Lucy was thoroughly enjoying her time with the Grisham sisters. They all seemed to like her. It felt wonderful to be part of a group of kind-hearted people.
But the circle would soon have to disperse. The orchestra began playing a waltz. Soon, the Dukes approached to claim their wives for the dance.
“We will be back as soon as the music stops,” Victoria promised.
“I think we should not leave her here alone,” Daphne fretted.
“Lady Lucy won’t be alone,” Daniel’s voice interjected from behind, startling Lucy. “She will be dancing with me. Will you dance with me, Lady Lucy?”
His sisters turned toward him, their eyebrows raised. Other guests seemed to have noticed what was happening, too. They were just as startled. After all, the Duke of Stonewynn was known to hate balls, especially after he inherited the duchy.
The hostess’s brother, a duke no less, was asking a woman whose marriage prospects were dismal to waltz. It was intriguing, to say the least. If she said no, it would be an even more devastating blow to her marriage prospects.
“I—I w-would be honored, Your Grace,” she stammered.
As he led her to the dance floor, whispers swirled around them.
“The Duke of Stonewynn here? And he’s dancing?”
“Why didn’t he ask me to dance? I am dressed so much better than her.”
“It seems he is very charitable with his choice.”
“Poor thing. She looks drab and terrified next to him.”
“Pay them no mind,” Daniel whispered, resting his large, warm hand on the small of her back. “They are why I rarely come to these events.”
“Of course you’ll say that,” Lucy hissed. “It is easy for you, a man and a duke no less. However, I am a woman with no marriage prospects. If I refuse you, I would be accused of pride and idiocy. If I seem to enjoy this too much, I will be considered ruined.”
Daniel merely smirked. His hand tightened around hers, while the other pulled her even closer. Lucy was aware that they were skirting the rules of propriety, but she did not pull away.
“It would be much diverting to give them something to whisper about,” he teased.
For someone who hated balls, Daniel was a powerful and graceful dancer. He guided her with such ease that she was able to confidently twirl and spin to the music.
Even with the music’s joyful rhythm, Lucy became acutely aware of how the skirts of her dress brushed against his trousers. In their proximity, she could smell his cologne mingling with his pure masculine scent.
His eyes flashed. Black was growing larger within the blue of his eyes as he took on an almost predatory look. And she was not scared. She was not scared at all. Instead, it gave her a thrill.
What was it they said about the Duchess of Oakmere? She hated the hunt. But this hunt, Lucy could live with. She could thrive in it. It made her skin heat.
She was far too aware of how his fingers now dug into the small of her back through silk and lace. She flushed as images of them in a different kind of embrace flashed before her.
What kind of woman was she? Perhaps Joshua was right to restrain her.
When the music ended, she was breathing hard. Daniel finally released her, but she could still feel his fingers pressing into her flesh.
As they walked away from the dance floor, Joshua approached them. His eyes were narrowed into slits. However, he quickly masked it.
“I am quite surprised you chose to dance with my sister,” he commented.
“Oh, it’s merely the polite thing to do,” Daniel replied dismissively.
Lucy frowned. Was that why he did it? Perhaps he also did it out of pity.
The comment stung, to her surprise. Her chest ached just as her body had heated moments ago.
“Stonewynn! I was right. It was you,” a lord about Joshua’s and Daniel’s age called out.
