A Dance to Tempt the Duke - Chapter 4

Victor moved forward holding Lady Margaret’s raised hand, towards Lady Felicity. She barely looked at him. Was it guilt that stopped her from meeting his eye, or disregard?

They danced in a circle, then he was forced to take her hand. ‘Lady Felicity,’ he said with a polite nod, as he ignored the unwanted jolt of attraction that shot through his body.

‘Your Grace,’ she responded, her voice cold. ‘I see you have returned from the Continent.’

‘And I see your observation skills remain as keen as ever,’ he said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Her jaw tightened, then she smiled, inclined her head slightly and moved on to the next partner.

Still smiling brightly, she took Grenville’s hand, then laughed loudly at something he had said. The man was a buffoon and Victor doubted he had said anything amusing in his life, but there was no doubting the pleasure he took in her attention. The man was simply incandescent with happiness.

Victor circled around his partner and the dance moves took him back to Lady Felicity.

‘I’m surprised to see you here tonight,’ he said. ‘Did you not manage to entrap any man into marrying you last season?’

She stumbled slightly. Colour drained from her face.

Had he gone too far? He held her closer so she could resume the dance steps, wondering what he could say to take those insulting words back.

‘Why would I settle for one man when I can have so much fun at a ball full of eligible men?’ she said with a light laugh.

No, he had not gone too far and he would not take those words back. She deserved every one of them.

‘I won’t be settling down until I find a man worthy of me,’ she continued. ‘Until that day comes, I intend to have as much fun as I possibly can.’

With that she glided off into the arms of another partner. Victor had nothing to feel guilty about. His words were no less cutting than hers. She had made it clear he was not worthy of her. He was merely a man she’d had her fun with.

He watched her beam a smile at Baron Grenville as if he were the most fascinating man in the room. She had once looked at him like that. Did her smile mean she saw Grenville as worthy of her, or was he just another man she was wanting to toy with?

Bile rising up his throat, he was tempted to warn the baron as to her true character, but the man would find out soon enough what she was really like. Just as he had.

He released his partner’s hand and once again was forced to take Lady Felicity’s. This time she did not stumble, but floated elegantly, reminding him of how once he had thought dancing with her was like having a delicate flower in his arms. And once he had foolishly thought she needed his protection.

‘I take it your presence here tonight means you are still on the hunt for a duchess,’ she said, as if she did not know this to be the case. ‘Did you not find a suitable bride on the Continent? I’m assuming your reason for spending so much time abroad was because no woman in England was up to your exacting standards.’

‘I went to the Continent to forget all about debutantes. Instead, I chose to spend my time in gambling dens and other low haunts where the women tend to be a lot more honest than some of the women at society events.’

A look of shock and outrage crossed her face, just as he had hoped.

‘And I see you have not ceased in your determination to lead men on,’ he continued, showing her no mercy.

‘What on earth are you talking about?’ she said loudly, causing several heads to turn in their direction.

‘What are you talking about?’ she repeated in a quieter voice, but before he could say any more the dance demanded they once again part company.

He was pleased to note that this time she did not flirt with her partners, did not send them coquettish smiles, did not bat those long eyelashes. Instead, her attention was firmly fixed on him and she did not look happy.

He smiled with satisfaction as he once again took Lady Margaret’s hand. He flattered her dancing skills and as she primped and preened in response to his compliment, he sent another look at Lady Felicity. She still appeared furious.

Hopefully his accusation had put a halt to her flirtatious demeanour and she might think twice before she left any further romantic wreckage in her wake.