They laughed together as they went. Thankfully, most moved out of the way when they saw the duke coming, and he offered polite smiles and a courteous nod of the head.
It wasn’t until they had a drink each, finding a corner toward the back of the room, that Alistair saw movement through the crowd. Someone was coming toward them, and he braced himself for what was sure to be an awkward conversation.
That was until he saw who it was. Alistair groaned at the sight…Yes, a most awkward conversation indeed.
“Oh, do not give me that look.” Carrowell laughed gaily as he approached the two of them. “As if you are not thrilled to see me.”
“Carrowell…” Alistair looked flatly at his friend. “Good of you to make it.”
“And how pleased you sound. Ah, Miss Norleigh…” Carrowell extended a hand toward Miss Norleigh, and she hesitated before giving it. He took her hand and kissed the back in a way that wasproper. “You look ravishing. That dress…” His smile was honest. “I had no idea that Alistair had such good taste.”
“Perhaps you can borrow it sometime,” she said politely. “I think it might suit you.”
Carrowell’s eyes lit up. “Oh my, she has a tongue on her. But tell me, Miss Norleigh, do you have feet to match?”
She frowned and leaned back. “What…”
“A dance,” he chortled and indicated across the ballroom to where a dancefloor was just now beginning. There were eight couples readying at the center, taking their partner in preparation for a waltz. “I would be honored if you would…” He laughed. “Well, do me the honor.”
Alistair knew his friend well enough to know that he would not try anything with Miss Norleigh. Just as he knew that he was behaving this way specifically to upset him.
But that did not stop his gut from writhing with jealousy, and he had to fight the urge to take Miss Norleigh by the arm and pull her in close as if to protect her.
“I… I have not danced in a long time,” she said.
“Wonderful! Nor have I? Shall we…” He held his hand out and raised an eyebrow. “That is unless His Grace has any objections.”
“My objections are irrelevant,” Alistair said through gritted teeth. “If Miss Norleigh wishes to dance with you…”
“That settles it!” He snatched her hand. “Do not fear, I will have her back in one piece.”
Even if Miss Norleigh wished to object, she was not given a chance. Within a second of taking her hand, Carrowell was dragging her through the crowds, chatting merrily the whole way. Whatever he said must have been a jest, because Miss Norleigh laughed and slapped his arm playfully.
And again, Alistair’s stomach twisted.
He watched the two with a sense of foreboding. Aware that there was nothing to be upset by, but unable to escape the feeling that something was wrong. Or rather, that he had done something wrong.
I should be the one to dance with her. That should be me who she is laughing with, whose hand is on her waist…
Drink in hand, mood growing steadily worse, Alistair stayed back as he watched the dance begin. His eyes narrowed when he saw Carrowell’s hand go to Miss Norleigh’s waist. His grip on the glass of wine he held tightened when he saw her hand go to his. And he started to shake when he saw the laughter on their lips, as the music began, and as they moved as one in perfect rhythm across the floor.
“You ought to be a bit more discreet.” Lady Emily appeared beside him, and she eyed him knowingly with a smirk on her lips and a twinkle in her eyes. “That is assuming you do not want the whole world to know your secret.”
Alistair started in surprise and tore his gaze from Miss Norleigh. “My secret…” He laughed awkwardly. “I am afraid that I have no idea what you speak of.”
She scoffed. “Ah, yes, play the dolt. It works so well for you.”
He considered lying to her further. He considered denying her assumption. He considered doing whatever it took to convince Lady Emily that her opinion was highly misplaced and that she would be better not to voice it again. He considered all these things…
Alistair was quick to change his mind when he saw that look in her eyes. She had a raised eyebrow, a no-nonsense expression worn, and he knew, then and there, that to lie to her in this would be akin to trying to convince her that the sky was pink and the grass was orange. Such was the obvious nature of the truth.
“It is that obvious, is it…” He sighed and allowed his shoulders to slump.
“Only to those who know you,” she said. “And those who have been courted by you. The fact that you never looked at me that way…” She scoffed playfully. “Perhaps if I wore a dress like that one, you might have bothered.”
“It is not the dress.”
“I know it,” she laughed. “It is who wears the dress. And from the way you have been staring at her, Your Grace, I would think that she could be dressed in a potato sack and the look on your face might be the same.”
