“I have heard people whisper that he is a rake, but…I’m not sure what that has to do with his boxing matches,” she said, stiffening.
“Well,” he said, delighted to be the bearer of scandal, “it is said that one night, after a particularly grueling bout, the Scarlet Duke pleasured three women at the same time.”
Theodora nearly choked on her own breath. “He—what?”
“I warned you that his deeds were not suitable for young ladies’ ears,” he said, laughing. “But word about his…endeavors spread quickly. The courtesans would not even look at the rest of the gentlemen for weeks. All they could speak about was him.”
Theodora felt her blood boil, and she did not understand why.
“But of course,” Lord Ebenezer added lightly, “it is only a rumor.”
She forced her voice to remain steady. “Ah, yes…Do you know when he will fight again?”
“Not anytime soon.” Lord Ebenezer snorted. “I wanted to know about that too, so I asked around but, sadly, he has left London.”
Theodora froze. “That is too bad. I wonder why he left London so hastily. Do you think his hurried departure has something to do with losing that last boxing match?”
“Some say he is chasing after a woman. Others say several women.” He laughed again. “Who knows with a man like that?”
Theodora felt a sharp, unexpected sting beneath her ribs. She looked away from the gentleman, and her throat felt tight. Lord Ebenezer continued talking, but she barely heard him. The ballroom blurred around her. The music faded and all she could think about was Alexander with another woman. She felt sick, and she needed a distraction.
“Lord Ebenezer,” she interrupted him. Theodora looked up at him bashfully and was surprised that her words had caught all of his attention.
Alexander was right.
But she wanted to forget all about him and his advice which he probably learned from all the courtesans he had been seducing.
“Are you going to ask me to dance or should I beg you?” she asked the waiting Lord as seductively as she could.
Lord Ebenezer was completely enthralled. “Miss Dowell, how rude of me. May I please have this dance?”
He bowed and offered his hand and that was when Theodora caught sight of her mother behind him with a bright and hopeful smile on her face.
God help me.
She ignored the cheerful look her mother gave her and placed her hand slowly into Lord Ebenezer’s. When their palmstouched and he led her to the dance floor Theodora did not feel her body react in the same way it did with Alexander.
She forced herself to focus.
This is good,she reminded herself.No, this is necessary.
She should never have relied on one source for her experiment. Yes, she had talked with plenty of specimens and even attempted flirting before. But she should have allowed herself to feel the touch of other men too, a proper touch, through dancing. She was beginning to believe that the Scarlet Duke had trapped her. He had planned this all along, ever since he read her notebook.
He is nothing but a rake.
Theodora exhaled through her gritted teeth.
“Are you nervous, Miss Dowell?” Lord Ebenezer looked at her kindly.
“A little, yes,” she admitted but she did not explain any further.
He nodded. “I understand. I feel a bit nervous myself.”
He winked at her and Theodora laughed softly as they stopped and prepared for the waltz. She had always rejected partners after only a few words, but tonight that needed to change. Sheneeded more specimens. More comparisons. More data. And less of the Duke of Hawthorne.
Lord Ebenezer reached out and she held her breath. He placed one hand at her waist gently and the other lifted her palm up.
Theodora felt nothing. Not even a flicker of heat.
