been introduced into High Society herself,” Evan said, his eyes bright. He gestured for Nancy who came closer.
“Nancy, this is the Duke of Wenstall, Harris, my sister, Lady Nancy Curtis,” Evan introduced.
Augusta shifted behind him, trying to avoid what was certainly to come but Evan’s eyes cut to her, signaling her with his gaze. She exhaled, refraining from rolling her eyes as she stepped forward.
“This is Lady Augusta Curtis,” he announced, his smile wobbly as he gestured to her.
Augusta rolled her eyes. While she understood that he wished for her to be more amenable, it didn't mean she would readily seize any chance to cause him grief.
“Yes, I believe I have had the pleasure of meeting the lady earlier today” Benedict said sarcastically, his voice droll as he leveled her with a gaze that made it clear that it was in fact not a pleasure.
Evan’s face noticeably paled. “I apologize for any discomfort she might have caused you.”
Augusta scoffed, sending a disapproving look her brother’s way.Of course, he thinks I am the one at fault.
“Please pay no mind to my sister’s antics. I believe she was dropped on her head as a baby and she’d since had some peculiarities about her and enjoys hobbies that others are not inclined to,” he said seriously.
“Evan,” Augusta shouted. The sound of Benedict’s laughter put a stop to her anger as she looked at him. His eyes turned into slits, showing the first sign of genuineness she’d seen in him, not that she’d been worried about it.
His face transformed, lifting the heaviness that followed him and making him more handsome than she’d ever seen him.
She turned away, softly clearing her throat, and averted her gaze from his, hopeful that her cheeks had not pinkened from the direction of her thoughts. She did not think it would do her much good to be seen blushing by her brother.
Her lips parted as she readied to defend herself but she was interrupted by the Duke.
“Actually, I am here to ask Lady Augusta for a dance,” he said suddenly. “I have my name penned for this dance and I have come to claim it, if you please.”
Augusta glowered at the look of wonder in her brother’s eyes before he masked it with a blank stare. A part of her was happy to have shocked him although she wished she did not have to dance with the ungrateful man, duke or not.
She turned to her sister, ready to see her affronted on her behalf, instead, she wore the same look of shock, looking between the duke and Augusta, her eyes wide.
“Certainly,” Evan recovered. He looked at Augusta and sighed. “That is if she will have you.”
Augusta wished she could be anywhere else but there. The last thing she wanted to do was join in this farce, instead she curtsied and smiled at the duke, the smile not reaching her eyes.
“It would be my honor, Your Grace.”
He is so infuriating…
Augusta’s hand itched from the effort it took not to rip it from that of the maddening Duke’s as he led her to dance. Instead, she pasted a smile on her face and pretended to enjoy herself.
She could feel the eyes on her. Was it because they were shocked to see her allowing a gentleman lead her to dance? In the years since Augusta had joined the season, there was rarely a time when she allowed herself to join in the buffoonery, choosing instead, to indulge in her hobby.
She glanced around the room and noticed the shocked looks between the members of the ton as friends huddled together and whispered. Their gazes, however, were directed at him and not her.
