The Duke's Quandary by Callie Hutton Page A

enjoyed flirting with men other than their partners as they switched. The entire thing only made her more confused and anxious.
    To her horror, Drake and Lady Daphne became the fourth couple in their square. Drake cast her a warm smile, and Lady Daphne merely dipped her head in her direction, a slight smirk on her beautiful face. Oh, Lord. This had gone from bad to much, much worse. She looked around in a panic, trying to think of something that would get her away from here, away from the entire ball.
    The first few notes started up and the couples turned toward their partners, bowed and curtsied. Then they joined hands and moved in a circle. Drake moved directly across from her, his partner as graceful as a bird as she smiled at each gentleman in turn. The first switching of partners went smoothly, and soon she was returned to her partner, Lord No Name. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad.
    The women reached out their hands, and came together in the center, colorful dresses and jewels sparkling in the light as they turned, first one way, then the other. They backed up and the gentlemen circled together. Penelope took a deep breath. Then the weaving in and out commenced again, and she turned in the wrong direction, crashing into the gentlemen to her rear.
    “Just relax, Miss Clayton.” Drake had ended up next to her after her mishap, smoothly joining their crossed hands behind their backs, and twirling her around before releasing her so she was once again back with Lord No Name, who looked a bit confused. He turned to the lady behind him, who apparently was supposed to be his partner for this part of the dance.
    “No Penelope, Mr. Dane is on your left,” Drake called from where he twirled another lady.
    “Oh, goodness.” Penelope swung back and barely missed being struck in her ribs by a gentleman whose name she didn’t know. In fact, she had no idea who Mr. Dane was. Could he be Lord No Name?
    Almost brought to tears by the confusion, she whirled around and was deftly caught by Lord No Name, his face flushed. “Miss Clayton, just turn to your left, er, right, that is.”
    Lady Daphne came to an abrupt halt and pointed her gloved finger in her direction. “This is ridiculous. Miss Clayton, you’ve confused us all.”
    “No, not at all.” Drake rearranged everyone until they were back together where they started. “Now after the next few beats, we will start again, and it will be fine.” He smiled at Penelope, who wondered what the chances were of the floor opening under her so she could fall through.
    “In fact,” he added, “I shall switch places with Lord Wolverton, and you, sir, can partner Lady Daphne.”
    “Your Grace!” Lady Daphne cried.
    “It will be fine. Here we go.” He bowed to Penelope, who curtsied and they were off and running again. Only this time, Drake whispered instructions in her ear every time they neared each other. Amazingly enough, the dance went fine, despite the fact that Penelope was covered with a fine sheen of perspiration by the time they had finished.
    …
    Drake bowed to Penelope as the dance ended.
    “Excuse me.” She picked up her skirts and hurried away from him.
    “Let her go, Your Grace.” Lady Daphne glanced in the direction of her mother watching nearby with the other matrons. The girl flashed him a smile as she slipped her arm in his. “I would love a breath of fresh air. Will you stroll with me on the terrace?”
    “I would be delighted.” He escorted her through the throng of guests returning from the dance.
    “You know, as Mother pointed out, that poor girl really is quite clumsy.” Lady Daphne took a deep breath as they stepped through the French doors, once again slanting a look in her mother’s direction.
    “Are you speaking of Miss Clayton?” He could not fathom why the thought of Lady Sirey criticizing Penelope annoyed him. The chit was clumsy, in fact from what he’d observed, she rarely got through a day without some sort of debacle. But having