wine was unusually potent, and the footman had excessively feminine features. Anyone could have made the same mistake.”
“He was a head taller than you,” Gabriella said flatly. “And he was wearing livery.”
“Good God, I can’t be expected to keep up with all the latest fashions.” He let out a harsh breath and glanced over her shoulder, to where the duke stood. “You are in luck. His sister has just joined him. Wait here.”
Gabriella stood patiently amid a group of guests, until James came back to fetch her. He tapped her nose. “ You are in my debt.”
Gabriella smiled victoriously, curling her hand around James’s proffered arm as he led her to the duke and his sister. As they approached, Lady Emmeline turned to them and smiled.
“Lady Emmeline Montgomery, may I introduce Miss Gabriella Weatherfield?”
They curtsied, and after the necessary pleasantries, Lady Emmeline said, “May I introduce my brother, Nicholas Montgomery, the Duke of Somerset?”
The moment his assessing eyes settled on her, she sucked in a sharp, involuntary breath. Up close, he was deliciously handsome, with thick lashes, a square jaw, and lips that promised wicked, sinful delights. The urge to taste those lips tugged at her, but it was his eyes that intrigued her most. They were a vivid ice blue, and they raked over her with a lazy, calculating perusal.
After a long, awkward pause, he bowed stiffly. “I am honored to make your acquaintance, Miss Weatherfield.” Her name rolled off his tongue like a wicked promise, intimate and sinful…
So far, he’d lived up to his roguish reputation beautifully. Gabriella glanced over her shoulder at Julia and Mary, who watched from a distance, fans clutched to their chests in suspended anticipation. Gabriella smiled with all the self-assurance she didn’t feel. Truth be told, she felt slightly out of her depth. No, more than slightly. Enormously.
She let out a breath. She had better get this over with, and quickly, if she had any chance of success at all. With any luck, she could get the duke alone, launch herself at him, and catch him by surprise. The whole wretched thing could be over with in a matter of seconds.
Eyes wide to express urgency, Gabriella mouthed the words the pianoforte to Julia. A confused look passed over the girl’s face as she tried, in vain apparently, to read Gabriella’s lips.
The. Piano. Forte , Gabriella mouthed again, slower.
Julia’s lips formed an O as she finally grasped Gabriella’s meaning. She rushed toward the vacant pianoforte and immediately began playing a country-dance.
Turning back to James, Somerset, and his sister, Gabriella smiled tightly. “Oh, how very fortuitous,” she said with false astonishment. “It’s your favorite song, Mr. Leventhorpe.”
He frowned. “Music is vile, in all its forms.”
Gabriella elbowed him in the side subtly. “Yes, except this song .” She emphasized the last through gritted teeth. “I’m sure Lady Emmeline would be honored to stand up with you.”
James glanced at Gabriella with a mixture of concern and amusement. “Are you all right? You appear quite agitated.”
Gabriella laughed. “Too much wine, I suppose.” She gestured toward the couples now dancing in the center of the room. “Go, dance. I will keep His Grace company in your absence.” She stared at James pointedly, lips pursed.
He seemed to understand then. Clearing his throat, he offered Lady Emmeline his hand. “Would you do me the honor?”
Lady Emmeline flashed a sidelong glance at Somerset and then took James’s hand. “I would indeed. Thank you.”
When they stepped away to join the other dancers in the center of the room, Gabriella turned to Somerset and flashed her most brilliant smile. “You’re enjoying yourself, I hope.”
Somerset’s mouth curled up into a half smile. He shook his head and walked away without a word.
Gabriella just stood there, stunned. Had he truly just walked away?
She glanced over her
“He was a head taller than you,” Gabriella said flatly. “And he was wearing livery.”
“Good God, I can’t be expected to keep up with all the latest fashions.” He let out a harsh breath and glanced over her shoulder, to where the duke stood. “You are in luck. His sister has just joined him. Wait here.”
Gabriella stood patiently amid a group of guests, until James came back to fetch her. He tapped her nose. “ You are in my debt.”
Gabriella smiled victoriously, curling her hand around James’s proffered arm as he led her to the duke and his sister. As they approached, Lady Emmeline turned to them and smiled.
“Lady Emmeline Montgomery, may I introduce Miss Gabriella Weatherfield?”
They curtsied, and after the necessary pleasantries, Lady Emmeline said, “May I introduce my brother, Nicholas Montgomery, the Duke of Somerset?”
The moment his assessing eyes settled on her, she sucked in a sharp, involuntary breath. Up close, he was deliciously handsome, with thick lashes, a square jaw, and lips that promised wicked, sinful delights. The urge to taste those lips tugged at her, but it was his eyes that intrigued her most. They were a vivid ice blue, and they raked over her with a lazy, calculating perusal.
After a long, awkward pause, he bowed stiffly. “I am honored to make your acquaintance, Miss Weatherfield.” Her name rolled off his tongue like a wicked promise, intimate and sinful…
So far, he’d lived up to his roguish reputation beautifully. Gabriella glanced over her shoulder at Julia and Mary, who watched from a distance, fans clutched to their chests in suspended anticipation. Gabriella smiled with all the self-assurance she didn’t feel. Truth be told, she felt slightly out of her depth. No, more than slightly. Enormously.
She let out a breath. She had better get this over with, and quickly, if she had any chance of success at all. With any luck, she could get the duke alone, launch herself at him, and catch him by surprise. The whole wretched thing could be over with in a matter of seconds.
Eyes wide to express urgency, Gabriella mouthed the words the pianoforte to Julia. A confused look passed over the girl’s face as she tried, in vain apparently, to read Gabriella’s lips.
The. Piano. Forte , Gabriella mouthed again, slower.
Julia’s lips formed an O as she finally grasped Gabriella’s meaning. She rushed toward the vacant pianoforte and immediately began playing a country-dance.
Turning back to James, Somerset, and his sister, Gabriella smiled tightly. “Oh, how very fortuitous,” she said with false astonishment. “It’s your favorite song, Mr. Leventhorpe.”
He frowned. “Music is vile, in all its forms.”
Gabriella elbowed him in the side subtly. “Yes, except this song .” She emphasized the last through gritted teeth. “I’m sure Lady Emmeline would be honored to stand up with you.”
James glanced at Gabriella with a mixture of concern and amusement. “Are you all right? You appear quite agitated.”
Gabriella laughed. “Too much wine, I suppose.” She gestured toward the couples now dancing in the center of the room. “Go, dance. I will keep His Grace company in your absence.” She stared at James pointedly, lips pursed.
He seemed to understand then. Clearing his throat, he offered Lady Emmeline his hand. “Would you do me the honor?”
Lady Emmeline flashed a sidelong glance at Somerset and then took James’s hand. “I would indeed. Thank you.”
When they stepped away to join the other dancers in the center of the room, Gabriella turned to Somerset and flashed her most brilliant smile. “You’re enjoying yourself, I hope.”
Somerset’s mouth curled up into a half smile. He shook his head and walked away without a word.
Gabriella just stood there, stunned. Had he truly just walked away?
She glanced over her
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