He frowned, his eyebrows drawing together over his dark blue eyes. “Why?”
The answer should be obvious, but Penelope tilted her head. “Have you seen them dance?”
“Well, no, other than Bernice, they have not been asked.”
“A situation that will be rectified. However, in the meantime, they must first learn, as it was not taught previously because your uncle thought it a sin.”
“Yes, well, he likely thought the same of breathing,” His Grace grumbled. “Where might I find a dancing master?”
“You do not know?” Penelope asked with a half-smile when she knew that he likely did not. It was also rather enjoyable to vex His Grace. From the moment she first saw him, he had exuded confidence, but when it came to the situation that he now found himself in, Eldridge was quite lost and rarely was a woman offered the opportunity to prove that she might be wiser than a gentleman.
“Why would I? When my sister needed a dancing master, she or my father engaged one and I have no idea where they found him.”
“I will see that it is arranged, Your Grace, and have him report to your home the day after tomorrow.”
Eldridge narrowed his eyes and studied her. “Are you trying to manage my life, Lady Penelope?”
“I would never presume so much, Your Grace,” Penelope answered sweetly as she batted her eyelashes. Like all other gentlemen, he was susceptible to charm and flirtation used to disarm when they were suddenly suspicious. “However, I will step in where others have failed. In this case, your cousins are in need.”
It truly wasn’t meant to be an insult, but she told the truth. “Will you also need lessons?” she asked simply to provoke him, even though she did not know what possessed her to do so.
“In what?” he asked aghast.
“Dancing,” Penelope answered with a grin. “I have not seen you do so in a very long time. Perhaps you have forgotten.”
“If you were paying any attention at all, you know that I danced with Lady Johanna, now Mrs. Peter Storm, earlier in the Season.”
Penelope snorted. “Yes, I recall.”
He drew back as if insulted.
“Your Grace, I watched the entire ruse play out and I was not fooled once by your sudden attention to Lady Johanna so that Mr. Peter Storm could court her in secret with your assistance.”
“Not once?” He arched a brow with the question.
“No. Though I promise that all of Society was fooled for a fortnight and many misses and ladies of marriageable age were quite distraught at having lost their opportunity to gain the attention of a duke who was still young enough not to suffer from gout.” She studied him for a moment. “Therefore, you do remember how to dance, you just do not.”
“I fear that my doing so will only encourage when I have no intention of courting anyone while Society looks on.”
“Oh, you prefer to court in secret as Mr. Peter Storm had done?”
“I prefer not to court at all!” His voice rose, then he quickly looked around, probably hoping that no one had overheard.
Such were the sentiments for all bachelors of rank and title, required to wed for an heir and a spare, and putting off the inevitable for as long as possible.
“Then you should ask me to dance.”
Goodness! Why had she suggested such? The thought had not even crossed her mind before it was voiced.
“You are bold, Lady Penelope. More so than when you were younger.”
Few people approved of her directness, not that she paid them any mind. “If I waited, you would never ask. And, as a waltz will play next, and I enjoy the waltz, I thought to encourage you so that I did not need to seek out another partner. Further, as neither of us wish to be leg-shackled, you are safe with me.”
Besides, she had never waltzed with Eldridge before and Penelope had often wondered what it would be like to be partnered with His Grace.
Goodness, just thinking about it increased her pulse and Penelope lectured herself not to be silly. He was simply another man, even though he was a duke, and it was only a waltz and no different from what she had shared with anyone else.
“You would ask another?” The question he nearly sputtered revealed how shocking her statement had been.
