'My lady!’ Lord Crouse descended upon them. ‘May I have the honour of your next dance?’
Diana did not reply to James, merely gave him a small nod and turned to face the newcomer. Lord Crouse was a kind, portly old bachelor who stood a full four foot eight, so that not even his elaborate mask could hide his identity. Diana smiled sweetly at him, treating the other man with the same polite ease she had James. ‘The honour would be mine, my lord.’
When she placed her hand on Lord Crouse’s extended arm, James bowed one last time. As he made his way through the assembled crowd, only pausing to pinch a bottle of champagne and two flutes off the refreshment table, he found himself wondering how a woman so beautiful, a woman who had been catered to her entire life, could also be so gentle and kind. She had made sure to check that her chaperone was comfortable before she’d left her, she’d tried to ease James’s anxiety when they’d danced, and she’d been polite and sweet to Lord Crouse, a man who most of society found grating. James had not had much experience with kindness. Quite the opposite. Life had been hard, even cruel to him. So, more than her beautiful face or her perfect manners, it was that, Lady Diana’s kindness, that pulled at him.
Log in or create an account to read the next chapter of "A Most Unladylike Proposition"
Every month we select a new title from one of our authors so that you can discover new stories, locations and genres for free.