“Was it your first taste of champagne?”
“Yes,” she offered quietly while continuing to stare into the bottom of the glass. “I’ve not spent a lot of time in social settings where champagne is offered.”
“I keep forgetting that because you handle yourself so well in every situation.”
Her livelihood depended on it. Esmeralda had been taught many things a young lady should know before her mother absconded with Myles Graham, but not everything she needed to know.
“What are you thinking about?”
Seeing no reason not be honest, she raised her head and said, “I was wondering why you didn’t ask Miss Froste to dance.”
“What do you think my reason was?”
“I asked because I don’t know,” she answered. “She’s lovely, friendly, and she—and her father I might add—made it quite clear they wanted you to ask her. Lady Agatha wanted to dance with you as well.”
“Hmm,” was all he said.
Suddenly exasperated she said, “Oh, for the love of heaven. You cannot make me believe you didn’t notice they both practically askedyoufor a dance.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in humor. “You forgot Miss Waldegrave. I believe she expected me to ask her for a set around the dance floor too.”
Esmeralda laughed. “It’s impossible to get the best of you, Griffin.”
He laughed softly too. “All right, I noticed. And I noticed that you just called me Griffin.”
Esmeralda gasped. “I didn’t.” Oh, she should have never started thinking about him as “Griffin.” She should have known she would slip up and land herself in trouble. “Please tell me I didn’t.”
“You did, and I don’t mind. I’m glad you realize that when no one else is around, you are Esmeralda and I am Griffin,” he finished in a low tone as Lady Vera and Lady Sara were delivered back to their brother’s side by their dancing partners, laughing and out of breath from the fast quadrille.
As soon as the earl and Mr. Lambert left, two more dapper gents approached the twins, and they were quickly off to the dance floor again. Having seen a woman who once worked for Miss Fortescue, Esmeralda excused herself from the duke and walked over to speak to her. They chatted for a while and then walked around the ballroom eyeing the beautifully prepared food on the buffet tables, the flowing fountain in the center of the room, and all the flowers. But Esmeralda was careful to keep glancing toward the twins as well.
The duke talked with various people throughout the evening, but he and Esmeralda would always meet up together again when Lady Sara and Lady Vera returned from their dances.
It was much later when Lord Henry finally approached and said, “Excuse me for interrupting, Your Grace.”
“You’re not interrupting.”
“Good. I wanted to ask Lady Vera or Lady Sara to join me in the next dance.” He took the time to bestow a smile on each twin. “They are both so lovely, I’m not sure which one to ask first.”
Stepping forward, Lady Vera said, “I’ll help you with that, Lord Henry. Of course you should dance with my sister, Lady Sara, first. She’s the oldest, we’ve been told, but only by a few minutes.” Lady Vera turned and smiled sweetly at her sister. Lady Sara was clearly astonished by her sister showering her with such a favor. “I wouldn’t dream of putting myself before Sara. Would you mind if she danced with you first?”
“Not at all, Lady Vera. I shall return for you another set.”
“Yes, do.”
Esmeralda was amazed by Lady Vera’s generosity too, and knew there had to be a reason behind it. A reason that would only benefit Lady Vera.
After the two walked away, Griffin said, “That was kind of you, Vera.”
“It wasn’t kind at all. It was strategy, dear brother. Lord Henry will not remember he danced with Sara first, but he has made note of my willingness to so eagerly let my sister go first. Now, he has to wonder whether or not I want to dance with him. That means he will be thinking about me and not her.”
“Perhaps you are more clever than I gave you credit for.”
“Oh no,” Lady Vera said under her breath. “Maybe not. Here comes Mr. Trent, and I can tell by his determined smile he’s coming straight over here to ask me to dance.”
Griffin glanced at Esmeralda before asking, “What do you find objectionable about him?”
“Nothing I’m sure, except for the fact that he’s not Lord Henry.”
