I swallowed my nerves. “I am so sorry, but I cannot accept.”
His expression did not change, but he was quiet for a moment, and then he finally said, “I will not beg you to become my wife, Miss Hill. And I’m certain you have your reasons, but it is very inconvenient that you waited until now to give me this answer. Could it not have come sooner, before I was forced to have this ball?”
“I do apologize,” I said, feeling horrible. “I was given new information just now that has solidified my decision.”
“New information?” He frowned. “About me?”
“No.” I quickly shook my head. “About my . . . options.” How much was I required to tell him? “I—I am in love with someone else, and until now, there was no opportunity for us to move forward. But he has told me a way, and we are going to take it.”
The duke looked toward Alec, still standing by the door. “Mr. Paxton-Hill?”
My heart filled with love, and I said, “Yes.”
Again, the duke was silent as we continued our dance. Finally, he said, “I would not want a wife who was in love with another man, and for that reason, I will not ask you to marry me, Miss Hill.”
He was saving his pride. There had been no proposal offered and none accepted—or rejected. He might be disappointed or even angry, but a gentleman would act with grace.
Even a brooding, secretive duke from the coastal moors.
“I am very sorry for the inconvenience,” I said. “Had we known of this path before, we would have spared you the expense and time, Your Grace.”
“No need to say anything more, Miss Hill.”
“Perhaps—” I paused. “May I suggest you inquire after Miss Lily Parker? She is eager to get away from London, and…” I let the words trail away. Under his gruff exterior and brooding good looks, the duke and Lily were after the same thing. A quiet life in the country.
He did not respond, but I could see that my suggestion was being considered.
We remained quiet for the rest of the dance, and when it was almost over, he said, “I think it best that Mr. Paxton-Hill take my place on your dance card for the final waltz of the evening.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. And I believe I will go into supper alone, if you please.”
“Yes, of course.”
When the dance ended, he gave me a slight bow and then left me on the dance floor, his head held high.
Almost every eye in the ballroom was on me as he walked away and I could see questioning glances thrown between the guests. Why hadn’t the duke escorted me into supper? What had he been talking to me about? Why did I look so wretched?
Aunt Maude and Lady Mandeville approached, concern etched into their brows.
If I was going to create as little scandal as possible, I would need to remain at the ball until the bitter end. To leave now would only cause tongues to wag all over London. But to stay, I needed to keep Aunt Maude and Lady Mandeville questioning.
“Well?” Aunt Maude asked, her one question summing up a dozen others.
“Nothing,” I told her.
“Perhaps he is waiting until the end of the ball,” Lady Mandeville said, eyeing the duke’s retreating back.
“Alec,” Aunt Maude said with surprise as he joined us, “when did you get here?”
“Not long ago,” he said, his gaze finding mine, a question in his eyes.
I gave him a faint nod, to let him know all was well.
At least, for the moment.
Soon we would have to break our news to Aunt Maude, and she would not be as easy on me as the duke had been.
