Page 29 of Winning Her Duke

He was laughing in earnest now. So much so that he stumbled and righted himself.

“Now I understand why he’s been spending so much time with you. He generally doesn’t take up company with women unless they are in his—” Lord Melville blinked down at her. “Are you a witch? How do you make men forget themselves in front of you like that? I very nearly said something completely improper.”

It was her turn to laugh at his suggestion.

“If I were a witch, I assure you I would put my powers to far greater use than to get you to speak of the women who visit the duke’s bed.” When he looked at her in shock, she shook her head. “Perhaps you are the witch, my lord, for you made me say the improper thing you managed to avoid.”

They were laughing together as the music stopped.

“Oh dear, I believe my good friend wishes me dead. At least he is glaring at me as if it were so,” Lord Melville said while peering up at the balcony that overlooked the large room. “Do be a dear and be sure to enchant Kit and Graham as well, so we might finally see the limit to Hale’s anger.”

Hale stood with both hands clenched on the railing and a frown on his face.

“Surely he’s not looking at you.” She glanced around but didn’t know who else the duke might be so unhappy with.

“We could put my theory to the test. Come out to the garden with me and we’ll see what he does.”

Gia stared at the man in surprise. Was this a ruse to get her away from everyone? How many times had men made such suggestions in an attempt to seduce her? Or rather expected her to seduce them because of her wild blood?

She’d never heard anything so ludicrous.

Not that she would have taken Lord Melville up on his offer, but even if she’d wanted to, she couldn’t because her next dance partner arrived to claim his dance.

Lord Grovert was nice enough even if his gaze did drop down to her bosom more than once during the dance.

The rest of the men became a bit of a jumble. They were all handsome enough, witty enough, and polite enough even if they took as much interest in her gown as Lord Grovert had. But nothing specific stood out about any of them. Except, perhaps, Lord Duncan.

The man was tall, though not as tall or large as Hale or his friends. Maybe it was due to his smaller stature that it was easier for her to dance with him.

“You seem to have captured the attention of every man in the house tonight.”

She frowned and waited for his gaze to dip to her breasts and was surprised when it did not.

“You’re not pleased to be sought after?”

“I’m not a prize.”

“I believe that depends on what one wishes to win.”

She couldn’t argue that. Lydia wouldn’t be pleased with her, but Gia had had enough.

“I won’t pretend not to know why men wish to dance with me. They think I am free with my favors.” The man’s eyes went wide. “Don’t feign surprise, Lord Duncan, I know what is said about me. But I’ll have you know the truth and maybe you will take it back to the others sniffing about. I am not who they think I am. I’m no great seductress nor are my skirts light, my lord.”

He smiled though still looked a bit shocked.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had such a frank conversation with a lady before.”

“I didn’t mean to shock you, I’ve just had my fill with men who want to show me the gardens.”

He nodded. “I promise not to offer to show you the gardens. In fact, if you were to ask me to show them to you, I would refuse.”

She smiled and counted Lord Duncan among the small group of men who were not imbeciles.

“Thank you, my lord. I am grateful for your refusal.”

She was also grateful for her time with Hale’s friends who, like him, had been shocked and amused by her blunt conversation.

Lord Stormont was the next of his friends to bow before her. Taller than the rest, he was leaner, with lighter blond hair.