Splendid by Julia Quinn Page A

walking with Emma in the gardens. “If you would like to go to the garden, it would be my pleasure to escort you, Miss Dunster.”
    â€œIt would be very difficult for me to meet the guest of honor if you insist upon monopolizing her time,” boomed a deep voice. It was all Emma could do to keep from cringing as everyone turned to face Alex.
    â€œWhy, your grace,” gushed Lady Summerton, “we were just talking about you.”
    â€œWere you?” Alex answered laconically, fixing his deadly stare upon the ridiculous woman.
    â€œEr, yes, we were,” Lady Summerton stammered.
    Emma was stunned by the sheer presence of the man. His tall, broad frame somehow seemed to dominate the entire ballroom. Indeed, a hush had swept across the crowd as everyone cranedtheir necks to watch the well-known duke. He was, Emma had to admit, definitely worth watching. He exuded raw power that seemed barely contained by his elegant black and white evening clothes. His unruly black hair had refused to conform to any sense of a hairstyle, and one lock fell characteristically over his forehead. But it was definitely his piercing green eyes that made him appear so dangerous. And just then those green eyes were fixed right on Emma. “Miss Dunster, I presume,” he said silkily, taking her hand.
    â€œH-How do you do?” Emma managed to say. A firebolt charged through her as he lifted her hand to his mouth. And although Emma had only spent one night out in London society, she knew that his lips had remained overlong on the pale skin of her wrist.
    â€œI do very well, indeed, now that I’ve met you.”
    Lady Summerton gasped. Caroline’s eyebrows shot up in a rather shocked expression. Dunford chuckled. Ned and Belle openly stared. Emma wondered if she’d blushed to a deep crimson or merely a light rose. “You’re very kind,” she finally said.
    â€œWell, Ashbourne, that may be the first time I’ve ever heard you referred to as kind,” Dunford said dryly.
    â€œIt’s so kind—er, gracious—of you to come tonight, your grace,” Caroline said.
    â€œIndeed,” Belle added, not really having anything to say but feeling nonetheless that something was necessary.
    â€œI trust your sister is well?” Caroline inquired. “We were so upset when she sent her regrets.”
    â€œSophie is very well, thank you. We had a bit of a scare this afternoon, but everything is all right now.”
    â€œA scare?” Lady Summerton’s eyes grew round with interest. “Whatever do you mean?”
    â€œHer son Charlie was almost run over by a hack. He would have been killed if a young maid hadn’t run into the street and pushed him out of the way.”
    Emma could feel Belle’s eyes boring into her. She glanced upward, assiduously avoiding her cousin’s gaze.
    â€œThank goodness he wasn’t hurt,” Caroline said with obvious feeling. “I trust the maid is all right?”
    â€œOh, yes,” Alex replied with a grin. “She’s splendid.”
    Emma decided that the ceiling was, indeed, highly interesting.
    â€œIs that a waltz I hear?” Alex asked innocently. “Lady Worth, may I have your permission to dance with your niece?”
    Emma cut in before Caroline could reply. “I think I’ve promised this dance to someone else.” She was certain she hadn’t promised the dance to anyone, but it was the best she could come up with under the circumstances. She looked desperately at Ned for assistance. Her cousin certainly had no desire to antagonize the powerful duke, and he quickly discovered the wonders of the ceiling that had so entranced Emma moments earlier.
    Alex fixed his green stare upon her. “Nonsense,” he said simply. He turned back to Caroline. “Lady Worth?”
    Caroline nodded her assent, and Alex swept Emma into his arms. When they reached the center of the dance floor, he